The Colegio Americano de Torreón was founded in 1950 and is a non-profit, co-educational, non-denomination day school providing educational services for students from Prekindergarten through Grade 12. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Secretary of Education of Mexico.
CAT has over 1,300 students; 97% of the students are Mexican nationals. The school has approximately 100 teachers; about 25% are from the United States.
Mission
The school’s mission is to teach students a college preparatory curriculum that will enable them to become successful in the global environment of the 21st century.
Facilities
CAT has a new 25-acre campus in Los Vinedos. Facilities include 33 classrooms, 7 science labs, 3 computer labs, 2 libraries, 2 gyms, a swimming pool, a cafeteria, art and music rooms, tennis courts, sports fields, basketball courts, a 400m track and more. A new Primary facility was completed in 2006. Take a look at the recruiting video to see the campus – it looks impressive.
Curriculum
The school uses a college preparatory curriculum similar to that found in the United States and instruction is primarily in English. CAT has a gifted and talented program for students in grades 3-6. Students that graduate from CAT receive both an American High School diploma and the Mexican Bachillerato diploma.
Extracurricular Activities
CAT offers a range of activities for students including student council, Model United Nations, National Honor Society, band, choir, jazz, soccer, tennis, fine arts, chess club and much more. CAT is a member of ASOMEX and participates in athletic, academic and cultural competitions and exchanges.
Technology
Classrooms have internet access; many have LCD projects and Smartboards. The three computer labs use the Windows OS. Computer classes are part of the regular curriculum.
Professional Development
CAT supports professional development for the faculty in several ways. Teachers may pursue an advanced degree through the SUNY Masters Program or through a program at a local university. Other options for PD include regional workshops and conferences, in-services, and visiting consultants.
Employment
CAT wants teachers that have a university degree, are credentialed, are American or Canadian citizens, don’t have dependents and have two years teaching experience. The school prefers teaching couples with ESL experience. A good recruiting video online will give you an idea of what it’s like to work at CAT and live in Torreon. Job openings are listed online, or interested teachers can send their resume and references to Makhlouf Ouyed, the General Director, at makhlouf.ouyed@cat.mx.
Initial contracts are for two years. Salaries are minimal at CAT: they go from $21,000 to $28,000 a year; 50% is paid in USD and 50% in pesos. The peso part of the salary is taxed at the rate of 17%. Benefits include furnished housing, a relocation allowance of $100, a major medical plan, round trip transportation, a cell phone, a Christmas bonus of one-fourth of the monthly salary, a contract completion bonus of $1,000, Mexican Social Security, free Spanish classes, subsidized gym fee, personal household insurance and sick and emergency leave. New teachers should be aware that CAT is a non-smoking campus. A teacher recruitment book is available online.
About Torreon
Torreon is located in the Coahuila region in northern Mexico. The city is an industrial and agricultural center with a population of about 600,000. It has a diverse population and is within easy commuting distance of Houston, Dallas and LA. While Torreon may not have some of the colonial attractions of other cities in Mexico, it does have shopping malls, grocery chains, movie theaters, a wide variety of restaurants and the usual favorite American fast food chains.
The weather stays between the high 70s and low 90s so it’s perfect for people that like warm weather and a lot of outdoor activities. The city is close to the Coahuila Desert the Jimulco Sierra, the Bilbao Dunes, the Acatita Dunes and other natural attractions.
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