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The American School of Marrakesh

Aug17
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

The American School of Marrakesh is an independent, non-profit, co-educational day school that provides educational services for students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. ASM is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The school was founded in 1995.

ASM has over 450 students that are primarily Moroccan, along with students from Europe and America.

Mission
The school mission is to provide students with an excellent education in a multi-cultural environment where they can become skilled in English, Arabic and French, as well as responsible global citizens.

image: Lionel Leo

Facilities
ASM is located in the suburbs of Marrakesh. Facilities include a computer lab, a library, air-conditioned classrooms, sports facilities and more. Actually, the school doesn’t really discuss facilities on the website, which seems to have many sections under construction.

Curriculum
ASM uses a balanced college preparatory curriculum based on American standards and benchmarks. The majority of students speak English as a second or third language. The school is organized into two sections: Lower School and Upper School. Classroom resources are purchased in the United States. ASM gives some standardized tests including the International Standards Assessment, the PSAT, the SAT, TOEFL and the American Mathematics Examination.

Extracurricular Activities
ASM offers a variety of activities that include arts and crafts, Model United Nations, the school newspaper, the yearbook, volleyball, basketball, running, soccer, dance, drama and more. The school sports programs include competitions with other schools in Morocco.

Technology
Computer classes are part of the school curriculum for students from Kindergarten through Grade 12. ASM works to integrate technology throughout the curriculum.

Professional Development
No information is available. I’m always a bit concerned about schools that don’t say anything about their PD program.

Employment
Qualifications for teacher candidates are: native-like English speaking ability, BA or MA in education, certification, teaching experience and experience working in an international school. ASM does not list salaries and benefits other than to say that they are competitive. Job openings are listed online. Candidates should send a letter of introduction along with a statement of educational philosophy, a CV and at least three letters of recommendation. Send the documents to employment@asm.ac.ma.

About Marrakesh
Marrakesh is the second-largest city in Morocco and is located near the Atlas Mountains with the desert at its southern border and the Atlantic Ocean on the west. The city has a population of just over a million. Marrakesh has a semi-arid climate with temperatures that run from 12 degrees Celsius in the winter to 23 degrees in the summer. Marrakesh is one of those Moroccan cities that fascinate many Westerners: references to Marrakesh can be found in songs like “Marrakesh Express” by Crosby, Stills and Nash; in films like The Man Who Knew Too Much by Alfred Hitchcock; and in literature like the essay “Marrakech” by George Orwell.

Posted in American international schools, international schools, international teaching positions, Morocco - Tagged , , , , , , ,

American School of Tangier

Aug16
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

Here’s a school that I would love to work at for a few years. The American School of Tangier is a private, co-educational, day school that provides educational services for students from age 3 through 18. It was founded in 1950 and has a long and colorful history.

The school has about 300 students most of which are Moroccan. Teachers are predominately American or Moroccan. Maximum class sizes run from 22 in the Lower School to 24 in the Upper School.

Mission
The school’s mission is to inspire students so that they become positive global citizens.

Facilities
AST has an impressive campus. Facilities include a library, a gym, an outdoor pool, art and music rooms, computer labs, science lbs, sports fields, playgrounds, a theatre and well equipped classrooms.

Curriculum
AST uses an American-style fusion curriculum with three divisions: the Lower School, the Middle School and the Upper School. The core courses are the usual: math, science, social studies, English, Arabic, French and PE. Specials are technology, drama, music, research, library and electives. The school offers some AP classes for older students. Graduates receive an American high school diploma.

Extracurricular Activities
The school offers a wide variety of activities including SCUBA classes, art and drama, music, interscholastic sports, Arabic, student council and more.

Technology
Each classroom has one networked computer with internet access. AST also has a computer lab. Computer classes are part of the regular curriculum.

Professional Development
No information is available.

Employment
AST is interested in qualified and experienced teachers. They note that they have a very stable teaching staff with few openings. Candidates should send a cover letter with a copy of a college degree, the date and location of certification, teaching experience and contact information for references. These should be sent to hiring.ast@gmail.com. Openings are listed online. No information is available on salaries or benefits.

About Tangier
Tangier is located in Northern Morocco and has a population of around 700,000. It has a long, fabled past as the home to many expat writers, musicians and jet setters, such as Paul Bowles, Tennessee Williams, Jean Genet and Barbara Hutton. Among the well-visited sites in Tangier are the Kasbah, the tomb of Ibn Battouta and the American Legation which includes a museum.

