I’ve just completed adding the 300th school to The International Teacher e-book. In addition to the 300 school reviews, there are 16 articles about international recruitment organizations and tips for finding an international teaching position. While this website has about 190 school reviews, you can find an additional 110 in the book, as well as the tips for job searches. Take a look at my new video to see how you can use The International Teacher in your job search.
Posts in category teacher recruitement
The International Teacher e-book reaches 300 reviews
The British School of Lome
The British School of Lome is an independent, co-educational school for students aged three to nineteen. BSL offers boarding facilities to some students. The school was founded 30 years ago. BSL is an IB World School with authorization to use the IB Diploma Programme. The school has boarding facilities for students that come from outside Lome. BSL has approximately 250 students that represent 35 nationalities.
Mission
The school mission is to be the first choice for students who want an international education in West Arica. The school creates responsible global citizens while focusing on the whole child and encouraging academic success.
Facilities
The BSL campus is located in Residence du Benin, a residential area about 5 kilometers from the center of Lome. School facilities include a recreation center, 25 classrooms, 4 science labs, a music suite, an art room, a library, an outdoor theatre, an Early Years unit, 2 technology centers and 9 boarding houses.
Curriculum
The school curriculum is balanced between academics and the arts. It is standards-based. The Primary Years curriculum is based on the British National Curriculum. Students take the IGCSE curriculum in Year 10; the years between the end of primary school and the start of the IGCSE are spent preparing for that. Students that want to attend university can take the IB Diploma programme. BSL has a 3-term school year.
Extracurricular Activities
BSL has a wide range of activities including volleyball, tennis, badminton, rugby, chess, science club, community service, board games, and more.
Technology
The school has 2 ICT labs, and most classrooms have at least one computer. The campus has a limited wireless internet connection that they are working on expanding. IT is taught as one of the subjects in the school curriculum.
Professional Development
No information is available on the school PD program.
Employment
Teachers have a responsibility to be involved with activities for the boarding students. The school website notes that BSL is not a school for teachers who see their job as being “9-5”. Job openings are listed on the school website. Benefits include furnished housing, round-trip transportation, annual home leave at the end of the first contract and thereafter, shipping allowance and medical insurance. No information is given on school salaries.
About Lome
Local food is cheap. There are a number of supermarkets in Lome with imported items that are said to be reasonably priced. Drinkers should note that beer and whiskey is cheaper than in the UK. The city is known for the quality of its restaurants, and there are many serving international cuisine. Seafood is plentiful and inexpensive if you are like me and love seafood. Lome is a malarial area. The Atlantic Ocean is considered to be too dangerous for swimming, but the school provides teachers with a paid membership to its sports complex that includes a 25-meter pool. Lake Togo is suitable for swimming, fishing, wind surfing and jet-skiing and is only 35 kilometers from Lome. Being able to speak French is a benefit for teachers who want to get out and around the area.
International School Recruiting Fairs are Coming
The international school recruiting season is on the horizon. For teachers who have an idea of where they want to work, it’s a good idea to contact the schools directly first and see if they think that you might be a fit for them. Most schools these days take applications directly and year round. With all the competition and expense of surrounding attendance at international fairs, apply to schools early. Some schools will interview teachers through Skype, or are looking at the new online recruiting company, Teacherhorizons, as a way to save money. If you are new to the world of international teaching and plan on attending one of the recruiting fairs, it’s time to sign up. Here’s a rundown of the fair season for three of the major international school recruiting organizations.
International Schools Services
ISS is holding four recruiting fairs during the main hiring season. Their first is in Atlanta from December 4 through December 6. The application deadline is November 7t, which is just a few weeks away so if you want to attend this fair, you need to get going. At this point, there aren’t many schools signed up to attend this fair. The Bangkok fair takes place from January 4 through January 7. Application deadline is December 2, 2011. This fair draws a large number of schools and is ideal for teachers who are working in the Asia region. The Boston fair runs from February 5 though February 9. Application deadline is January 11, 2012. The Boston fair draws a large list of schools from around the world. Then the next week ISS holds the San Francisco fair from February 13 through February 16. Application deadline is January 11, 2012. This is another well-attended fair.
University of Northern Iowa Fair
The UNI Overseas Recruiting Fair takes place this year from February 3 through February 5. The registration deadline is January 13, 2012, but if you register by December 2, you can save $40. The UNI fair is well attended and is ideal for teachers who live in the Midwest.
