Well, my husband got an interview for DoDDS at their job
fair in March. I am hoping this will be it. What do you
think?

On 2/18/09, lisa wrote:
> Sorry PI is Philipines. Brent schools are there,
> Manila, Subic and maybe
> another. There are a lot of schools in Japan too.
>
> On 2/18/09, DEbbie wrote:
>> What is PI? Sorry, I have brain freeze. :) Brent
>> schools are in Japan? I am lost.
>>
>>
>> On 2/17/09, Lisa wrote:
>>>
>>> About the heritage thing, the weird thing is that i
>>> didn't hear slurs. some political stuff that was
>>> parroted, but no big deal. what was
>> weird
>>> was that the average person we had contact with
>>> didn't care, but the ministry had its rules about
>>> content and books. It only took one parent to
>>> complain to make something a big deal. Lots of
>>> stuff was banned the kids just figured out what it
>>> was and ordered it on Amazon.or. "What is
>>> _______?" "Sorry it is illegal for me to
>>> tell you." "Ok I'll look it up later at
>>> home."
>>>
>>> Check out international schools in Japan or PI.
>>> Brent schools are supposed to be good. Brent Subic
>>> (there is more than one) is on the old navy base.
>>> There are lots of great adventures out there. I'm
>>> excited for you. L.
>>>
>>> On 2/17/09, Debbie wrote:
>>>> It is a computer that pulls your name for DoDDS?
>>>> Are you serious? So it is just random. Well that
>>>> would make sense for people who have been waiting
>>>> years. I wonder what the criteria is for the
>>>> computer. That really sucks!!
>>>>
>>>> I could keep my heritage a secret. What would
>>>> probably bother me, would be the slurs. My
>>>> husband does not want to live in a place where he
>>>> cannot have all of us. Rightfully, so!! :) So,
>>>> Bahrain would be out of the question. We are
>>>> hoping to go to Okinawa. I have heard so many
>>>> great things about it. It is pretty far away, and
>>>> I know I would be homesick, but I could get over
>>>> that as long as we are all together.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 2/17/09, Lisa wrote:
>>>>> Hi, I agree I had friends that worked in Israel
>>>>> and they loved it but they had to follow the
>>>>> security rules from the embassy and ended up
>>>>> locked down in their apt a lot. This was
>>>>> several years ago. Pakistan is really cool, but
>>>>> it is poor too so is Bangladesh. Security is a
>>>>> worry too at times. Gulf is very safe, but you
>>>>> would have to not let on about your heritage
>>>>> and the censorship is stupid and would get on
>>>>> your nerves. I think I haven't been selected by
>>>>> DODDS for several reasons, base closures and
>>>>> transfers take priority, This summer there were
>>>>> 100 teachers displaced and waiting. There is no
>>>>> retirement age and people hold on. Also many of
>>>>> the bases are going to 6 month deployments
>>>>> without dependents. From my aunt, I heard
>>>>> Livorno in Italy has lost 1/2 its kids. I
>>>>> doesn't help that it is a computer pulling
>>>>> names. in July I was notified of a job in
>>>>> Bahrain but it was without dependants. I have a
>>>>> husband and 2 kids. My degree doesn't line up
>>>>> exactly with my certification and what I want
>>>>> to teach and I don't think that the computer
>>>>> can sort through all of it. I keep updating my
>>>>> file, but once I heard about the bases slowing
>>>>> family deployments I am more doubtful than
>>>>> ever. They also wanted a ton of expereince when
>>>>> I first signed up.. I don't know the
>>>>> requirements now. One great thing about them is
>>>>> that they ahve thier own system for teaching
>>>>> certificates, so once you are in you maintain
>>>>> with them and don't have to jump through the
>>>>> hoops set my state. We both have been teaching
>>>>> Elem for years and love it, but originally we
>>>>> were HS people.
>>>>>
>>>>> On 2/16/09, Debbie wrote:
>>>>>> That is pretty helpful. I would not consider
>>>>>> Israel and I am Jewish ( my husband is not).
