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Karachi American School

May22
2011 2 Comments Written by admin

Karachi American School was established in 1953. It is a private, co-educational school that offers educational services to the expatriate and local population of Karachi for students from Pre-K through Grade 12. The school uses an American college preparatory curriculum. KAS is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

KAS has approximately 340 students from 17 nationalities. The student/teacher ratio is 6:1 in the elementary school and 7:1 in the secondary school. KAS believes in a strong parent/school relationship. There are 38 teachers employed at KAS – 18 of those are American citizens.

Mission
The Karachi American School mission is to make sure that their students are prepared for international institutions of higher learning and for being responsible global citizens by using an American curriculum in the educational process at the school

Facilities
KAS sits on 12 acres of land. There are 2 libraries with 30,000 items combined, art rooms, science labs, 3 computer labs, a gym, an auditorium, squash and tennis courts, playing fields a cafeteria, a swimming pool, health facilities and a snack bar.

Curriculum
Karachi American School uses a United States based curriculum that is geared towards a college bound student population. By the time a student completes their course of study at KAS, they will be prepared to enter the best US colleges and universities. KAS offers AP courses for Juniors and Seniors. The curriculum is regularly reviewed and revised. The scope and sequence provide an integrated sequence of instruction to facilitate transitions from one grade level to the next.

KAS tries as much as possible to take into account individual learning differences and provide for those. Teachers use a variety of teaching techniques and materials in order to facilitate student achievement.

Extra-curricular Activities
KAS has an extensive extra-curricular program. The school believes that this program helps develop bonds between students and teachers, as well as providing a balanced educational experience for students.

KAS is a member of SAISA and takes part in all sporting and cultural activities that SAISA sponsors including basketball, soccer, swimming, volleyball, music and cultural events. Other activities that KAS students may participate in include student council, the Model UN, the National Honor Society, the National Junior Honor Society, and many clubs and sports for younger students.

Technology
KAS has three computer labs. They don’t have a particularly progressive technology program, so this can be a drawback for teachers that are technologically proficient.

Professional Development
KAS supports professional development. The majority of the faculty attends workshops, institutes or takes university courses.

Employment
KAS is looking for teachers who are adventurous and committed. North American teacher certification, or the equivalent, is required. Successful teachers at KAS will have high standards, be enthusiastic, use a variety of motivational methods, encourage student interest and motivation. Job openings are listed online. An application form is available online.

The school has a salary schedule that is online. Salaries run from $27,386 to $51.914. The school website doesn’t explain at what level new teachers will start. Generally, the pay is all right, but certainly not at the high end of the scale.

Lifestyle Benefits include: an excellent work environment, US Consulate commissary rights, professional support from colleagues and administration, strong parental support, hard working students, school ends in May, many travel opportunities, excellent family environment, excellent faculty housing, membership in Karachi Recreation Association, membership in the US Consulate American Club, a shared school vehicle with fuel, insurance and maintenance, good local medical services, financial support for the NESA conference, inexpensive cost of living, good domestic help – school furnished security guard, school provided beach hut, one four day weekend each semester

Financial Benefits include: retirement of 15% of salary, annual round trip airfare, settling in allowance, round trip transportation for students in college, air and Sea shipment from home to Karachi, re-signing bonus, furnished housing, annual physical examination, dental allowance, tuition for dependents, personal, bereavement, maternity, recruitment, and sick leave, and medical, life, disability and health insurance.

About Karachi
Karachi is Pakistan’s largest city with 15 million people. It is located on the shores of the Arabian Sea. Karachi is a developing city where five star hotels exist alongside traditional houses.

Karachi weather is warm with a long summer and short spring. Winter tends to be quite pleasant.

Karachi does not have bars and clubs where expats can hang out. Social outings tend to center around home entertaining and visiting restaurants. Other venues for social entertainment include concerts, musical performances and theater. Golf is a popular activity with expats and Pakistanis alike, as are water sports.

Pakistanis love to eat, and in Karachi you’ll find great fruits and vegetables as well as seafood, chicken and beef. Western style supermarkets are available as well as a few specialty shops that cater to foreigners.

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The International School of Islamabad

May22
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

This is a school that gets a big plus from me because of their openness about what they expect from teachers and what teachers can expect from them. I have a problem with schools that don’t want to tell you about salary and benefits, or how teachers or evaluated, or what precisely your duties will be or what you can expect in the way of a lifestyle. ISOI displays a lot of transparency in their website (with the exception of listing the salary schedule), and they should be given credit for that. This is a model of what a school website should be like.

The International School of Islamabad is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. It is a private co-educational college preparatory day school. It uses an American based curriculum

There are students from over 23 nationalities at ISOI. The student to staff ratio is 8:1. ISOI has 38 faculty members; 55% of those are from North America. Faculty with teaching certification from the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom are preferred.

Mission
The mission of ISOI is to prepare students academically so that they reach their full potential and become positive members of the community who show an enthusiasm for learning.

