Hi Sally,

AVID and ESL would both be good certifications to add. Take a look
at your transcripts and see what else you are close enough in
units to add more certs. For me, I only needed a few more classes
in English and Spanish to get DoDDS certified. Of course, if I
had zero units in those subjects I don't think I would want to
start from stratch and work towards the 24 semester unit
requirement.

I am at Mannheim, Germany. Mainz is closed and Hanau Middle/High
School just closed for good in June. I am not sure of the future
status of Mannheim, but for now it looks like there will be no
closures in Germany for next year.

APO

On 7/24/08, Sally wrote:
> Hey--Thanks for the response. I am asking my district to send
> me and a couple other teachers to some AVID training this fall
> because our high school uses some of the materials but no one
> has been trained. So I suppose that would be something else I
> could add to my resume. I don't see me adding math or science
> certifications. I could add ESL because my district would also
> pay for that. It gives me something to shoot for.
> Really--thanks.
>
> Where in Germany are you? I taught in Hanau for three years and
> Mainz for three years. I don't think we still have troops in
> Mainz (pity because it was a beautiful school). But I do
> believe Hanau is still up and running. Those were great years--
> the exchange rate was not bad either.
>
> Sally
>
>
>
> On 7/24/08, APO wrote:
>> Hi Sally,
>>
>> I am a current DoDDS teacher in Germany and I can tell you
>> for a fact that what you stated below is absolutely true.
>> Elementary grade teachers and secondary social studies
>> teachers will have a very difficult time getting into DoDDS
>> because so many people in the system already have those
>> certifications along with several other fields. Media
>> Specialist jobs are also few and far between as there is
>> only one per school or some are traveling to two schools. As
>> I have told others who are interested in DoDDS, the best
>> thing you can do is add more certifications while you are in
>> the states. I originally had only elementary and secondary
>> social studies (like everybody else!) and never got called.
>> Then I added English, Spanish, ESL, and AVID and got offers.
>>
>> Areas that are in need for DoDDS: Any foreign language, but
>> especially Spanish, German, French, and Chinese. AVID,
>> Phys. Ed., Science (especially Physics and Chemistry), Math
>> (including Calculus). To a lesser degree...Drama, Art, and
>> Journalism.
>>
>> Usually what DoDDS is looking for in a candidate is someone
>> who can "wear many different hats". Many of the schools are
>> small or downsizing or combining to K-12 unit schools, so
>> they need teachers who can teach across grade levels or
>> teach a variety of subjects. When vacancies come out for
>> transfers, there is rarely a job for just one subject such
>> as English or PE or 3rd grade. Usually, they have two or
>> three categories and sometimes they do look strange such as
>> PE/Computer Science or Health/English or someone who can do
>> 50% Media Specialist/50% Art at an elementary school.
>>
>> Bottomline, get more certifications added to your DoDDS
>> application. Make sure you read the DoDDS requirements
>> carefully for course work as they are very strict about
>> adhering to those guidelines and usually will not waive or
>> "bend the rules" with regard to course titles or
>> upper-division requirements.
>>
>> Good Luck!
>>
>> APO
>>
>> On 7/24/08, Sally wrote:
>>> I have been reading these chats for a short while with
>>> interest because I have been thinking about applying with
>>> DODD's schools in a year or two. I taught for DODDs for 6
>>> years back in the the early 80's in Germany. It was
>>> wonderful but returned stateside when my kids were born,
>>> mother-in-law had cancer, etc.... Now my kids are grown and
>>> I have thought how much I would love to return to the
>>> DODD's community.
>>>
>>> I have taught for 28 years, have elem. ed ccertification,
>>> social studies, Media Specialist and reading endorsement.
>>> From your posts, it seems all of these are a dime a dozen.
>>> Is there anything that would make me a more desirable
>>> candidate? And does having taught for Dodds in the past
>>> give me an edge at all?

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