>>>>>> Scares me too much as well. I too do not know
>>>>>> if I could handle the poverty in India. I
>>>>>> would be willing to go to China as would my
>>>>>> husband. I could consider Pakistan as we have
>>>>>> very wealthy friends who live there. They
>>>>>> went to school with my brothers here in the
>>>>>> States.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Why do you think you have not yet been
>>>>>> selected to work for DoDDS? What subjects do
>>>>>> you and your husband teach? It may be on
>>>>>> another posting of yours, but I cannot
>>>>>> remember.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 2/15/09, Lisa wrote:
>>>>>>> Hi, i totally understand! My kids are now
>>>>>>> jsut old enough that I have to worry about
>>>>>>> school from their perspective besides just
>>>>>>> friends, soon enough I will see if they are
>>>>>>> into sports..... I'm glad that I just don't
>>>>>>> have to worry so much now about bills. It
>>>>>>> takes a lot of weight off. They best place
>>>>>>> is hard..... As for the Middle East safety
>>>>>>> is not a problem, REALLY.I was there in
>>>>>>> 2001 and it was really ok. DOn't believe
>>>>>>> TV. I probably would be nervous to go to
>>>>>>> Israel to work more than any others. Some
>>>>>>> of the for profit schools are not that
>>>>>>> great and there is not a lot do. Dubai has
>>>>>>> a lot to do but can be expensive. I
>>>>>>> wouldn't go to Pakistan right now, but I
>>>>>>> would go to India or Bangladesh if I
>>>>>>> thought I could do the poverty. North
>>>>>>> Africa ok, Sub Saharan too much day to day
>>>>>>> violence for me- car jacking, house
>>>>>>> invasion. China is polluted, but you can
>>>>>>> make a lot of money. Beijing, Shanghai have
>>>>>>> some excellent school. Manila does too.
>>>>>>> Latin America, Peru has a good reputation.
>>>>>>> haven't heard too much about making money
>>>>>>> though. THere are great school everywhere,
>>>>>>> and some crappy places to work you sort of
>>>>>>> have to research as
>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> jobs come up. It is better to work at a
>>>>>>> school that is International and not a
>>>>>>> school for rich local kids. it is better to
>>>>>>> work for a non profit. Surf the web and
>>>>>>> see. L. On 2/15/09, Debbie wrote:
>>>>>>>> Better late than never, right? Ok, so
>>>>>>>> where is the best place to live as well
>>>>>>>> as the safest place. If we were to go the
>>>>>>>> Middle East, where she we go....I want a
>>>>>>>> really good school system not only for
>>>>>>>> us, but for our children. It would be
>>>>>>>> wonderful to be debt-free and to be able
>>>>>>>> to live a comfortable life for a change.
>>>>>>>> We are so tired of the struggling. We are
>>>>>>>> not looking to be wealthy, just
>>>>>>>> comfortable. Be able to pay the bills and
>>>>>>>> have left over to enjoy and also to put
>>>>>>>> away for retirement and college for the
>>>>>>>> kids.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 2/15/09, Lisa wrote:
>>>>>>>>> Good Morning! Well maybe my post is
>>>>>>>>> going the long way around. I'm too ling
>>>>>>>>> winded anyway ;-) Basically, I think
>>>>>>>>> you should go for it and see what
>>>>>>>>> happens. Tieonline and QSI might be
>>>>>>>>> your best bets. You could
>>>>>>>> probably
>>>>>>>>> just about finish the classes, if
>>>>>>>>> required, by late Aug. Expereince may
>>>>>>>>> hold you back and may not, so much is
>>>>>>>>> right place at right time.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Pay scales vary widely. It can be
>>>>>>>>> unintentionally misleading. Salaries
>>>>>>>>> range from 15k (no kidding) to 55+K.
>>>>>>>>> Some schools in awesome locations are
>>>>>>>>> offering a partially subsidized working
>>>>>>>>> holiday and others you can pay off all
>>>>>>>>> your debt by xmas. You need to figure
>>>>>>>>> out how much money you need to send to
>>>>>>>>> the US to cover bills, storage, etc.
