Search found 152 matches

by Nomads
Wed Sep 09, 2015 8:12 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Moving toward admin.. timing?
Replies: 4
Views: 10032

Re: Moving toward admin.. timing?

I would concur with Shadow. The vast majority of AP positions are filled internally. I was actually an exception to the rule, but I had interviewed with the director previously and had a large number of former staff from that school promoting me. One thing for you to consider is if you do move up to administration in your current school, you will be expected to stay in that role for two or three years.

You may want to consider trying to move to a larger school in the area you want to live, establish yourself there, then try to move into admin.

Good luck.
by Nomads
Fri Aug 21, 2015 7:41 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Use a recruiting service or not?
Replies: 16
Views: 27646

Re: Use a recruiting service or not?

Ozu,

I would apply directly to the schools. Get them interested in you as a candidate, then they can see if they find a way to afford you. A number of schools will not, but many will particularly those that are not full or places where housing is not outrageously expensive.

Search and ISS should be viewed as agencies that provide a database of applicants and arrange job fairs. They do not operate as head hunters actively pitching candidates to schools.

The only time I have seen them do this is when they know the candidate very well, perhaps worked with them in the past. But, they have so many candidates these days, they do not have in-depth knowledge of all of them.
by Nomads
Thu Jul 30, 2015 10:03 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Criminal Record?
Replies: 10
Views: 17773

Re: Criminal Record?

Given the recent events around the world, more and more schools are requiring FBI fingerprint checks. All the new teachers this year at my school are required to get one. Their contract is contingent on the report coming back clean.

I would agree with the others who are advising you to come clean with the school. I would wait until you know they are very interested or even offered the job and then explain the situation.

As an administrator, if a 20 year old DWI was the only issue, it would not be a problem. If I learned about it later, I would have a significant problem and would probably terminate the contract due to non-disclosure. It is an integrity issue for me.

Alan
by Nomads
Thu Jul 30, 2015 9:57 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Teach for America/TNTP Advice
Replies: 6
Views: 12926

Re: Teach for America/TNTP Advice

Helloiswill,

I have not heard of TNTP, but I have had very positive experiences with Teach for American alumni, just hired two for this school year.

In regards to the Masters', in my experience, what school is not that important. What you learned through your program and how it will make you a better teacher is more important. My advice, save the money, and pick a program closer to home that would excite you.
by Nomads
Wed Jul 22, 2015 11:10 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Placement firms for Korea
Replies: 4
Views: 7289

Placement firms for Korea

My nephew is interested in teaching English in Korea. He is a college grad, but not in teaching.

Can anyone recommend a credible company that could help him get a job in Korea?

Thanks
by Nomads
Tue Jun 16, 2015 6:17 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Teaching couple question
Replies: 19
Views: 25517

Re: Teaching couple question

@Psyguy

You continue to prove your ignorance. NO MOLESTATION!!!! Not using drugs! Of course there is. Yes, there are fewer issues with violence in the streets and poverty. Here are the list of issues the counselors at my schools have dealt with in the past few years.

Sexual abuse, physical abuse (often by parents)
Depression
Anxiety
Suicide ideation and attempts
Cutting
Divorce, multi-family arrangements
Single parent families
Stress of living in a dangerous country

International schools needs excellent mental health professionals to provide the best possible service to the families because they are often the only resource available.
by Nomads
Tue Jun 16, 2015 6:10 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Pathway to School Leadership
Replies: 23
Views: 38291

Re: Pathway to School Leadership

As someone responsible for hiring administrators, by best advice is to get the masters in ed. leadership. If you are in a quality program, it will give you the background you need in law, finance, supervision, etc. to be a successful building administrator far more that a masters in technology.

I would not worry about the IB certification. You can get the information you need after the fact by attending IB conferences. I personally don't care about IB certification if you can show you know the program.

I concur with the others, get as many leadership experiences as you can while working on your masters.
by Nomads
Thu Jun 11, 2015 4:30 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Teaching couple question
Replies: 19
Views: 25517

Re: Teaching couple question

@PsyGuy,

If that is your opinion of IS counselors, then you have not worked with good ones. I have been fortunate to have outstanding counselors in all five of the international schools I have worked in who have made a tremendous difference in families lives because of their counselling skills.

Any counselor considering heading overseas needs to understand they may need to fill that role because of the lack of community resources.
by Nomads
Mon Jun 08, 2015 11:07 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Teaching couple question
Replies: 19
Views: 25517

Re: Teaching couple question

Once again PsyGuy is posting inaccurate information.