Posted in American international schools, international schools, international teaching positions, Morocco - Tagged , , , , ,

American International School of Nouakchott

Aug05
2011 2 Comments Written by admin

The American International School of Nouakchott is a private, non-profit, co-educational day school that provides educational services for students from Pre-kindergarten through Grade 12. AISN was founded in 1978 and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. The school has about 63 students, about one-third are American citizens. Of the nine faculty members, five are Americans.

Mission
The school mission is to provide students an excellent American-based education.

image: Francois Colin

Facilities
The school is located on the U.S. Embassy compound. It has 8 classrooms, a science lab, a computer lab, an art room, a library, a kitchen, a playground, an outdoor stage, a basketball court and a soccer field. The school also has use of the Embassy swimming pool.

Curriculum
AISN uses American-based standards from Project AERO that are similar to most U.S. public schools. Teachers use these standards to develop the school curriculum. The school offers the usual specialist subjects and core courses.

Extracurricular Activities
AISN has an after school program that offers a variety of activities including journalism, soccer, basketball, swimming, band, arts and crafts, swimming, American football, cooking, Arabic, and more.

Technology
The school has a computer lab with internet access, and students take computer classes as part of the regular curriculum.

Professional Development
No information is available.

Employment
All teachers in the school are certified and most have advanced degrees. The school lists openings online. No information is available on the hiring process. A salary schedule is online. Starting salaries run from $19,000 to $39,462 depending on degrees, certification and experience. According to the director of the school, most new teachers average around $30,000 and after 10 years with a Masters teachers can get $34,000. He also notes that most teachers are able to save money. Benefits include retirement pay, dental and medical, an annual trip home, furnished housing with utilities and an interest free loan to purchase a car.

About Mauritania and Nouakchott
OK, geography quiz. How many people know where Mauritania is located? None? I’m not surprised. Well, Mauritania is located in West Africa with Mali to the east, Algeria and Western Sahara to the north and Senegal in the south. The country has a population of around two million. Most of the country is desert, and while it gets hot, overall the climate is said by the school to be pleasant most of the year.

Nouakchott is the capital and has a population of around 900,000. It lies along the Atlantic Ocean and was just a small fishing town 50 years ago, so Nouakchott still has a relaxed feel about it. The beaches are a popular place to hangout on the weekends, and many teachers enjoy shopping in the traditional market for handicrafts. The city does have large supermarkets for teachers who prefer modern over traditional. This city sounds like a great place to teach for teachers that enjoy small schools and have a great sense of adventure.

Posted in American international schools, expat employment, international schools, international teaching positions, Mauritania, schools with teacher salary schedules online, west africa - Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Lincoln Community School Accra

Jul21
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

Lincoln Community School is an independent, co-educational school that provides educational services for students from pre-school through Grade 12. LCS was founded in 1968. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Council of International Schools. It is an IB World School with authorization to use all three IB programs.

The school has 582 students that represent 54 nationalities. There are 68 full-time teachers in the school that represent 18 countries.

Mission
The school’s mission is to be a model American international school that inspires students to develop their academic and personal potential and become responsible citizens.

Facilities
LCS is located in Accra. Among the facilities are 2 libraries, modern science labs, computer labs, sports fields, a multipurpose gym, a communications center, a visual and performing arts center and a semi-Olympic size pool.

Curriculum
The school has an inquiry-based program using the IB as the framework. Reading, Writing, Math, Social Studies and Science are the core courses, with the usual specials. High School students may receive the LCS Diploma or the IB Diploma. Both are recognized in the United States and around the world.

image: aripeskoe2

Extracurricular Activities
The school offers over 80 different activities for students including the National Honor Society, Roots and Shoots, Habitat for Humanity, ceramics, karate, basketball, French, badminton, swimming and much more. In addition to the extracurricular activities, LCS has a competitive athletic program for older students who can play against other schools in the West African International Schools Activity League. These sports include soccer, basketball, volleyball, and swimming.

Technology
The school has several computer labs. IT is offered as a stand-alone subject and is integrated throughout the curriculum.

Professional Development
As is expected from an IB World School, LCS is committed to professional development. They claim to be one of the best resourced international schools in the world for PD, committing over 2% of the school’s budget to PD. They offer a variety of programs based on individual and school needs.

