Does anyone have any real info about this company or specific school? They contacted me by email and would like an interview.

Thanks for any help.

Any others?

@twoteachers

Boston is fine. We just had a couple of inches of snow this morning but it has stopped. It is going to be cold so I hope you brought a warm coat.

Also, there have been some long delays with the T (Boston's subway system) and traffic snarl-ups due to the snow and cold, so plan ahead as you might take longer to get from point A to point B.

I am teaching class now and will leave for the Hyatt around 3:30 by car. I expect no problems as the roads are clear - 2 inches of snow is nothing.

One more thing: predictions are for another major snowstorm here starting around Sunday night and maybe going through late Monday night.

I hope this helps.

I'm shoveling snow - again. Blizzard last week, no school for 3 days, and 14 plus inches today and still going, no school today and tomorrow.

I live near Boston so I'll just drive down to the Hyatt.

I have no worries, no concerns.

Just enjoy the experience with no worries about the results.

@senator and shadowjack:

I think you both are right.

As shadowjack says, IF you are one of the lucky few who can stay in the circuit and work up to good schools with good salaries/benefits in countries with good saving potential, you can retire well or continue to work in your 60's because you will have enough money saved so that you don't have to worry about only being able to get a job at a top school.

Senator is speaking for the majority, those of us who, for whatever reason, always have to fight for a job and worry about being stuck in the overseas circuit, bouncing from one mediocre or BAD school to another. In a system where references rule, it seems that all it takes is for the right admin person to screw you over and that is the ballgame, even if you are in a high demand subject with experience, like me.

Even the oft reviled Psyguy seems to agree with senator that international education is a very capricious enterprise where reason and logic often do not factor into a lot of decisions by school heads.

I am holding judgement until this recruiting season is over, but it may turn out that I ditch international education in favor of staying at a good school in the U.S. and take senator's advice and satisfy my taste for travel and culture by traveling for 8-10 weeks during my summer holiday.

I just got 2 replies from schools. They want to interview me at Cambridge.

One is a Tier 1 school.

Why would the other "lesser" schools not reply, though they have IB math openings and will be going to Cambridge?

If I'm considered "damaged goods" - says Psyguy - why would a Tier 1 set up an interview but the others won't.

And yes, I know an interview is not an offer. And don't say that the "lesser" chools might think I would stay for 1 contract then move on, since the majority of us IT's do just that.

Has anyone worked there and would go back?

Can a math teacher make money tutoring on the side to fill free time?

Thanks for any help.

From what I read about the actual fairs, I did not get that it was a candidate's market. It seemed that a lot of teachers were complaining about NOT getting interviews or offers.

Also, I didn't mind that the thread was "hijacked". All information and points of view are important in making decisions about schools and about making the decision to not work at international schools.

I want to thank everyone for all of your help - it is greatly appreciated.

I have just sent covers and resumes (for math teaching positions, IB DP or not) to the following schools that will be at the Search Cambridge fair in February: (I have 8 years IB HL and SL math and MYP and 3 years TOK plus 8 more years in American public schools)

Am Int School Chennai
Am Int School of Jeddah
Int School of Manila
Am Comm School Amman Jordan
GEMS Singapore - Will not be at Cambridge
Colegio Nueva Granada - Colombia
Schutz Am School, Alexandria, Egypt
International Schools Group, Saudi
Branksome Hall Asia, Jeju Korea
Seoul Foreign School - though the religious aspect is a little bit of a turn-off

Does anyone have any comments/suggestions/information? I'm hoping for some interviews - nobody has written back yet, not even a generic...
Thanks again for any and all help.

Does anyone know about this school?

I'd love to teach in Singapore and the Search database shows the school has a pretty good salary/benefit system.

Thanks for any help.

Does anybody have any info? The paid site reviews are a little fuzzy - not bad, not good, kind of...nebulous.

@Psyguy:

The salary and benefits as listed on the Search database seem FANTASTIC? What's the deal with that and if true, how can that be a third tier school?

SMSMISSY,

Can I PM you to ask a few questions about the school?

Does anyone know about this school?

How about Singapore retirement plan? Is it like Malaysia's, i.e. pretty damn good!?

Thanks for any help.

If there are that many openings at such a first class school, does it mean it might be having problems or just added enrollment or...?