Hi "Juan,"

I have to disagree with some of the previous posters. I have worked in three international schools, as well as a very well-regarded private school in the US, without certification. Since private (independent) schools in the US generally don't require certification, and it is possible to get international teaching jobs without certification (your lack of experience is going to be much more of a barrier than your lack of certification), I'd say the only reason to get certified is if you want to pursue a career in public school teaching when you return to the US. And if you want to teach in independent schools, it's much better to have an MA in your subject area than an education degree.

My advice would be to apply now for any teaching jobs you believe you could do well, even if you don't exactly have the qualifications listed in the job ad, knowing that the later in the year it gets, the more schools will be willing to stretch a bit on their wish list for candidates. Since you speak Spanish, Latin American schools may be interested in you--and as you'll gather from reading this site, as they tend to pay less, they sometimes hire newer/younger teachers, so that can be a great way to get your foot in the door. You may not end up in the most desirable location, but it sounds like you're an adventurous sort.

I think you'll find that Peace Corps experience is very valued--lead with that! It's evidence of a lot of qualities that make for a good international teacher.

As for meeting a mate--well, all the single expat teachers at your school and in whatever city you live in are going to be looking to mingle. The expats you meet are probably more likely to share your spirit of travel and adventure than the folks in your hometown--it's easy to meet kindred souls when you have such a big thing in common. And luckily for you, your biological clock is barely ticking anyway. To be 28 again!

I would appreciate any other information about this school--the information on the review section of the website is pretty negative, but also way out of date, so more recent perspectives would be very much appreciated. Especially workload, expectations, teacher satisfaction, relations between teachers and admin. Thanks!

Does anyone have any recent information about the International School of Panama? Or life in Panama in general?

The reviews on this site are mixed and out of date. I would love to hear some more current opinions about the school, especially since it looks like they got a new head since all the reviews were written. Also, many of the reviews mention problems with technology, and I am applying for a techie position, so very interested in knowing more about that! Also: salary/benefits - housing allowance/housing details - settling in? Is this school moving up or down?

The school website is quite bad but that doesn't always reflect the quality of a school, so if anyone has firsthand experience with this school, please share!

Thanks.