DODD Teachers Chatboard

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masterscandidate2016 At a recent DVS faculty meeting, it was announced that there will be a permanent K-12 virtual school moving forward they just don't know what it will look like

Feb 15, 2021

oldshack This is the one and only referral I have received thus far, I am still hoping it comes to fruition somehow. It seemed like I received it just for the peak of COVID, but then I heard from a few others that there was potentially going to be a permanent k-12 school. So my fingers are still crossed, although it has been like five months hahaha.

Feb 15, 2021

Has anyone flown with pets from Japan to Guam recently? I heard of people having to leave their pets behind. This is not an option for us.

Side note: I know the process and regs pertaining to Guam, I am just looking for recent experience to see who is flying them. I've already joined all the Facebook pages and asked Island Pet Movers. No ...See More

Pets to Guam

by LolaTeach

Feb 10, 2021

(6)

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poke dreams sorry...should have been posted as "congrats on going to Guam!"

Feb 10, 2021

LolaTeach This isn't an EAS job, I'm still tentative, so I am not ready to share yet.

Feb 11, 2021

No Car

by Liz

Feb 8, 2021

Which countries/bases are best to teach at without a car? Our family would like to live on base and not bring or purchase a car. I'm hoping to apply to most Europe based, Japan, and Okinawa. Are there any places where this would not be possible?

(7)

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Liz Thank you all for the information. We could buy a cheap car as that seems to make sense for times when using other methods is not possible. I personally love walking, using public transportation, and/or biking and do not find these options as inconvenient as most Americans do and instead find them enjoyable and part of the experience of living in a...See More

Feb 9, 2021

Icanread Cars are cheap here in Okinawa. We bought 2 for $1500 each. Public transportation is terrible here, and with the COVID restrictions, we are not allowed to use it anyway. It rains way too much to cycle every day. My friends who bike to work also own cars.

Feb 9, 2021

59 and going

by SL

Jan 19, 2021

Actually, I only have 13 years so my retirement in Florida teachers sux. The pay for DoDea is almost twice higher. So the money is much better and I need those last few years. So shut up? Meaning?

(15)

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haha It's like most other organizations, your benefits would be based on your numbers of years of service and your salary level when you retire (average of your highest 3 years of salary). You would also receive an annuity/payout from your TSP (with matching contributions by the gov't, up to 5%) + your SS.

Feb 8, 2021

IsItFriday? @SL....raw deal. Ouch.

Take the offer.

You need to work for the Federal Gov for a minimum of five years to collect a FERS annuity (pension).

Feb 9, 2021

Healthcare

by Educate

Feb 5, 2021

How is the healthcare quality in mainland Japan? Are teachers able to use the local hospitals or do they have to get referrals from the base first? Are the emergency rooms on base? My wife has a few medical issues, so healthcare is important.

(7)

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Educate Thanks for all the comments. Basically my wife has 1 or 2 anaphylaxis episodes a month from an unknown cause. We just need to know if there are emergency rooms quickly available in Japan.

Feb 8, 2021

HelpOthers It will depend on your location. I suggest communication with EFMP before interviewing. Maybe even contact them in advance before choosing locations.

Feb 9, 2021

I was linked with another future Dodea team member through a mutual friend. As I was telling her about passport agents not responding, she stated that she was told by her HR rep that she could use her personal passport to get to her location then apply for her official passport once she is out of quarantine. My HR rep has not told me this. Has anyo...See More

Passports

by CaliBred

Jan 22, 2021

(12)

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HelpOthers You can apply for them now and have them sent to a trusted person to mail them to you. That may be easier than trying to get them while you are overseas.

Feb 3, 2021

DoDeaNewbie If you are trying to fly overseas from USA on a tourist passport, you will not be able to enter many foreign countries. I am in Europe and went home on emergency leave. I had no issues returning to the states, but I had many many hurdles returning to EU. Your orders allow you into the foreign country (regardless if Americans are currently flagged a...See More

Feb 3, 2021

Referral list

by Slcjkl

Jan 30, 2021

I applied a week ago and recently checked my qualification status. All my areas were marked as "qualified" except for middle school English, which was marked as "pending." I emailed HR to inquire about this (I know that I have the right number and type of credits) and got a confusing reply. I've edited the reply for grammar, but here it is:
...See MoreI applied a week ago and recently checked my qualification status. All my areas were marked as "qualified" except for middle school English, which was marked as "pending." I emailed HR to inquire about this (I know that I have the right number and type of credits) and got a confusing reply. I've edited the reply for grammar, but here it is:

"For your 0210 Middle School English, this will be evaluated once you appear on a referral list for this position. Our licensure team will review your qualifications. They do have a lot of applicants to review, so they typically do not get to your application until it appears on a referral list. However, being in a pending status will not have any effect on you appearing on referral lists for the locations/positions that you are interested in."