>>>>>>>>> For many people that put lots of jobs
>>>>>>>>> in Latin America and Western Europe out
>>>>>>>>> of range in the beginning at least. As
>>>>>>>>> a working couple with 2 kids we save 1
>>>>>>>>> salary + depending on how much travel
>>>>>>>>> we do xmas and spring break. we don't
>>>>>>>>> go to the states for xmas. I couldn't
>>>>>>>>> even get to disney land and taco bell
>>>>>>>>> when i taught in the states now we
>>>>>>>>> debate Cairo or Rome.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> The big question is WHAT CAN WE SAVE,
>>>>>>>>> not what do you pay! Remember the
>>>>>>>>> salary is tax free in the US and
>>>>>>>>> overseas. You keep the gross and get
>>>>>>>>> housing, insurance, tickets,
>>>>>>>>> tuition,some shipping allowance and
>>>>>>>>> maybe some utilities, for all 4 of you
>>>>>>>>> if you are both working . If you pay
>>>>>>>>> taxes like in Germany they will pay you
>>>>>>>>> way more. Let me know how you are
>>>>>>>>> doing.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On 2/15/09, Lisa wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> For some reason my answer didn't
>>>>>>>>>> post!! Grrr. I think it went to some
>>>>>>>>>> admin review place, whatever that
>>>>>>>>>> means! If it doesn't show up my
>>>>>>>>>> Monday, I will write again. L On
>>>>>>>>>> 2/14/09, Debbie wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>> I spoke with my admissions person
>>>>>>>>>>> yesterday. For me to complete my
>>>>>>>>>>> French grades 7-12, I only need 4
>>>>>>>>>>> more courses and will need to write
>>>>>>>>>>> 2 state exams. I also wanted to add
>>>>>>>>>>> Special Ed, so I am not sure how
>>>>>>>>>>> many more courses I need. I did the
>>>>>>>>>>> student teaching practicum in 1996
>>>>>>>>>>> when I was pregnant with our first
>>>>>>>>>>> daughter, so that is out of the
>>>>>>>>>>> way.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> We would be willing to go this
>>>>>>>>>>> September. There is nothing holding
>>>>>>>>>>> us back at this time. Since, I am
>>>>>>>>>>> unemployed right now, and he is
>>>>>>>>>>> done in June with his long-term sub
>>>>>>>>>>> assignment (unless they offer him
>>>>>>>>>>> F/T), we are more than ready to go.
>>>>>>>>>>> We do have a home here, but we are
>>>>>>>>>>> willing to rent it out if need be.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> What is the pay scale going
>>>>>>>>>>> overseas? By the time my husband is
>>>>>>>>>>> finished, he will have 1 year of
>>>>>>>>>>> teaching experience under his belt.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> On 2/14/09, Lisa wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>> DODDS will take people with
>>>>>>>>>>>> dependents, no problem. If you
>>>>>>>>>>>> are not quite certified it will
>>>>>>>>>>>> be more difficult. Are you close
>>>>>>>>>>>> to finishing? I think it is
>>>>>>>>>>>> College of New Jersey has a
>>>>>>>>>>>> program designed for people
>>>>>>>>>>>> overseas, Some place in Michigan
>>>>>>>>>>>> and also George Mason outside DC.
>>>>>>>>>>>> Some states will let you do a
>>>>>>>>>>>> first year job in lieu of student
>>>>>>>>>>>> teaching. Some int'l schools will
>>>>>>>>>>>> hire you in that situation. The
>>>>>>>>>>>> best school of course will hold
>>>>>>>>>>>> out for the most expereince and
>>>>>>>>>>>> education. However you can wait
>>>>>>>>>>>> forever
>>>>>>>>>>> to get
>>>>>>>>>>>> into the perfect school IF you
>>>>>>>>>>>> have no overseas experience. Once
>>>>>>>>>>>> your foot is in the door it is a
>>>>>>>>>>>> different recruiting experience.
>>>>>>>>>>>> You will have a tough time to
>>>>>>>>>>>> find a school that will take 3
>>>>>>>>>>>> dependents because they provided
>>>>>>>>>>>> housing, airfare, tuition and
>>>>>>>>>>>> insurance.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> For overseas $$ is different. You
>>>>>>>>>>>> of course need to consider how
>>>>>>>>>>>> much you need to cover
>>>>>>>>>>>> obligations at home, and what you
>>>>>>>>>>>> need to save for retirement. Most
>>>>>>>>>>>> schools don't pay into SSI, but
>>>>>>>>>>>> you can if you are willing to pay
>>>>>>>>>>>> your portion and the employer.
