Teachers are the lowest-class form of western expat, and so we are never really safe. We are always at the mercy of the corrupt rich people we serve. Neil Bantlemann's case is remarkable because he had all the advantages: white, good school, well-connected, administrator. He shouldn't have had his life ruined in this horrible way. The odds were heavily against it.

But multitudes of other teachers without those advantages have had their lives ruined by bad schools and bad countries in less obvious ways (or more obvious, if you look back on some of the more notorious incidents of the past two years).

Yet another reason to secretly record your conversations with your bosses.

International "teaching" is for the most part a miserable waste of time. People who dream about making a living wage, having a good quality of life, having an enjoyable job, etc. need to realise that international teachers are much, much more likely to be in the sort of situation described here.

I think that what we are witnessing is the death of the international education industry as a feasible alternative to domestic teaching jobs. When an experienced and licensed American high school math teacher (I assume that's what you are) cannot even make 40k/year abroad while the economy in the US is good, I think it's time to start thinking of other ways of making money.

I understand that there might be something wrong with the OP, or that meager salary is being offered in a cheap country, but so what? 40k is poor in the US or Canada, and even if it's not considered poor in some places it's mostly because those places have a very low standard of "poor." Teacher=poor, that's what admins everywhere expect us to accept with a smile!

DODEA or even Aramco are more likely to look for things common to the American public school market, like special ed. But we're really talking about hitting the jackpot of jackpots with DODEA. I am an IB teacher at a decent school and I would happily give it all up for ANY job at DODEA.

I wouldn't advise anyone with two kids to even think of entering the international school market unless one of the couple can offer something like Math HL or Physics. Even if some crappy school hires you, it's just not worth it. Lots of schools with a good name are terrible places to work. In public schools, if the kids are bad, that's sort of expected. In international schools, that bad a-hole kid is also the client, and remember, the customer is always right.

I think it's fair to say that most international schools could care less about teachers and view them as completely interchangeable. So expensive teachers (ie those with kids) are a no go, and if you have the slightest problem with one, just replace it with a new one! Unless you're single and have something useful to sell, it can be a threadbare existence where you're not always safe or treated with respect. If that happens to you, it also happens to your kids.

If you are currently a public school teacher in a good district, it is quite possible (probable) that you are better off than most of us--and certainly better off than I would be if I had kids.

Aramco
AS Doha
ACS Abu Dhabi
AS Dubai
BS Al Khubairat
BIS Jeddah
ACS Amman
Cairo American College
ABA Oman

There's ten, in no particular order. I really can't say these are the top 10, but I recognise them as being decent schools. As an English-speaking upper school IB teacher I don't know much about the schools where I wouldn't fit in, although certainly some of these schools would never match with me for curriculum reasons. I'd go after that Aramco money even if I had to teach first grade!

Some of these schools don't have anywhere near the best pay in the region. On the other hand, I don't think KAUST is a very good school, but from what I hear it pays. In this part of the world, that's all that matters, so maybe my list is a waste.

I suppose I do buy the idea that a leadership cert might help me into various IBEN roles, but then again it might not.

I suppose I am beginning to feel that without a prestigious qualification of some sort, my career will be somehow stunted or at least I'll be on the same track as everyone else. What if I am able to get experience at a school known for an "elite" IB program--I suppose that would be any of the elite schools, or any other school known to be academically strong? I might have put some of the better US/Canadian independent schools, some well-known private schools in the UK, or maybe UWC in this category, but you probably would disagree. Anyway, does that make any difference with looking for an admin job?

You said it is "easy" to get on as an admin at a third-tier school. This is assuming I'm coming from a decent school. I suppose it depends on how bad the third-tier school is? Would a junior admin at a third-tier school have much for future prospects, or even a decent salary?

Thanks for the good advice. One more question: if I have a choice between a big name (Oxbridge) M.Ed. and an unprestigious M.Ed. that includes an IB leadership cert, what can I do more with? I assume prestige trumps all, but I may not be able to get the prestigious degree anyway for logistical or cost reasons.

Thank you. Well, mid-career, I'm not headed to H anytime soon. I suppose I'd like another go-round in life!

You're right, I'm not even considering north American programs. Only looking to the UK at the moment.

So if I had to choose between an Ed.D. and a Masters in Ed.Lead. with IB leadership certificate, which would be the most reliable entry into admin, assuming I hustle to get connections and minor leadership qualifications? The doctorate will be more expensive and take longer to complete. I have only been teaching for a couple years but, as you illustrate, I see teaching as a dead-end job compared to what admins do. I don't want to wait years to get out of the classroom.

(For that matter, I think it's just a matter of years before most IT jobs are replaced by fresh-faced 22 year olds with instant teaching licenses who are willing to work for near-free. That and Pamoja.)

cattalus wrote:
> I was contacted by a school before fair season for a social studies job and IB experience was a
> pre-requisite. I looked up substantial IB information online and I
> discovered that I already incorporate many of the IB practices in my
> teaching, but since I was unable to attend a fair and because I didn't have
> the experience, the school was only willing to schedule an interview if the
> position was open after the fair season, which it wasn't.

I'm inclined to think that training =/= experience, but then as someone with IB experience I'd want to think that, wouldn't I?

