Carlucci American International School of Lisbon was found in 1956. The school was originally known as St. Columban’s until 1994 when it became known as the American International School of Lisbon. CAISL is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the Council of International Schools. Additionally, CAISL is authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma. The school has approximately 538 students from Nursery through Grade 12. These students represent 31 countries. There are around 60 teachers employed at CAISL.
Mission
The mission of the school is to provide a “student-centered educational community” that challenges students and teachers to excel and make positive contributions to the world.
Facilities
The school is located in the village of Linho, close to the beach resort, Cascais. CAISL features large classrooms, two playgrounds, four science labs, two outdoor basketball courts, a soccer field, a Library-Media Center, and Elementary and Secondary Academic Buildings. The school is in the process of building a new Athletics Center, Fine Arts Center, Cafeteria, Snack Bar, Basketball Courts, Soccer Pitches and a Parking Lot.
Curriculum
CAISL continues to develop their academic program. They have recently added Spanish as a Foreign Language for high school students, and also added Drama as an option for middle school and high school students. Assessment is accomplished using a variety of approaches including report cards based on faculty assessment, the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (for students in grades 3, 5, 7, and 9), and with the Measurement of Academic Progress test, a computer-generated test. Students in Grade 10 take the PSAT and most students take the SAT which is used for entry into universities in the U.S. and Portugal.
CAISL uses a mixed U.S./international curriculum. Most students attend university. Teachers take an active role in developing curriculum. Students in grades 11 and 12 may take the IB Diploma Program.
Extra Curricular Activities
CAISL hosts a variety of extracurricular activities. Older students can play competitive sports including soccer, basketball, volleyball, cross country, and track and field. After school sports are also available for younger students. Other activities include drama, yearbook, student council, National Honor Society, band, Junior Model United National and Model United Nations.
Technology
CAISL has two computer labs and some computers in classrooms.
Professional Development
The school has half-day in-services on a monthly basis.
Employment
The CAISL website has an excellent section for prospective teachers with a salary schedule, benefits and teacher expectations all clearly listed. New teachers are offered a two-year contract. Salaries are paid in euros and start with a BA and 2 years of experience and finish with an MA and 10 years of experience. Starting salaries are 1,389 euros monthly paid 14 times per year and top out for the new teacher at 1,905 euros. Teachers are liable for Portuguese Income Tax which ranges from 15 to 22%. Teachers also have to pay into the Portuguese Social Security at 11%. So, if you work here, be prepared for a lot of taxes. This is definitely a downside to working here.
Benefits include a lunch subsidy of 5.75 euros a day, health benefits, tuition waivers for up to three children, bereavement leave, housing allowance of 750 euros a month, home leave at the end of the initial contract, and a transition allowance of 4,500 euros.
The list of teacher expectations is extensive and includes extracurricular duties, teaching and management behaviors, among other expectations.
Application forms are online. This should be completed and sent to jobs@caislisbon.org with a cover letter, resume, and references. Teachers need a university degree, certificatio in their teaching field and a minimum of two years experience. The school is looking for outstanding teachers dedicated to students who are experienced with an American curriculum and willing to make a two-year commitment.
About Portugal
Life in Portugal offers a wide range of attractions from the modern to the ancient. There are beautiful beaches and stunning mountains. Hiking in the countryside gives teachers a chance to visit charming villages, medieval monuments and lovely countrysides. Cities are filled with malls selling the latest international goods.
The cost of living is the one of the lowest in Europe, and a meal in a good restaurant is only around $20 per person. Discos, bars and clubs stay open until early morning. However, while the cost of living is low, so are salaries, so teachers need to be frugal if they want to save money. Dealing with the bureaucracy can be frustrating. But, the country has a laid-back attitude, so if a new teacher wants to flourish here, they need to adopt that outlook on life.
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