We had a counselling position open this year and got many emails regarding it. I don't know that there is a dearth of counsellors at international schools.

As to job description, I think at IS's it is still the more traditional counselling services.

I have no problem with a school changing contracts at renewal time and pointing out the changes to staff. Staff can renew or not renew based on the new terms. It is best if the school gives advance notice, so teachers can make up their minds.

Heck, if the school is in a real pickle and can present its case accurately, I might even consider a mid-year change. But I would want to know why. More money for the owner wouldn't sway me!

Otherwise, refuse, stand your ground, and be willing to accept the consequences. Alternately, agree, and after leaving for whatever reason, don't return. A contract signed under duress is not a legal contract.

Wow, I did not know I had made 3.5% of the ISR open forum posts. Crazy. What's your percentage? Click your name, go to your profile, and it tells you.

You should have criminal record checks for the last 5-10 years minimum, plus then get your Canadian record check. I have mine for the past 12 years prior to my latest job, and will get one from here before leaving. I would get them for sure - they are now required by Search for upload anyways, so it is a good idea.

I haven't heard this from my friends in Thailand. Perhaps it is just some locations?

Marieh, for me it is that there are quite a number of international schools in the emirates now with a high number of local students as entrepreneurs have emerged to make dirhams.

Good points, Thames Pirate!

"The UAE is something like 80% expats, so pretty much every school there will be moderately international."

Ha ha ha ha ha - some tears rolling down my face. Many of the 'international' schools recruited for in the UK are not even close to moderately international. You need to be very much caveat emptor on that one. While there are many international schools in the UAE, there are also many 'international' schools in the UAE.

Hear hear Sid!

And if you are vested in a national retirement plan in a Western country, that improves your cash flow too. If you left right away and never contributed - then it's all on you...

If you buy property and have a long term plan, then 600,000 can buy a LOT of property if used proper-ly :-) You can purchase several properties and carry a mortgage. If you have gauged your location correctly, you will do OK. I know I've been lucky - in 20+ years of renting, I've only had one tenant dun me for a period of months and then leave, where the property required quite a big injection of $$ to bring it up to snuff - which was fine as it hadn't really had any touchups in 15 years, except roof and decking. That was paid for out of rental revenue - even though when the house was purchased, my cost was under $50,000 down. My tenants paid for my mortgage, interest and management fees are tax write-offs, as were the improvements put into the home. Even if I took some of my savings and bought a condo in a university town for $125,000 - I can generate income immediately - and in the university town I am thinking of, I can generate $15,000 to $22,000 gross, less than that net, but still add to my nest egg, but now with two properties contributing over 3K a month. In two or three years you have enough to purchase a third property if you choose. As Sid said, there are headaches with it - but at the same time, if you have a good management company they do a lot of the work for you, and you sit back and let the money accumulate or watch your mortgage decline and your house value increase. Still - diversify! Just don't exclude property entirely.

Wow. Honestly, you can think cash. But 600,000 will buy you property and housing. Housing can be rented. Property may go down in value, but it doesn't go 'poof' like stocks or bonds. Property generates monthly revenue without dipping into your principal, and if you have chosen the right market, property pays its own mortgage. In the end, you own it clear and free, put nowhere near its value in (of your own money) and it continues to generate revenue - but you can still sell it. And if the market goes down and rents decline, if you have paid off the mortgage, you can lower your rents temporarily and STILL get a monthly remit from it. Lastly, when you get old, you can put your kids as joint on it, meaning no inheritance fuss, or you can sell it and splurge in your last few years or months. That, balanced with cash for investment and use, is IMHO the way to go.

Depending on schools you are interested in, visit their website, look under employment, and respond appropriately. If you tick all the right boxes or stand out in an exceptional fashion, they will be in touch.

Good luck!

I also think after being an IT for awhile, you learn to read between the lines and winnow out the essentials for you. I take them with a grain of salt, but look for patterns over years...

Given the situation and attitude in many countries, a male trailing spouse might not be as well received, especially if you are younger. If you are older, that's different again...

Here is the thing for your husband that he might not realize - teaching in a DS is a whole different ball game than teaching in an IS. I went from teaching 7 of 8 with 26-30 students a class to teaching 5/8 with 10 - 17 students a class. And the worst behaved student in my IS was worst because he chatted and didn't hand in work!

It is easier as a teaching couple than as a single teacher w/ trailing spouse. And you can live on one salary and bank the other.

What about the case that where you come from, there is no such thing as an administration licensure system? LOL