If you already have IB experience in a subject, and want to add another subject or role, additional IB training in the role you aspire to could be useful. I have not been around long enough to know if it actually works this way.

Psyguy, impressive of you to notice the DC admin cert. I wasn't aware that was widely known. I am starting to realise you know more than people might think.

I'm thinking of going straight to an Ed.D. even though I currently don't have a M.A. As you probably know there is at least one program that, with some expensive added requirements, allows this. It's a lot of extra work, but I'm a relatively junior teacher, so I will probably have to wait a while regardless: I'm not giving up much in opportunity cost by not having an admin credential immediately. Besides, that's way cheaper and easier than getting the M.A. and then the Ed.D. But if I try for the Ed.D., I won't be getting the IB certificate along the way, which as you say can come in handy.

My thinking was also, if I am to become admin, I need to have something prestigious about my education to impress clients. Right now I have nothing but a B.A. in one of the social sciences, and I didn't attend a top undergrad, so I have no prestige. Not sure if I'm improving much on that front with a M.A. in leadership from the HK Inst. of Ed. or some such. A lot of admins have their leadership M.A., but many other teachers have gotten the M.A. and never got a sniff at leadership. Maybe they didn't have the right hustle, but I feel like that degree isn't enough. I am prepared to move to an undesirable school or part of the world to get my first leadership post if necessary, but then if I am hoping my break will come with an external move, doesn't the degree play a bigger role?

My understanding is the basic requirements for workshop leader are 3 years teaching experience and a portfolio. Maybe there are some other things they look at, like results. I really don't know. I'm an examiner and have experience in two DP subjects plus TOK if that makes any difference. I think the qualifications for the visiting team are more rigorous, like having been IB coordinator. I've never read that the IB leadership cert would be a factor in leapfrogging some of the requirements for these. Maybe I should research it more.

Why do you mean by "IBO Careers"? What are you referring to--working directly for the IBO or being a noob IB teacher? Can you explain further?

I teach social studies. Theoretically I could get certificates (probably through the USA) in all social studies, English, humanities, psychology, business areas, and I also have QTS by reciprocity as I believe you do, but that would hardly make me a "wild card" for ALL areas. I also don't teach MYP--I abhor middle school in general--although I suppose that doesn't matter for your scenario: the certificate would still help my school, were it to offer MYP.

I am a DP teacher at what you might consider a first- or second-tier IB school. I don't think I'd want to work for a school that's just going through authorisation unless I were admin. Speaking of which, I am considering some various pieces of paper that may help me move up in the rat race. Maybe I'll get a M.Ed. in leadership but everyone and their mom has one, hence my interest in this certificate. Ultimately, though, I doubt it's worth the hassle unless I happen to hit both birds with one stone (indeed quite doable).

PsyGuy wrote:
> if a school needs/wants a cheap IB/Academic/Curriculum coordinator. In DIP you only
> need one "trained" staff member per subject area offered. A certified teacher with
> lots of certifications and an IB certificate could meet all the requirements school
> wide in just one person, saving a considerable amount in training

That's a brilliant observation. Is this true for all the IB certificates or just some? Would a "leadership certificate" provide any similar utility?

PsyGuy is right on with his advice, but are you sure you want to do this at all?

Most international schools are not the "first-tier" places you hear about on here. In that context, I think of teaching as more a job, less a career. Think of it as part of the service industry. It's not hard to do, the pay is really poor compared to real professions, you have little job security, and working conditions are generally poor. There are a handful of schools at the top where things are better, and sometimes they are way better. Otherwise the only good jobs in the field are in administration, and therefore there is a great mass of people who will do literally anything to get that brass ring.

The main assets you'll need for this job in some ways aren't that much different than what you'd need to do sales, or bartending. Some combination of being young, cheap, attractive, likeable, producing proven results (scores), having rare skills/qualifications or being married to one who does (eg high level math/science), and being a boss's favourite is necessary to survive or thrive. You don't need all of those things, but if you don't have some, you need the others. Oh, and being white should be on that list, too.

I don't think you need much training or support to do a job like this. You can either do the job or you can't. Getting high scores consistently requires a bit of cleverness, and is also a factor of how good your students are to begin with. I don't think test preparation is rocket science.

You said you want to be a history teacher, I suppose in the US or Canada, but you're not already? You're probably not getting a history job in the public system because generally there aren't any. I really don't know how you'd break in. You could go teach the IB for some bad, desperate school and maybe your career will get better, although it probably won't. If you have more of those things I mentioned, the better your chances are.

I guess my point is, you can probably figure out a way to do this job. The real issue is, I bet you're young and probably have better options.

Wow, this looks like a really high-profile thing. But I can't figure out from that website what it's actually about.

How would a school differentiate its offerings up for gifted kids without spending any money? I'd like to see the answer.

In addition, once you depart from a "lock-step" approach to class placement, how do you deal with the problems that flexibility poses? How do you tell Mr. and Mrs. Moneybags that their precious little one has no business being accelerated like some others?

I was browsing this place on Search at some point. I know nothing about the country or the school, but the pay seemed way beneath TAS. Like not even in the same league.