The International Schools Review Forum

Hey Everybody. Feeling a bit intimidated given the job market currently, so I'd like to know what people think of my odds here...

Unfortunately, the economy cut my experience short last school year while I was abroad alongside many of my Lebanese and international colleagues across many schools. Even though we were given some documentation that our release was through no fault of our own, it wasn't much of a consolation prize. Given that reality, I'm back in the United States and trying my best to get back to the international scene. I am curious though what all of you think my odds are.

I've been in Education for moving on 3.5 years now.

I've got a BA in Poli Sci with a minor in History.
Masters in Ed that I'm completing.
Stateside Certs in English, History & Sciences. Secondary and Middle Grades.

1.5 Years as an LTS. (Middle Grades English)
1 Year in Lebanon. (MYP & DP English & DP History)
1 Year at a Charter. (Secondary History, my current role)

So - Do I have a shot at getting back out there? I don't much mind where I go in terms of location. (Although I would prefer the Middle East)

Hi Zebra,

target IB schools. You want to stay in that environment to progress. You have both MYP and DP experience - I am assuming you have your Cat 1 or Cat 2 certificates?

You fill an I&S or Lang-Lit role - and have experience teaching across, which can be beneficial for smaller schools which need teachers to do that. Alternately, you could fill an MYP humanities position where podding takes place.

I think you are competitive in that you have experience in the IB, but not a lot of teaching experience, so you balance out costs. Schools like a mix of experienced and acquiring experience teachers to have a mix of new and old.

[quote=shadowjack post_id=60146 time=1605642768 user_id=98854]target IB schools. You want to stay in that environment to progress. You have both MYP and DP experience - I am assuming you have your Cat 1 or Cat 2 certificates? [/quote]

That's the plan! I really preferred teaching in the IB system once I became accustomed to it last year.
I also have my Category 1 Certificate. I was supposed to get the Cat 2 over this past summer, but then my job decided to nix my position entirely.

[quote=shadowjack post_id=60146 time=1605642768 user_id=98854] You fill an I&S or Lang-Lit role - and have experience teaching across, which can be beneficial for smaller schools which need teachers to do that. Alternately, you could fill an MYP humanities position where podding takes place.[/quote]

I'll be aiming for those then, specifically. What do you mean by podding though? I've not heard of that term before.

[quote=shadowjack post_id=60146 time=1605642768 user_id=98854]I think you are competitive in that you have experience in the IB, but not a lot of teaching experience, so you balance out costs. Schools like a mix of experienced and acquiring experience teachers to have a mix of new and old.
[/quote]

I appreciate your taking the time to weigh in on my situation. Crossing my fingers that one of these schools sees some value in my CV!

Pods are where student groups stay the same and have one teacher for Lang and Lit and I & S and another for Maths and Science, with lots of interdisciplinary stuff going on. At an IB school sometimes the third pod is Design and Art, with PE and Languages being the specialists in the group.

Noted! Thanks for clarifying!!