I have two Irish teacher friends who both tell me that there is a major job shortage in Irish schools; there are far more qualified teachers than available jobs, so many Irish teachers are forced to leave Ireland if they actually want to teach. I imagine it would be very difficult to land a job in Ireland.

For those of you have experienced QSI's Mastery Learning at the High School level, what are your impressions? Does it work?

They are bizarre. I used to work in Boston, and interviewed with a school found via Carney Sandoe. The school offered me a position after a seemingly normal interview process, and I declined it in favor of another private school. A few weeks later, I was notified by Carney Sandoe that I was being dropped by them because the first school had notified them that I had signed a contract with them and then backed out (Not true! Not even close to true!). I didn't care much at the time because I was already working at a school I loved, but now that I am overseas I wish I had contacted Carney and tried to plead my case.

I've taught in a few international schools in Europe, only one of which was third tier. All have had good packages. All have hired a few teachers with no prior teaching experience. I'd say you have a chance if you are certified.

I hate seeing ITs leaving pets behind in every location, or worse. I know so many ITs who get a new pet in each new country, and then just give them away or leave them in a shelter rather than pay to ship them. At my current school, we have a family who are having their dog and cat both euthanized rather than taking them to their new post. And they had two cats and a guinea pig at their previous post, and did the same thing. I don't care if this post outs me, it is disgusting.

Does anyone have stories of having been "outed" for writing a review? How does your school address (or not address) teachers posting on ISR?

Teachers at my school just learned that a lower admin was instructed to find out who wrote some bad reviews. It is a local hire who teachers trusted and thought of as a friend and one of us. She reported her findings back to admin.

Thank you for all of the replies! I wanted to update and say that the situation is resolved: the director is moving on next year. Apparently some influential parents complained about other issues with her (not to do with me). Hopefully this information will be of use to anyone else who finds themselves in a personality conflict with a director/supervisor: if that supervisor is really not doing a good job, the situation might resolve itself if you can just keep a good attitude and go about your job without making waves.

I want to think about moving to the next run in the IS ladder in a year or so anyway, but I do love my current school and have enjoyed my time here, and I am so relieved that things will go back to normal here soon. I am very relieved that I will have the luxury of looking for my next school from the safety of a place I truly enjoy, without having to scramble to just take the first thing that comes up. There is justice in the (IS) world!

It is a small school and so I can't avoid the director. At my previous post, the director sat in his office and teachers were managed by principals, but here there is only the director. There is a rumor that she did this to someone at her previous school, but we got that information "second hand", so who knows.

I can't avoid her and I didn't do anything wrong, so I don't know how to stop it. How do I look for a new job without alerting the current director to this? I accept that I have to get out of here, but I think I need to last the year. If I apply for other jobs, will they call my director? I heard that many directors know each other in the International teaching world.

What can you do if a new director just seems to (really) dislike you? If you have a successful track record, but find yourself suddenly in a position in which you are being targeted/picked at for little things, and it is just clear that she (director) just really dislikes you on a personal level? To the point that other people have pointed it out to you?

It is her first year as a director. No unions overseas, of course. Colleagues keep advising tactics that would work great at home, where there are, you know, laws and procedures, but this woman just gets really angry when I say anything in my defense. I'm starting to realise that she can just sack me with no repercussions.

Can anyone offer any advice/practicalities for this situation, or for coping emotionally in this situation? I'm lost.