You Can't get there from Here!

That's what our lives were starting to feel like.  Neither of us really regretted becoming a teacher, I don't think.  Though Jessi was thoroughly burnt out a few months into the school calendar last year, I could see in her eyes and in the tone of her voice, how much she loved the scant few moments where she taught to her students, rather than acted as mother, friend, guidance councilor, and confidant to them.  All things they sorely needed, but should be getting elsewhere.

I on the other hand was working my tail off.  I was the new Science Department Head at Mel High, and a science fair director, in addition to my 5 regular Chem and my new IB Chemistry classes.  I had bitten off too much at one time and was struggling mightily to keep up.  I was regularly working 10-12 hour days every day and an additional 6-10 hours on Saturday, never getting ahead one bit.  I was missing my little girl grow up, and it was affecting our marriage and my sanity.

At any rate, we were not getting the job security, financial security, family life we were hoping for.  It was starting to look like back to square one again for Jessi, and eventually for me.  We were discussing leaving the profession unless something changed, and having no hope on the horizon for that change.  Then out of the blue, the opportunity we needed was right in front of us.

A friend of ours (Jessi, Alexandra, and me), who taught at Mel with me, Katie Coleman, was back in the US.  She had been to Santiago, Chile for 2 years to teach at a private school called Nido de Aguilas International Academy.  She had been raving about it to Alexandra on one of their morning runs in November of 2014.  Incidentally Alexandra was a former teacher as well and a casualty of the county change over to 6 of 7 classes in 2012, just like Jessi at Hoover.  However Alexandra just left rather than transfer to whatever hell hole they found for her.  Alexandra told Jessi about it and she had a long speech prepared to convince me to try this.  (I think she thought I was blissfully drinking the kool aid at Mel High)  I think she got out about 3 sentences before I said YES!  Her jaw hit the floor.  "NO fair! I had a whole speech!"  she exclaimed.

We invited Katie over to dinner to tell us all about it.  Nothing she said gave either of us anything but hope.  Of note, was the fact that in 2 years she had gotten 100% out of debt with money to spare.  We learned of a company called International Schools Services.  They are a school management company, but more importantly, they are a head hunting firm for International Schools World-wide.  Want an eye-opener?  click the link and select "Explore Schools".  To apply for their services you set up an account, then upload a bunch of materials like diplomas, resumes, recommendations, evaluations and the like.  Once everything is in, you pay a fee and all those little dots can see you.

Hiring is mainly in December and January, and we were live in late December.  we started getting a few inquiries and did a skype interview or two, but nothing earth shattering.  Mainly small, third-world schools in Myanmar and Mali, and then a little place called Jeju in South Korea wanted a first interview.  We were hoping to go to Nido, because Katie made it sound so amazing, and they were hiring a physics and a chemistry position, but we went live right after both positions filled...  It was about then that Jessi decided that she needed to go to the ISS Hiring conference in Boston, the last chance to see and get seen by a lot of schools.  Her and Alexandra went together while I kept the home fire burning.  KIS and YIS (Yangon International School, Myanmar) were supposed to meet Jessi in person there.  Unfortunately, massive snowfall held KIS in Iowa and we weren't able to talk with her face-to face.  Jessi interviewed from sunup to well after sundown every day.  1st, 2nd, and 3rd interviews were had, including skype conference calls for me and a few very early morning (2 and 3 am) skype interviews for me alone.  It was intense.  By the time Jessi got home, we had a half dozen serious offers and maybe a dozen more prospects.  It was decision time......

YIS was still interested and made a great offer.  A school in Cairo wanted me for department head, and made a substantial offer as well, but Jessi would be teaching ESE middle school.....so no thanks.  Qatar offered as well, me for IB Physics, but Jessi for ESE middle school again.  Same story in Bahrain, and two schools in the UAE.  We really didn't want to take Abi to the Middle East yet, so we were dragging our feet making decisions, when Kristine from KIS Jeju emailed.  She asked if we had found a position yet and apologized for not being able to meet Jessi in Boston.  She asked if we were still interested in AP Chem and AP Biology and we said yes.  We had a contract offer in our hands the next day.  Not as much money as the Middle East Schools, but a much more comfortable place, with almost no restrictions on either of us...  and Jessi was not teaching ESE middle school. ;)

We signed on the dotted line and that was that.  Welcome to the fold.  We had email accounts and access to software almost immediately and the business staff at school has been holding our hand the entire way.  we have even had access to current and former faculty at KIS, including the teachers we are replacing.  It took Jessi months to get an email address back when she switched from Hoover to Central.  This was a professional outfit, and it seemed then, and still does now, that they really do value us and are grateful we are coming to their school.   The whole interview process was a huge ego boost, and worth the ISS fee on it's own.  Jessi and I are both great teachers (her more so than me) but working in the states in the public schools, you rarely get the sense that you are sincerely valued for your skills.  Most of the schools we talked to worked this way:

You are leaving your comfortable life in the US/Canada/wherever to come to our country and teach our kids at our request.
We understand this is a difficult process and task and you are giving up many things to do this.
We will make it worth your while.  Pay scales are 20% higher, Benefits are mind-boggling.  Oh and we know the tax laws of your country and will make sure that you do not pay taxes on your salary.  We have other ways to boost your pay (our "package" is roughly double our salaries).
You need a place to live?  no problem.  Here is some free housing or a generous stipend.
You want to go home once a year to see family, no problem.  We will purchase tickets for you and family to an airport of your choice at beginning, end, and each summer in between.  Don't like your family?  no problem, where do you want to go???
You have kids?  great!  We love kids, they get free day-care/nursery school/ entrance into our school.

Our new principal was stunned that we were teaching 6 out of 7 periods.  Unheard of!  How do you get anything done?  When do you collaborate with other teachers?  When do you have a chance to grade, plan, observe others, run clubs, etc?  You'll teach 4 out of 8 here.  If we need you to teach 5 you will be greatly compensated.  discipline problems?  what are those?  disrespectful kids?  not here.  kids who cant read or do the requisite math?  that happens where you are?  why?

You are here...to...teach.  Just worry about that and thank you for coming all of this way. It's a pleasure to have you.  Welcome to the family.

Imagine if that was the kind of relationship you had with your boss/principal/school/district.  Wouldn't that be nice?   I'm here to tell you you CAN get there from wherever you are.


It looks like most of our boxes are packed and the luggage is all set out for our flight Friday.  T-minus 84 hours till go time.  Cant wait.

Next Up?  A little Something about Korean International School in Jeju.