Hi,
I know there are certain countries in the Middle East have age limits. For example, some schools don't accept applicants over 55 years of age.

Does anyone know if any schools in South/Central America have a similar age limitation? Or, perhaps, it's countries that impose age limitations and not the schools. Either way, wondering about SA & CA.

Thanks.

Rountrip... I am a teacher in Georgia also. Where are you? Or, if you'd like to correspond off forum, send me you email addy. :):):)

Danda, here’s the thing. I simply did not know that once one was in the QSI system, per se, one can essentially move upward and onward to QSI schools in better locations. The way it sounds is that once someone is working for QSI, they gain somewhat of a seniority status and are probably considered for QSI schools in better or more desirable locations over other applicants with plenty of non-QSI international school teaching experience. If that’s the way QSI works, then that’s the way they work and that’s fine. Good to know. Personally, when I decided to go international back in 2000, I chose not pursue jobs with QSI as I felt the packages were not as good what I thought I could find (and what I did find) working in other international schools.

With regard to your comments that I used the coinage “dreadful payâ€

WOW! So you have to work up way from the least desired QSI schools to the most desired?? I had no idea!

Do they not take into consideration other international experience in very good IBO schools that are accredited by the US? And what about other experience be it in the US or Canada? And what about multiple certifications and higher degrees?

I am actually an extremely marketable teacher and it sort of bums me out to read this info about QSI. I can certainly understand how Belize would be a premier location that many people would go for. I'm really just trying to find some decent schools in which to teach in the future for when I decide to retire and buy property. Currently researching the up and coming retirement havens such as Belize, Nicaragua, Panama, Equador. I'm hearing that Costa Rica and Guatemala have gotten more expensive. I'm looking at these locations as I am from the Southern US and the flights would be fairly close to home.

Anyone have any idea what it's like to work in these schools? I know they only hire non-smokers. I don't smoke but what's up with that?

I noticed that Quality International School is the only international school in Belize. All positions are filled for the up coming school year. I'm just thinking for the future. Any ideas on how dreadfully low their salaries might be?

Maybe it'll be my in for getting a job there in a few years and retire there.

ooopps... that would be Granada, Nicaragua...

I have read that some of the best expat retirement places in that area are Grenada, Equador, Nicaragua. Panama is on the list but has recently become more expensive. Maybe I need to see if there is an international school in Grenada.

Thanks for the reply, Heyteach. Yes, I have a friend who worked there several years ago and enjoyed it. I did hear that Equador has gotten more expensive in recent years. Still, it might be a possibility if I decide to go ahead and work enough years to retire in the States. My goal at the moment is to do that and teach abroad afterwards so I'll be able to sort of double-dip with regard to income & savings. FYI, I taught in Egypt and South Korea several years ago before deciding to come home. That international bug still floats around in my head.

What are the top paying schools in Central & South America? I've always heard about the Graded school in Brazil, C. Roosevelt in Peru. Any others out there that do not pay ridiculously low salaries?

On the other hand, what if I wanted to find a country in Central or South America in which to work for a few years and then retire... meaning to stay and live in that country after retirement? What would some good suggestions be? Take into consideration that when I do this will be several years down the road after I retire from a USA public school system. So, I would have my pension to live on and pay would not be the top priority. The quality of life would be top priority at this point.

Thanks.

LMBO... Hi Dave. :)

Anon & Heyteach, thanks for your replies. I really appreciate it.

Heyteach, I noticed you are in the Middle East. In what country do you live/teach? I adored living in Egypt. Love Syria, Lebanon, Jordan as well.

I'd like some opinions from those of you familiar with DODDS if you don't mind.

Based on my muliple certifications and degrees, which are as follows:
Elementary Education, K-5
Hearing Impaired, PreK-12
ESOL Endorsement, K-12
Gifted Endorsement, K-5
Adapted Education, K-5
School Counseling, K-12 (projected grad date December 2012)

M.Ed. in Education of the Hearing Impaired
Ed.S. in Special Education
M.A. in School Counseling (projected graduatuon date December 2012)

How likely is it that I would be offered a job with DODDS compared to all the other competition out there currently?

I have four years of international experience in in the Middle East and Asia from 2000-2004 and 18 years teaching experience total.

I should probably mention that I was offered and declined a job with them in 2000. I had just moved back to the states from Korea to be closer to my aging parents which is why I declined the offer. It was a tough decision for sure as I had wanted to work for them for years. The job was for an elementary ESL position in Butzbach, Germany. That particular school wound up closing a couple of years later. I have often wondered if I blackballed myself with them for declining a position that was probably coveted by others.

So, eight years later I am in the process of updating my application with DODDS. I called and spoke with someone in their office who assured me that I had not been blackeballed by turning down a position in 2004. She said that turning down a position only invalidates you for an offer during the same school year.

Any opinions of the likelihood of getting an offer to teach? Ultimately, I'd like to be a DODDS counselor but would certainly accept a teaching position if that would get me in the door and, hopefully, move to a counselor position later on.

Another thing worth mentioning is that I was actually called for interviews for hearing impaired positions three separate times while living in the Middle East and Asia. I did not feel good about breaking my contracts with the schools that I had been with at the time. Maybe I should have but I'm loyal in that way, I suppose. Each time they called for an interview I told them that I was currently under contract with a school so it was mutally agreed that I would not even conduct the phone interview. It was ironic that I was finally called and offered the Germany ESL job in 2004 but could not take it because of the need to be near my aging parents.

With all my qualifications, I feel confident that I will get an offer once my application is complete. But then I also feel like maybe I have jinxed myself by not taking advantage of earlier DODDS opportunities.

If anyone can provide opinions or feedback I'd be grateful.

Thanks for reading this ever so long post.

:):):)