Facilities
ISOI has 23 acres of land on the edge of Islamabad. There are Elementary, Middle and High School quads (courtyards), a gym, an auditorium, an indoor climbing wall, a soccer field, a track, tennis courts, 2 libraries, 4 technology centers, a cafeteria, an open-air theater, and bright classrooms.

Curriculum
The curriculum is standards-based and follows a US model. ISOI uses Understanding by Design as the basis of their philosophical belief. The school believes in having a strong connection between school and home, Core classes are Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science. The school curriculum is reviewed on a cyclical basis to make sure that there is continuity and integration with each grade level as well as between each grade level. High School students may elect to take Advanced Placement (AP) courses in their junior and senior years.

Extra-curricular Activities
ISOI is a member of SAISA (South Asian Inter School Association) and they take part in a variety of athletic competitions through SAISA in swimming, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and track and field. Non-athletic activities include: chess, student council, the Model UN, problem solving, art, band choir, and more.

Technology
The school offers support for technology use in the classroom. ISOI is a leader in the virtual school initiatives.

Professional Development
The leadership team of the school is committed to faculty development and provides support for that.

Employment
Information on faculty openings can be found on the school website. Minimum qualifications for employment at ISOI are: Bachelor’s Degree, a teaching credential, references reflecting successful teaching experience, a minimum of two years teaching experience, a willingness to serve as an advisor or sponsor student co-curricular activities, and the ability to adjust to a foreign location and the demands of a fast paced school. Preferred qualifications are: a Master’s Degree, five or more years experience, North American certification, and a willingness to work at the school beyond the initial two-year contract.

Some of the benefits of working at ISOI are: a salary and benefits program that keeps pace with the competition, hardship allowances and resigning bonuses, a well funded professional development program,
low student-teacher ratio, motivated students , a school committed to the use of instructional technology, large air-conditioned, carpeted classrooms, an outstanding co-curricular program, a professional staff that is committed to student learning, a faculty atmosphere that has high professional performance expectations and where everyone is willing to pitch in, the opportunity to attend open Board meetings, a Board of Directors that actively supports teachers, a school-wide commitment to long range Strategic Planning, a parent community that values the faculty, a school that has accessible cultural surroundings, a work environment where staff ideas are valued and can make a difference and a small school family environment.

OK, sounds really good. But before you jump in and apply for a position, you should ask yourself these questions: Am I ready to meet the school’s high performance expectations?, will I be able to teach in a school with many ESL students?, can I adjust my teaching for students who may enter the school during the middle of the year from a different educational system?, am I willing to make a commitment to extra-curricular and committee responsibilities?, can I live in a Muslim culture?, can I put up with electrical failures and problems with telecommunications?, can I perform my duties even in the face of security concerns?, am I willing to make a 3-4 year commitment to the school?, am I willing to trust the administration’s assessment regarding security issues?

Benefits:
Salaries are not mentioned, but benefits are: a one-time hardship allowance of $8000 per teacher, a bonus of $4000 for resigning a one year contract after the initial 2 year contract, furnished housing and basic utilities, retirement matching system of up to 8% of annual salary, annual sick leave of 11 days accumulative to 60 days, medical, life and disability insurance, free tuition for dependents, personal leave of 3 days, yearly home leave, use of school vehicle for $100 a month maintenance cost, housing allowance reimbursement of up to $500 a year, shipping allowance of $3500 coming and $5500 going, visa assistance and maternity, paternity, bereavement leaves.
ISOI attends the ISS and Search fairs. You can also search TIE for employment listings. If you are interested in working at ISOI, you can contact

EPhone: +92 51 443-4950
Fax: +92 51 444-0193
E-mail: jansell@isoi.edu.pk
Web: www.isoi.edu.pk

About Islamabad
Islamabad is an interesting city because it is planned and has tree lined streets and a lot of green. It is the capital of Pakistan. There is a large diplomatic presence in Islamabad.

You can enjoy a lot of outdoor activities in Islamabad including tennis, golf, horseback riding, and hiking. The expat population entertains regularly. There are shop that carry Western goods, and you may, like I did when I lived in Pakistan, end up doing a lot of fusion cooking. Pakistani food is outstanding, and there are many restaurants around the city.

Posted in expat employment, international schools, international teaching positions, south asia international schools - Tagged , , , , , , ,

Lahore American School

Feb21
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

It’s time to write about one of my favorite schools. Lahore American School is located in Lahore, Pakistan. Lahore is the second largest city in Pakistan (2006 government estimate is about 10,000,000 million population) and, in my opinion, the most beautiful. It is located about 20 minutes from the Pakistan-India border. I was employed at LAS for four years as a teacher and administrator, and I loved my time there even though they were very tense years for Pakistan and the world.

Lahore American School currently has over 410 students and has recovered nicely from the difficulties that it experienced during the aftermath of 9/11. During that period most of the international students left Pakistan to return to their home countries, and while LAS was still as wonderful place to work with great students, it did lose its international flavor during that period. LAS has been building its international student population since 2003 when I left to move to Indonesia. The majority of students at LAS are Pakistani along with a small expat population.

