The International Schools Review Forum

I am finding lots about singles and teaching couples, but I have a non-teaching husband and small kids, and I am looking for a place where we would still be able to save some money. Can anyone share details about their experiences with this kind of situation? Recommendations?

I can only post from my own limited personal experience. I am in my first year at a good International school in Shanghai. While on my job search I had signed up for the job fair in Virginia in June (last chance fair!!!) as it was the only one that logistically would work out for me with my family commitments. I have a non teaching wife (well, she teaches piano lessons, but not a certified music teacher) and 3 kids, 2 school age and a 2 year old. I signed up with Search and TIE, i also checked the TES for international positions. Without attending the fair I was interviewed via Skype with about 8 or 9 schools and ended up with 3 offers. I accepted my present position in March so ended up not attending the fair. I also deactivated my search and tie profile, so I am not sure how many other interview requests would have come in. My advice would be to look to China and the Far east, as spouses can get work here (esp if they have a degree). I avoided the Mid east, simply because the offer was from a school (great school!) in Egypt. A caveat I would like to add though. The teachers at my school who do have non teaching spouses and kids, all are very experienced. I had 15 years experience stateside. So I think they are willing to hire with dependents if you are experienced, but they prefer singles and couples if you have less than 5 yrs or so........just my views, others may have a different take. I would definitely say go for it. My wife and kids love it here, the kids love their school and have gotten very involved in all sorts of activities that honestly just wouldn't be feasible where we were before. We are basically living(and saving!!) on one salary plus my wife's piano lessons give a small amount of extra income.

It was hard to get jobs, unless family were not part of the package. Many schools are interested but were not prepared to make the financial commitment.

The only real option is to get your spouse certified to do something, or at least offer a significant coaching role.

My husband is certified now, but when we first came overseas he was a non teaching spouse, and I had/have 2 young kids. This equals 3 "dependents" in the way that international schools view you. I went to the San Francisco fair and actually got around 8 interviews in Asia and the Mid East, then took a job at a second tier school here in Taiwan.

Because housing is included, we were able to save some money and live well even when I was the only one working (not including the first 6 months of settling-in expenses). We don't do a lot of travel or anything, but we are definitely living better than we did in the States on one salary. Any anyway, travel with young kids is not that fun! :)

In Taiwan and many Asian countries, your spouse might be able to get an ESL teaching job on the side with private schools that don't require a teaching certificate. My husband had no trouble finding more tutoring students than he could handle.

Your best option is to look at 2nd tier school in Asia, they include housing and its going to offer you the most potential for savings. Additionally your spouse can easily find a job teaching ELL.