The International Schools Review Forum

Has anyone resigned from DoDDS to work in Intl schools? I know the pay and benefits would be lower but has anyone done this? Would be a stupid move to resign from DoDDS after 15 years and do Intl Schools instead?

I think that only you could really answer that question. DoDEA, pay wise, is the best game in town. You get housing and utilities paid for, 18,000 lbs of house hold goods shipped at government expense, a post allowance to off set the high cost of living, return travel home every 1 to 2 years depending on location at government expense and base privileges. The retirement is also one of the best in the world between your TSP, FERS and Social Security.

So this really is going to depend on you and what you want out of the backend of your career. I know that the academics isn't always that high and the quality of teachers can be a mixed bag of nuts, however you also run that risk in an International School. You are very protected by a very strong union in DoDEA, whereas you are completely exposed in an IS with no union to protect you.

My answer to your question, yes, you would be nuts to give up a DoDEA job to go to an IS. But that's just my opinion. I would have to have an offer that completely knocked my socks off in a school and location that would equally have to send me into orbit for the chance to work at. For me there are only a few of those schools out there. For you, that could be a different story.

Tough call to make, I know.

My thoughts would be that

(a) you are in the system, have seniority, and the system is downsizing (according to PsyGuy and others), so you have a SECURE job.

(b) It pays better

(c) you get better benefits, especially RETIREMENT benefits


So what to do? Do your time. Take your retirement as early as possible, while maximizing your pension. Then get out on the international circuit, which, BTW, loves experienced teachers.

I know someone who did this. She was in DoDDS for over 15 years. She switched to and international school and has loved it (been in about 13 years now). Keep in mind she is at one the of ELITE schools. She'd wanted a new adventure and has never regretted it.

I do know people that have and in those cases there are only two reasons i can see to do it.

1) You get an offer from an elite top tier international school.

2) You need to or want to be in a specific country/region.

Of course the "needs" to be elsewhere can vary greatly.
I know a woman who left DoDDS to be with her husband in Australia. He had young children back their and he couldnt be away from them any longer. 6 months after getting married she resigned and moved their with him (them).

Personally I think DoDDS has all the compensation of an elite school with the workload of a tier 2 school. Its the best of both worlds, but there is more to being happy then just those things. I have many more learning and behavioral issues then i did in ISs. I and the school have to teach the students we have, we dont get to choose who attends and who doesnt. I have students with more difficult SPED requirements. I also have more behavioral problems, between the lack of stability these kids are really scared about losing a parent. They are in far riskier and dangerous professions then the rest of us. One of my students came back from christmas to find out that her father was sent orders to a conflict region, and didnt want to ruin her holiday by telling her. Instead now she has to deal with her father gone and had no time to prepare.