Find a Great International School
If you're teaching overseas, make sure you pick a quality school.
All international schools are not created equal; how can you tell the good from the bad? Check the website, staff, curriculum, and administration for clues.
It’s true that nearly every major city in every country has at least one international school, opening the global doors for any certified teacher, but not all of these schools are created equal. A few simple steps can help prospective international teachers distinguish which schools offer better benefits and more stable, rewarding professional environments.
The website
Though a website certainly isn’t everything, it’s a good indicator of the school’s professionalism and commitment to cultivating a positive image. It also offers an easy way to learn more about what’s going at school—from a comfortable distance. Check out the school calendar and news items; find out what extracurricular activities are offered and what different school groups and clubs are doing. See if the website is updated frequently and gauge whether or not it gives a well-rounded picture of the school and its surrounding community.
Staff qualifications and curriculum
The best international schools pride themselves on recruiting highly qualified staff with teaching credentials and continuing education, such as a Master’s degree. Try to find out if teachers are teaching the subject for which they are certified in North America. Check for red flags: has a certified math teacher been stuck teaching science or physical education because the school needed to fill an empty slot quickly? Do some teachers lack valid certification? Such shortfalls could indicate a struggling school.
Consider the school curriculum as well. Even if the school is young and building resources, it should have an ample budget set aside for ordering materials and planning curriculum. Check for book lists, and match those lists with what you’re accustomed to in your current teaching position.
Does the school have an Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate program? Such programs indicate an appealing level of rigor and academic validity.
Current staff members, administrative structure, and turnover
Don’t be afraid to contact current staff members and administrators to get a better sense of a school’s environment. People currently working at the school generally offer the most current and honest perspectives. Ask about staff turnover—do people tend to stay only for their two-year contract term, or do many decide to stay? Low turnover indicates a positive work environment, excellent benefits, worthwhile cultural experiences, secure lifestyle, or all of the above.
Administrative structure is also worth investigating. Generally, the school headmaster answers to a board. Is the board made up of parents, or of an independent business or group? Try to get a feel for the relationship between the school and the board; a board that micromanages generally cultivates a sense of antagonism and discontent among staff.
Reviews
A membership to the International Schools Review website costs $29 a year but provides valuable access to first-hand teacher reviews of different schools. This is a particularly excellent way to spot poor schools and stay away from them.
If you’re looking for cultural perspective, check out BootsNAll, which includes commentary from expatriates on living in different overseas communities.