>>>>>>>>>>>> Your husband will not make
>>>>>>>>>>>> $40,000 overseas, but he will get
>>>>>>>>>>>> housing, some utilities, full
>>>>>>>>>>>> insurance, private school
>>>>>>>>>>>> tuition, probably no
>>>>>>>>>>>> commute/freedom from having 2
>>>>>>>>>>>> cars., no taxes! You must ask
>>>>>>>>>>>> what you can save!
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> The good news is that I'm hearing
>>>>>>>>>>>> more and more that job fairs are
>>>>>>>>>>>> out and tel. interviews are in!!
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> What is your timeline to go
>>>>>>>>>>>> overseas? Sept, or farther out? L
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> On 2/13/09, Debbie wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>> My husband is the teacher and
>>>>>>>>>>>>> my background is HR. Although,
>>>>>>>>>>>>> I was looking at going back to
>>>>>>>>>>>>> school to finish my
>>>>>>>>>>>>> certification which I started
>>>>>>>>>>>>> from 1995-1996. I had to stop
>>>>>>>>>>>>> as we had our first child and
>>>>>>>>>>>>> then our second one 18 months
>>>>>>>>>>>>> later. My husband teaches
>>>>>>>>>>>>> science. We are pretty open to
>>>>>>>>>>>>> areas. He is currently earning
>>>>>>>>>>>>> around 40k as a first year
>>>>>>>>>>>>> teacher. He has a BS and 34 hrs
>>>>>>>>>>>>> toward Masters. He has 2
>>>>>>>>>>>>> courses left to finish to get
>>>>>>>>>>>>> his Masters.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> Let me know what other info you
>>>>>>>>>>>>> need. Thanks for your help.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 2/13/09, Lisa wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hi, My aunt worked for DODDS
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> for 30+ years and I have
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> friends that have worked for
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> DODDS and for Int'l schools.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Nothing compares to DODDS!!!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you can get in go for it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> My hsuband and I have been
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> trying to 9 years. It is
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> super hard to get in, even
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> for people with lots of
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> expereince and suposed
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> connections. Luck I guess!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The schools don't compare but
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the search agencies for Int'l
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Schools are much easier to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> utilize and your chance of
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> getting a job are 1000%
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> higher. DODDS are all
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> American kids, In't schools
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> aren't.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Until now there has been a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> teacher shortage overseas.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Over the last several years I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> have been working with recent
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> graduates with no experience
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> so they do get hired. A
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> collegue last year, 22 and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> straight out of college,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> broke her first teaching
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> contract (did 1 of 2 years)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and was hired for a new inl't
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> job for the next year by
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> phone interview. If she can,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> you can!!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> What do you teach??? Your
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> kids will be no problem if
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> both of you teach. You
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> usually get 1 kid free per
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> teacher. All
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> benefits/flights/tuition.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I have never done ISS because
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> they wanted all these essays
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and when I first got started
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I didn't have the minimum #
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> of years required to sign up.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I have only used Search
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Associates. Thier website has
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> some good links and info.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> They have a job fair in late
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> June after school gets out.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> They will be honest about
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> your chances. TIE online I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> think is cheap or free and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> many hires are interviewed on
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Skype. I know some people
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> that have been very happy
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> with QSI. qsi.org They have
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> an online application and are
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> all over the world in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> interesting places.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Some of your chance depends
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> on your flexibility for
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> location, type of school, and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> salary requirements. Do you
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> need anything special for
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> your kids? Let me know if I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> can help.L On 2/10/09, Debbie
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hi Lisa:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I have read several of your
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> posts and they have been
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> quite helpful. My husband
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> is a first year teacher
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> (2nd career) and is
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> currently a long-term sub.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> His certification is in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> science (Biology-grades
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 7-12), but has also been
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> teaching physical science.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> He applied to DoDDS and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> DDESS and due to the budget
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> crisis, who knows if that
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> will even pan out. My
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> question is what is the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> likelihood if he were to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> apply through some of the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> other agencies you
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> mentioned that he would get
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> a job. We have 2 children
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> as well. I don't think he
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> will be able to go to the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> job fairs. I looked into
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ISS online, and have been a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> little apprehensive. How do
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> these agencies compare to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> DoDDS?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Thanks for your help.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>
>

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