Search Associates
Search has many recruitment fairs this year starting with the fair in Johannesburg from December 9 to December 11. the deadline for new Search candidates is November 1; activated candidates have until November 15 to register. This fair is for schools in Africa. The next fair is in Sydney from January 4 to January 6. The application deadline has already passed. Next comes the Bangkok fair from January 8 to January 11. If you want to attend this fair, you need to register immediately. The Hong Kong fair is being held from January 13 to January 15. This fair specializes in schools on the Chinese mainland and in Hong Kong. Registration needs to be done immediately. The London fair is being held this year from January 19 to January 23. Schools from all regions will attend this major fair. Registration should be done by the end of November. The Toronto fair is being held from January 27 to January 30. Schools from around the world will be at this fair. Register now. The Cambridge, Massachusetts, fair will be held from February 2 to February 5. Schools from around the world will attend. The San Francisco fair will be held from February 16 to February 19. Registration should be completed before January. The Dubai fair will be held from February 23 to February 25. This is a good fair for teachers working in the Dubai region. A second Bangkok fair will be held from March 16 to March 18. Then another London fair from April 27 to April 29. Finally a summer fair will be held in Bethesda from June 22 to June 24.
Teacherhorizons: Online Today
I just received a press release from the folks over at Teacherhorizons. I’m adding it here for teachers who want to get past the traditional recruitment fair model and move into the 21st century. With the global economic crisis continuing on, I believe that schools will move to new models of recruiting that are more cost effective than the recruitment fair model. Take a look at the Teacherhorizons video and then read their press release.
Teacherhorizons Press Release
Today marks the launch of Teacherhorizons, a groundbreaking new website that connects teachers with international schools all over the world. Already, over a thousand teachers and international schools have joined the Teacherhorizons community to take advantage of the unique recruitment services and networking opportunities offered.
The Globalisation of Teaching
With the number of international schools expected to grow to over 11,000 by 2020 and with over 65% of UK teachers expressing an interest in teaching abroad, the globalisation of the teaching profession is gathering momentum. In recognition of this, the aim of the Teacherhorizons network is to source and match top teaching talent with schools worldwide, to demystify what can often be a complicated, time consuming and costly recruitment process. The site also provides users with a hub of information, promoting the career enhancing opportunities to be gained by teaching internationally.
Pioneering technology
Built using innovative match making technology, Teacherhorizons empowers teachers to find their dream job worldwide, enabling them to instantly compare profiles of international schools that meet their own professional aspirations and personal needs and interests. Teachers can set up a dedicated profile page (which can also be viewed by prospective employers) and apply for multiple international teaching jobs through one single application process with minimum hassle. Teachers can also access a wealth of impartial and unbiased information on the reality of teaching abroad; plus useful tools and guides designed to help them navigate their way from applying and ultimately securing a job, to the logistics of moving to another country, right through to what to expect from their chosen destination, both professionally and culturally.
Likewise, international schools can compare and vet teachers’ profiles direct, speedily create shortlists, access references, and watch potential candidates’ video interviews at the click of a mouse. The middle man is removed, making the process simple, transparent and cost effective.
Alex Reynolds, Teacherhorizons Co-founder comments: “Teacherhorizons has been created to help schools and teachers embrace the ‘globalisation of teaching’. It enables more teachers to be internationally ambitious and allows schools, both here and abroad, to benefit from reaching a global pool of teaching talent. We are delighted by the enthusiasm with which teachers and schools have embraced the Teacherhorizons proposition. As it’s a website FOR teachers and international schools created BY teachers in consultation with international schools, we are confident in the future growth and success of the Teacherhorizons community and expansion of the recruitment, networking and information services we offer. For more information and to join our network visit www.teacherhorizons.com.”
Teacherhorizons meeting an international need
Far from being the out of touch colonial institutions they once were, modern international schools are vibrant, high-tech and offer teachers an exciting new set of challenges and some of the best training opportunities available. As hundreds of shimmering new schools spring up every year across Asia and Latin America (the sector is growing by 7% every year), the demand for talented, fully trained, English speaking teachers has increased dramatically.
Bringing teachers home
With many schools in the UK now introducing the International Baccalaureate, forward-looking Headteachers here are also increasingly seeking teachers with international experience. Classrooms in the UK also have more teachers from overseas than ever before. It is also hoped that shortages of Science, Maths and Modern Foreign Language teachers will receive a much needed boost amongst UK schools that adopt an international philosophy to their education.
Camilla Cook, Academia Británica Cuscatleca, El Salvador comments: “Teacherhorizons is such a brilliant idea. Now I’ll be able to compare jobs in International Schools based on detailed, but unbiased, information”.
The International Teacher: “This is exactly what international teachers have needed for some time – an innovative tool that helps them compare schools and make more informed decisions. I believe this is the future for international school recruitment”.
Simon Head, Principal Al Sahwa schools, Oman comments: “Recruitment and retention of high quality teachers is our biggest challenge and every year the competition for teachers becomes more intense. The services offered by Teacherhorizons will ensure we are able to recruit the right candidates. Recruitment and retention of high quality teachers is our biggest challenge and every year the competition for teachers becomes more intense. The services offered by Teacherhorizons will ensure we are able to recruit the right candidates.”