Employment
The school is looking for committed, passionate and qualified teachers who can work in a collaborative environment. Teachers have a set of five standards for self-evaluation. These include effective planning, creating a purposeful classroom, using differentiated instruction, being accountable for student learning and being committed to professional responsibilities. Information on salaries and benefits is not available other than the mention of furnished housing and utilities.

Vacancies are listed online. Interested teachers can send a cover letter and a CV to the Human Resources Manager at hrmanager@lincoln.edu.gh.

About Accra
Accra is the capital of Ghana. It has a population of close to four million. The city is the cultural center of the country, as well as the center of tourism. During its history, Accra has had Dutch, British, Danish, Swedish, French and Portuguese forts to facilitate their work in the slave trade.

Ghana has a tropical savanna climate with two rainy seasons: May to July, and mid-August to October. The temperature remains fairly even at around 27 degrees Celsius. Humidity tends to be high, especially during the cool season. Malaria is prevalent in Accra and new teachers will need to take precautions. The school website has advice on this issue.

Accra has a variety of activities for tourists and resident expats including clubs, restaurants and museums. The city has the National Museum, the National Cultural Centre, and the Du Bois Centre.

Posted in ghana, IB World Schools, international teaching positions - Tagged , , , , , , , ,

International Community School Addis Ababa

Jul16
2011 2 Comments Written by admin

The International Community School is an independent, co-educational day school that provides educational services for students from Early Childhood through Grade 12. The school was founded in 1964. It is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Council of International Schools. It is an IB World School with authorization to use the IB Diploma Programme. ICS has a 182-day school year.

ICS has about 650 students that represent over 70 nationalities. The school has 60 teachers from 11 countries.

Mission
The school mission is to use holistic teaching methods to help students develop their intellectual skills and talents so that they can become productive global citizens.

Facilities
ICS is located on a 15-acre campus in Addis Ababa. Facilities include a purpose-built early childhood center, 42 classrooms, 2 libraries with over 30,000 volumes, an outdoor amphitheater, play areas, 3 computer labs, outdoor sports courts, a gym, science labs, a 300-meter outdoor track and a performing arts center.

Curriculum
The curriculum takes the American-international fusion approach and is standards-based. ICS draws from best practices around the world, including Everyday Math, Reading and Writing Workshop and Full Option Science. Students in Grade 11 and Grade 12 can take the IB Diploma Programme.

Extracurricular Activities
ICS has a wide variety of after school activities. These include community service projects, arts and crafts, gymnastics, ballet, foreign language clubs, academic activities, and a variety of sports. ICS is a member of the International Schools of Southern and Eastern Africa. Athletic teams participate in competitions with other members of the group.

Addis Ababa overview

image: Hansueli Krapf

Technology
ICS has a WiFi network around campus. The school is developing a 1 to 1 laptop program. Technology is seen as a tool for learning and is integrated throughout the curriculum. Students from Preschool through Grade 12 take computer classes. The school has mobile computer labs that are available for teachers to checkout. Many classes have digital projectors and interactive whiteboards.

Professional Development
Professional development is an important part of ICS. Teachers take IB workshops, attend regional teacher conferences, have in-services with experts from around the world, and participate in curriculum development.

Employment
A profile of the ideal ICS teacher is on the website. This kind of information is great for candidates because they can get an idea of what they can expect from the school and what the school will expect from them. Among the expectations are an ability to use technology as a tool for communication and efficiency, a teaching certificate, a Bachelor’s Degree, three years of experience, and an ability to differentiate instruction. A recruiting video is also online. ICS lists openings on its website. Applications can be sent to the school director at info@icsaddis.edu.et. Be sure to include a letter of interest, a CV, three letters of recommendation and contact details for your most recent Principal. The school prefers to receive these in a PDF file. ICS attends the major recruiting fairs.

Benefits include furnished housing, duty-free privileges, round trip airfare, medical insurance, shipping, an overseas allowance, a retirement plan and an interest-free loan.

About Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia; it is the third highest capital in the world as it sits at an altitude of 2,300 meters. The city has a population of approximately 3 million. It has a rainy season from mid-June to September. The average temperature is 25 degrees Celsius.

The city has grocery stores, malls and department stores. Shoppers can buy many Western goods although they tend to be expensive and not always in stock. Ethiopia has many unique historical and cultural attractions that are easily accessible to teachers during weekends and vacation periods.

Posted in Ethiopia, expat employment, IB World Schools, international schools, international teaching positions - Tagged , , , , , ,
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