All this time I was under the impression that the more certifications you have, the more referral lists you're likely to be on. This response seems to imply that you get certified after you have been referred. If that's the case, then what do they use to give each candidate a rating? Just education and experience? I very recently signed up for 5 more classes, and the totality of all my credits will give me elementary 1-8, elementary gifted, elementary compensatory reading, language and reading specialist (LARS), middle school English, middle school social studies, middle school gifted, high school English and high school social studies. I'm happy to get these credits because I enjoy school and have extra time during quarantine restrictions, but I did think that the certifications they give me would significantly increase my chances of getting interviewed. But if DODEA doesn't certify you until you end up on a referral list, and you (apparently) get on referral lists by having direct experience, then I'm afraid that I just spent a lot of money on self-improvement but did little to increase my chances of getting hired. I have no experience teaching middle school anything or high school anything or as a reading specialist.

Sorry for the long post, and I hope it isn't too confusing. Any input would be much appreciated. Thanks!

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haha Being pending in multiple areas is still better than being pending in one/two areas because it should still increase the potential number of referrals you receive/eligible for (and in theory, increase the chances to interview/receive an offer).

Jan 31, 2021

HelpOthers I agree. Just having the areas listed will get you on referral lists. If you make a referral list for a position you are not "qualified" for, they are supposed to review it. So, if you make a referral list for MS, check again to see if the status has changed.

Feb 3, 2021

1. If you are at a one year location, is it one full school year or one full calendar year? DEROS falls outside of both. I cannot find a straight answer anywhere.

2. Would you be allowed a compassionate reassignment before that time is up? How is your reassignment duty station decided if you do not need to go to a specific area (ie; child ...See More

Contract Length

by Teach

Jan 21, 2021

(9)

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Teach Thank you, @HO! I was hired in early July as an internal hire and it still took me until mid October to report after quarantine time (yes, really). So, qualifying for RAT is basically the equivalent to completing your contract?

Jan 31, 2021

HelpOthers Yes. It is Renewal Agreement Travel. This means you are renewing your contract. If you are in a one-year RAT location, you still have to complete two years before they will pay to send you back with all your items etc (I think).

Feb 3, 2021

Application updates

by Jkrtmedia

Feb 1, 2021

Hi everyone. I'm trying to understand the application updating for next school year. Ive deleted all of my attachments and uploaded them again. Do I need to wait to do this when the email is sent out or can I do it now. Also is there somewhere to upload a resume?

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HelpOthers If you time it right, the column to the right of the transcripts and educators certificate has the next school-year. If you do it too early, it will only have this school-year 2020-2021

Feb 3, 2021

HelpOthers Include everything that would be in your resume into your application. Use the narrative portion (only free-write space) to include anything not included elsewhere. You can offer to e-mail a copy of your resume whenever you are asked to interview.

Feb 3, 2021

Veterans preference/ openings

by Jkrtmedia

Jan 26, 2021

Hi everyone I have a question that I'm having a hard time understanding. My DH is a combat disabled veteran and I'm wondering if I'm able to use spousal preference on my application. He is employed by the federal government if that matters. Also I'm wondering if there are a lot of educators leaving or going to retire because of the pandemic. Thanks...See More

(5)

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IsItFriday? Not if he's already fully employed. The spouse is a federal employee. Spouses can use vet's preference in some limited situations. This does not appear to be one of them.

Double check obviously.

Jan 27, 2021

HelpOthers Your spouses' vet preference does nothing for you. Your spouse being a federal employee MAY help if employed in a location where a DoDEA school is located and where family preference based on civilian employment counts. Yes, It seems more people are leaving this year than most and because there is no transfer round, people can be hired from CONUS i...See More

Jan 29, 2021