Thanks! Overhere, could you tell me about the "other issues" you have with QSI? I want to hear the best and the worst...

Can anybody share any information about the packages offered by schools for either of these organizations? I have a friend who has told me horror stories about Sabis, but what about these two? I'd love to have some very recent information about specific posts/packages...

I live in Boston and know a few people who found jobs via Carney S. (their main office is here, so lots of teachers know of them in the area). However, I heard rumors that Carney cancelled some hiring fairs because less schools are willing to pay for a table at the fairs--the job market is so bad that schools don't really need to pay to recruit. My current school has not gone to the Carney fair in years because, as my principal said, "I get resumes from unemployed teachers every week even though we don't have any openings at all." I also know from friends who worked with them in the past that Carney is not very well-organized, so they may well contact you eventually.

I have no idea if the rumors about the fair cancellations were true, but it sounds reasonable. The job market is really, really bad here, and I have a few friends who are working as TAs because they were laid off. My own school laid people off last year, and will probably do so again this year.

It infuriates me when non-teacher friends say things like, "Well, you don't have to worry because Obama saved all those jobs in education." Which jobs were saved, exactly? Possibly administrative jobs (I don't know), but I do know a lot of teachers at many types of schools here, and the situation isn't good at any of them. Both private and public schools have been "tightening their belts" here.

On the other hand, I keep seeing adverts on craigslist from recruiting agencies who are trying to get teachers to go to California, so maybe the job market on the West Coast is better.

Can I ask why you are returning to the US? (I'm trying to get back into the International circuit myself).

Is your school hiring fewer people? Have your administrators said anything about the impact of the economy on your school? I'd love to hear people's views.

It seems logical that companies will not bring over so many expats, and local economies in recession in Europe/Asia/etc. will impact local families and their choice to send children to I.Schools.

Does this make it a better or worse time to head to a new country? It seems a bit of a gamble--maybe it is easier to land a job in a desired destination, but one is counting on economic recovery.

What do you think?

Does anybody know anything about either of the schools in Georgia, either the QSI one or the Georgian school with the new English program? Also, can anyone report on life in Georgia/Tbilisi? (I'm secondary maths, if that helps).

And your opinion about moving to the area at this time (political/economic unrest and their implications on the future of the country/area/international schools?)

If I were you, I would call back the shools who indicated that they were still unsure about vacancies next year, but I would wait a few weeks before calling back. In my experience, it can take a week or even several weeks before you get a response to a CV, especially at this time of year.

Incidentally, the worst bit of "no contact" rudeness I've experienced from a school happened last year, after I'd phone interviewed THREE TIMES with a school. They said I was on their short list, and had me phone interview with three separate parties, including one conference call with a large team of people at their school, and then, a week later, one with the principal. After that, I heard nothing. I emailed the principal with whom I'd not only phone interviewed, but who had emailed me on multiple occasions, and...no reply. A week later, I emailed her again. No reply. Finally, I emailed the principal asking if a decision had been made. No reply. I never heard from them again. There are some very rude individuals out there...

I noticed that the Fundatia International Brit. School of Bucharest has a new head and a new name. The school had some bad reviews under its old drector and old name, but has it changed? Can anybody tell me what the school is like now? Has anybody worked there?

Thanks!