The International Schools Review Forum

So my husband has a dream you see; he wants to work in administration. He has his Masters in Admin. and several years teaching experience but unfortunately, as for most jobs, schools prefer experience and he has yet to catch a break.
We are seriously considering going overseas to teach and although he is excited about the prospect, fears that it will be even less likely that he'll get an administrative position.

Based on your experience/knowledge, how realistic is it to think that he might be able to get a job?
Should he start off by applying to assistant ppal. jobs or first get a few years overseas experience and then try to make the switch?
Do you know of anyone who was in this situation and been successful?
Any suggestions/anecdotes would be very helpful...

Overseas experience would probably help but I don't think its necessary. We just had a principal hired that has no overseas experience. Having said that, I think nothing can replace an adequate amount of classroom experience on an admin's resume and having experience as a teacher overseas would do nothing but benefit your husband.

I am kind of in that same situation, but I have some admin experience in the states, admin certification etc. Not much school site admin though (mostly program coordinator stuff). I am overseas now, as a teacher, but when we got into this gig I was hoping to step right into an admin post...at least asst principal. Almost everyone told me to get 2 years overseas experience as a teacher first, then apply. Maybe if I were a principal in the states first I would have had a better chance of landed an admin job right off.

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[quote="mathgym"] I am overseas now, as a teacher, but when we got into this gig I was hoping to step right into an admin post...at least asst principal. Almost everyone told me to get 2 years overseas experience as a teacher first, then apply. Maybe if I were a principal in the states first I would have had a better chance of landed an admin job right off.[/quote]

That's what we imagined. But it's good to know that at least it's possible to switch over at some point.

Good luck!!

[quote="interteach"]Administrative positions are probably harder to get internationally than they are in the US. There are many people who want them, have the qualifications and have some experience. My suggestion is that your husband needs to have actual experience first - in the US is fine - before he'll be a serious contender.[/quote]

Thanks for the feedback!

Getting experience has been the difficult part of this whole deal. My husband has started coaching, in the hopes of fitting in with the assistant principal stereotype that seems to dominate in this part of the country. He has also taken on various leadership roles within our school. Unfortunately, we live in a rural area and not only are there not many admin. positions, people tend to not move much either therefore vancancies are few and far between. We are hoping to have more luck in the international teaching circuit where it appears there is more staff turnover.

My opinion is that it would seem to be easier in the States- although in a rural area it must be tougher. At least in the States you have the certification requirements to keep out the 'pretenders'. You can also break in doing a summer school admin gig, or even department head.

I've found the overseas admin process to be more 'old boy' networking at times.

I'm going to disagree a bit with some posters. If you read many of the reviews on ISR, they often talk about admin. staff with little to no experience. They often don't say positive things, true, but still.

He may find an admin. job at a smaller school or in a less desirable location, but it's certainly worth applying. If he does go overseas as a teacher, he may be able to turn a leadership role into an admin. spot by being in the right place at the right time.

[quote="BocaJrs"]So my husband has a dream you see; he wants to work in administration. He has his Masters in Admin. and several years teaching experience but unfortunately, as for most jobs, schools prefer experience and he has yet to catch a break.
We are seriously considering going overseas to teach and although he is excited about the prospect, fears that it will be even less likely that he'll get an administrative position.

Based on your experience/knowledge, how realistic is it to think that he might be able to get a job?
Should he start off by applying to assistant ppal. jobs or first get a few years overseas experience and then try to make the switch?
Do you know of anyone who was in this situation and been successful?
Any suggestions/anecdotes would be very helpful...[/quote]

Why go into Admin?
What are your reasons? More money, more power, or more prestige? As far as I am concerned those are the only 3 reasons why people go into Admin. The 4th reason is to get out of the classroom. They definitely don't work as hard as teachers! If you are any good as a teacher, stay put, why go to the Dark Side?! :( :?

I know I am new on this board, but that is how I feel.

Interesting responses...I guess his chances of starting off in administration overseas are relatively slim but not impossible. Sometimes it's just a case of being at the right place at the right time.

Outwest:
I see where you're coming from. I, for one, would not want to be an administrator. My husband, on the other hand, is ready for a new challenge. He really enjoyed the classes he took while working on his Masters and liked looking at the big picture of issues/policies in education. Of course, the bigger salaries don't hurt either. ;)
Regarding getting out of the classroom, I think that is probably also true as related to our particular school. His subject (Art) has become the dumping ground for all kinds of unmotivated students. While most classes in our high school have about 20-25 students, his average 35. Few have any real interest in Art but take it because they think it will be easy, which would be fine with him if only they were willing to do the work/projects. Anyone who has taught under these circumstances for an extended period of time knows it can be emotionally/mentally draining. I don't have it as bad, since I teach an elective that, for the most part, only those who are college bound take. Even so, there are days when the widespread lack of motivation that many students in our school have gets to me. I don't know if it will be any different in international schools, but I really haven't noticed many complaints regarding motivation or discipline in this forum or in the review section. Who knows, maybe working with a different type of student body might rekindle his passion for teaching.