In all the international schools I have worked in, the counselors do a significant amount of mental health work, particularly in the American style schools. In many international countries there is limited mental health counselors in the community who speak English, so it falls to the school counselors. Also, the counselors should do little to no student management.

The issue for your husband is the college admission piece. Some schools are big enough to have some counselors to college admission and others for the academic/social emotional piece. You may struggle getting interviews at a school that requires all their high school counselors to do college admission due to the high stakes nature of it. I would encourage him to become as conversant as possible with the process for college admission in the US, Canada, and UK at a minimum.
by Nomads
Mon Mar 30, 2015 10:11 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Looking Ahead: Rate the Fairs
Replies: 31
Views: 32886

Re: Looking Ahead: Rate the Fairs

What do you both teach and how many children will be accompanying you? These questions affect how successful you may be at each of the fairs.
by Nomads
Thu Feb 26, 2015 10:05 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Search vs. direct contact
Replies: 3
Views: 5006

Re: Search vs. direct contact

Search has a couple of different ways to tell if you were hired through their service. The main way is if the school accessed your file. If you apply directly to the school, and the school does not access your file on the Search database, the school does not owe Search any money even if you are a Search candidate.

I do not know of any quality school that would hire a candidate who contacted them directly over a Search candidate to avoid paying the fee. As a recruiter I prefer Search and ISS candidates because they have confidential references. When I am contacted by a candidate that looks promising, I can quickly check the references to see if the candidate is worth the time to interview. With candidates who contact me directly, I do not have that information easily available.

My advice is to contact the school's directly, include a resume, and let them know you are a Search candidate.

Best of luck.
by Nomads
Wed Feb 18, 2015 4:15 am
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Search Assoc?
Replies: 15
Views: 44537

Re: Search Assoc?

It is important to understand what Search associates can do and not do for you. They are a placement service, who facilitates the hiring through their database. The associates are available to answer your questions and share their knowledge of different schools, administrators, and countries. They have the largest number of international schools as clients including almost all the top tier schools on every continent. As an administrator, they are valuable because they have the largest number of teacher candidates, who have been screened, and the references are confidential.

They are not a head hunting firm where the associate will go out and promote your application. If you are thinking/hoping they are going to do this for you, you will be disappointed. Your registration fee gets you into the database, access to the job postings, and information on the schools.

I cannot comment on how responsive they are to email. I would encourage you to make the effort, so they get to know you. Ask to speak to them on the phone. Keep them updated on your progress and, if you attend a fair, make sure you spend some time with them. This will help you when an administrator comes to them and asks, "Do you know of a good elementary teacher?"
by Nomads
Wed Jan 21, 2015 2:55 pm
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: Schools with only WASC accreditation
Replies: 1
Views: 5946

Re: Schools with only WASC accreditation

Lunarium,

International schools are designated as such typically because they serve a multi-national student body usually with a US, British, or international curriculum.

Many international schools are IB schools but certainly not all.

International schools are certified by a wide range of agencies including, but not limited to, WASC, NEASC, CIS, Middle States. All reputable international schools are accredited by one of the major agencies.

Hope this helps.
by Nomads
Wed Jan 21, 2015 2:49 pm
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: How often do good candidates come away empty handed?
Replies: 16
Views: 31227

Re: How often do good candidates come away empty handed?

MizMorton,

My apologies for the typo. Going too fast on the iPad.
by Nomads
Fri Jan 16, 2015 9:56 am
Forum: Forum 2. Ask Recruiting Questions, Share Information. What's on Your Mind?
Topic: How often do good candidates come away empty handed?
Replies: 16
Views: 31227

Re: How often do good candidates come away empty handed?

MizMoron,

Given your adversity to the ME and China, you are going to have a smaller pool of schools as Sid indicated. It sounds like Southeast Asia, Europe and Central/South America are the only places you are considering. Europe and Southeast Asia tends to be very competitive from a teacher standpoint and those schools receive many applications. Central/South America could be a good fit for you. The salary/benefit packages tend to be less, but the cost of living tends to be lower as well.

One other thing that may impact you is most international schools are looking for science specialists specifically Chemistry, Biology and Physics who have taught at the AP and/or IB level. You noted you have a general science/earth science background. If you have experience with the three specialties I listed, make sure you play them up. If not, you may want to pursue middle school positions more.

Good luck. Overseas teaching gives you a lifestyle you cannot experience in the states and will be wonderful experience for your girls.