International School of Estonia

The International School of Estonia is a private, non-profit, co-educational day school that provides educational services for students from Preschool through Grade 12. The school was founded in 1995 and is accredited by the Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. ISE is an IB World School with authorization to use the PYP and the IB Diploma Program. The school has a 178 days of instruction.

ISE has 115 students representing 24 nationalities. Class sizes are small (between 5 and 15) with a 4.5 to 1 student/teacher ratio.

Mission
The school’s mission is to offer students an outstanding international education so that students become risk-takers and excellent communicators who will become agents of positive change.

Facilities
The school is located in an converted two-story building in the central district of Tallinn that has 2,400 square meters of space. Facilities include 19 classrooms, a science lab, a computer lab, a cafeteria, a library with 10,000 volumes, an ESL room, music and art centers, a gym, and a playground. ISE also uses the sporting facilities at the Tallinna Spordihall.

Curriculum
ISE is an IB World School and uses the PYP with students in the primary grades and offers the IB Diploma for students in Grade 11 and Grade 12. The Middle School curriculum uses the best of international practices.

image: Nikater

Technology
ISE uses both Macs and PCs. All computers are networked, and the school has student/computer ratio of 1 to 1.4. WiFi access is available throughout the school. Technology is integrated throughout the curriculum. Lesson plans are posted on Moodle.

Professional Development
Staff and curriculum meetings are held twice a week. Teachers are expected to take an active role in professional development. The school provides a variety of PD opportunities including in-services, IB training and CEESA conferences.

Employment
ISE lists openings on the school website. They also advertise on the TIE and Search websites. Initial contracts are two-years. Interested teachers can contact the director at Don Fitzmahan, Director -director@ise.edu.ee

The school has a cost of living page that includes the salary schedule and a list of monthly expenses. The salaries are very modest: a teacher with two-year’s experience and a Bachelor’s degree receives about 17,000 Euros annually. However, the school says that a teacher who makes 19,000 Euros a year can save up to USD 14,469 annually. So the savings isn’t too bad. These figures are three years old so salaries may have increased since then. The school will place teachers as high as step 10 which would give a teacher with an MA a salary of 28,225 Euros. 15% of expat salaries are paid in the lcoal currency. Benefits include a housing, utilities and transportation allowances; medical and dental insurance; a matching 5% retirement plan; round trip airfare; mid-contract travel allowance of 500 Euros; shipping allowance; sick, personal and bereavement leaves; a moving-in allowance and a tax-free salary.

About Tallinn and Estonia
Tallinn is the capital of Estonia. Prices are generally low and the city has many restaurants, wine bars and cafes. Tallinn has a number of supermarkets and department stores. Some Western items may not be available. Dining choices run from local Estonian cuisine to international restaurants and Western chains like McDonald’s. Other activities in town include opera, ballet and symphonies.

Estonia gained independence in 1991 and is one of three Baltic republics. The weather is warm in the summers and cold in the winters; it does snow in the winter.