LAS is an independent, coeducational day, college preparatory school that provides educational services for students from Preschool to Grade 12. LAS was founded in 1956 and has a demanding academic environment.

Mission and Philosophy
The Lahore American School, in its pursuit of excellence, offers a comprehensive university preparatory education that challenges our students to be continual learners and responsible citizens with a clear understanding of our global society in an ever-changing world by utilizing an exemplary faculty, American principles of education, and a nurturing environment that optimizes students’ skills in decision making, communicating, and logical thinking.

Facilities
LAS has three traditional divisions: an elementary school, a middle school and a high school. Each is located in its own buildings on a four and one half acre property. Classrooms are air-conditioned, large and well lit. There are 2 music rooms, 2 art rooms, a cafeteria, 3
computer labs, 2 science labs, an EFL room, an infirmary, and a library with over 20,000 volumes. Sports facilities include a cover gym, a soccer field, and a heated swimming pool. The school also has a 350-seat theater.

Curriculum
The LAS curriculum is standards based and was developed in association with the Illinois State Board of Education. LAS has 30 Learner Goals that students must meet before they graduate. A sample goal given on their website is: “Read and understand literature representative from various societies, eras, and ideas. A standard for this is: “Can understand how literary elements and techniques are used to convey meaning.” Then there are performance indicators for various grade levels for this standard.

LAS offers a variety of student programs at all three levels: elementary, middle school and high school. Non-athletic programs include such activities as: Student Council, National Honor Society, Music, Yearbook, SAISA Math, Model United Nations, Debate, Community Service, and much more. I took part in many of these activities and had a great time with the students who are enthusiastic participants.

Extra-curricular Activities
LAS has an active sports program. The team name is the Buffaloes and its colors are Blue and Gold. LAS takes part in the SAISA Athletic Conference. Some of the SAISA sports are Basketball, Volleyball (the Middle School had great volleyball teams during my years there, and I still have a few volleyball team t-shirts), Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, and Soccer. The LAS boys also play cricket against teams from Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi. Additionally, LAS holds two weekend athletic conventions with students from the international schools in Islamabad and Karachi. LAS also has many after-school sports events for younger students.

Technology
LAS has 3 computer labs and most classrooms have at least one computer for teacher use. All computers have network and internet connections. The Middle School has a laptop lab. Technology is integrated throughout the curriculum. Most classrooms have smartboards.

Professional Development
LAS takes part in NESA. No other information is available, but I did find the professional development aspect of the school lacking.

Employment
The majority of teachers at LAS are from North America and Canada. The school is looking for teachers with certification, post graduate education, a minimum of two years experience, excellent recommendations and skills to lead or coach activities. LAS attends major recruiting fairs and may also do interviews via Skype. To apply, candidates need to include a CV, scanned copies of certification, a minimum of 2 references and 2 recent photos with the online application.

The school website doesn’t list salaries but notes that they are competitive. Benefits include: an air-conditioned, furnished house; a car with 100 litres of fuel per month; a tax-free salary of which 85% is paid in U.S. dollars; a settling-in allowance; shipping allowance; paid tuition for dependents; a mobile phone with charges paid by the school; retirement contribution; health care; renewal bonuses for each new contract; paid airfare to and from Lahore; battery packs in all houses.

About Lahore
Lahore is known at the City of Gardens because of the extensive gardens found around the city which is part of its heritage from the Mughal Empire. If you are a history buff or an amateur archaeologist, the city and the surrounding areas are a treasure. Despite the lack of upkeep on some of their historical buildings, there is plenty to explore in this fascinating city: the Lahore Fort, the Shalimar Gardens, the Diamond Market (the red light district), the tombs of Jehangir and Nur Jehan, the Bahshahi Mosque, and the Old City.

But, Lahore isn’t just history. The residents of Lahore (known as Lahoris) are famous for their love of eating, and Lahore is the home of an incredible diversity of eating establishments from the little roadside stands to the Western chains such as McDonalds, Pizza Hut, and Dunkin Donuts. One of my favorite places to eat was Coocoo’s which is a converted brothel and has incredible food and a very interesting clientele. During Ramadhan, the fasting month, the restaurants are packed as the fast ends around sunset.

If you’re looking for technology try Hafeez Center, one of my favorite haunts during my time in Lahore. It’s an old decrepit building (this was five years ago so it may have been renovated since then), but it’s filled with the latest technology with friendly and knowledgeable shopkeepers. And books…Lahore is known as the cultural center of Pakistan and there are many wonderful bookshops with the latest books, as well as some back alley places that sell some classics from pre-Partition times.

Lahore also has fine medical and dental facilities. I had a great dentist, Dr. Khan, who was trained in the UK and had the latest equipment. There are also some modern medical facilities as well. I had emergency surgery there and was very impressed with the doctors and the hospital.

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