American International School of Guangzhou
The American International School of Guangzhou was founded in 1981 and was originally known as the American School of Guangzhou. AISG is an independent, co-educational day school that serves students from Preschool through Grade 12. The school has a 180-day academic year. AISG is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is registered with the People’s Republic of China as a School for Foreign Children. AISG is a member of the East Asian Regional Council of Schools, the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools, and the Council of International Schools. The American International School of Guangzhou is an IB World School and is authorized to offer the PYP and the Diploma Program. For those of you who don’t keep up with modern China, Guangzhou is the former city of Canton.
The school has approximately 1000 students that represent 38 nationalities with about 22% of the student population holding American citizenship. Class sizes range from 17-20 in the Elementary and Middle Schools to 8-22 in the High School. AISG employs over 100 teachers from around the world.
Mission
AISG has a simple, yet wonderful, mission – to nurture students to aspire and achieve. Great, I love this one. Working around that, AISG believes that all individuals have intrinsic worth, that individuals have the responsibility to work for the good of the community and to respect themselves, that learning is most effective in a secure, healthy and positive environment, and much more. Take a look at their beliefs online.
Facilities
AISG has purpose built facilities. The school is located in several sections of Guangzhou. The Elementary School is located on Ersha Island. Some of the facilities are: a gym, a computer lab, a library, an art room, a music room, a playing field and fifty classrooms.
The Middle School and High School are located in Science Park and has room for future expansion. The Middle and High Schools are housed in a brand new facility with room for expansion in Science Park, northeast of the city center. In addition to the facilities equal to those at the Elementary School, this campus also has three art rooms, three music rooms, and a theater. The campus is wireless.
Curriculum
The school has four divisions: Preschool, Elementary School, Middle School, and High School. AISG uses the PYP with primary age students. The Middle School uses a modified American curriculum that is suitable for an international school. The High School has an American curriculum and offers the IB Diploma and AP courses as well. Graduates from AISG earn an American high school diploma and/or the IB Diploma. Mandarin is a Second Language option at all grade levels. The SAT, PSAT and Iowa Test of Basic Skills are given to students each year. The school notes that their students have consistently high scores on these standardized tests.
Extra-curricular Activities
AISG offers a range of extra activities that supplement the academic program. These activities are organized along age groups and are supervised by the AISG faculty. Some of the extra-curricular activities offered at AISG include volleyball, basketball, soccer, rugby, badminton, drama, music, and the Model United Nations. AISG also sees community service as an important part of its program. Some community service activities are Habit for Humanity and working with mentally challenged adult.
Technology
AISG has an outstanding technology program. Beginning in August 2011, students in the Middle School will be working on a 1:1 program. The following year, this will be expanded to the High School. AISG expects students in the Elementary School to use portable digital devices like iPads in the future. This is another international school that is migrating to the Mac platform. You can read about their decision to go Mac on their technology page. There are over 700 computers in the school and both campuses are wireless. AISG believes in the integration of technology throughout the curriculum and they begin this in Kindergarten. The school employs a technology facilitator to help teachers with technology integration. Older students have the option of taking a variety of IT courses.
Professional Development
The AISG website only mentions that PD opportunities exist as one of the benefits of employment. I couldn’t find anything more specific on the site.
Employment
AISG is looking for teachings with the following qualifications: the minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree, teaching certification, three years experience, a willingness to sponsor extracurricular activities, experience teaching in an international setting, IB or AP experience is a plus but not required, and finally a desire to live in an exciting Asian city and culture. Due to Chinese law, teachers are not offered contracts after the age of 60 so candidates must be able to complete at least a two-year contract before they turn 60. Sorry, but this is one of the downsides to working overseas, we senior citizens have very limited options.
Salaries are paid 100% in United States dollars. Teachers do pay Chinese taxes from their salaries. Salaries run from $31,200 to $67,000 net depending on teaching experience and educational coursework. This includes a 10% retirement benefit. Additional benefits include health and life insurance, sick leave, professional development support, tuiton fee waivers for dependents, housing allowance, shipping and settling-in allowance, annual home leave and personal days. All in all, this sounds like a good package. The school website has an excellent new teacher’s orientation guide.
Openings are listed on the school website. AISG attends the ISS and Search recruiting fairs and lists openings on their websites and TIEonline. If you are interested in applying to AISG, send your resume and a cover letter as PDF attachments to jstucker@aisgz.org. Resumes should include at least three references with telephone numbers and email addresses.
About Guangzhou
Guangzhou has a population of 12 million and sits alongside the Pearl River. As Canton, the city has a long and colorful history, especially as a center of international trade, culture and intrigue. Hong Kong is only two hours away.
Guangzhou is filled with interesting things to do. In addition to traditional attractions such as markets and historical architecture, there are a many modern activities such as fitness clubs, cinemas, art galleries, zoos, restaurants, bars and pubs, and nightclubs.
The city has a number of medical and dental clinics that cater to the expat population. This is a great benefit because if you become ill or have persistent dental problems, having to travel somewhere else to get them taken care of can be time-consuming, expensive, and painful.
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