Job Discussion Forums

[naturegirl321]

[TravellingAround]

[stoth1972]

That's correct, I don't really need info about international schools. I need information on the US Dept of Defense offers. Thanks for the suggestions!

[nomadykaty]

Check out the DoDEA website. It should answer all of your questions.

http://www.dodea.edu

[Wild Bill]

DoDDs Schools can be a pretty good deal. The pay and benefits are excellent as is the retirement.

[Glenski]

Seems to me like you are doing the legwork for your friend when she should be doing it. That web site appears to be quite comprehensive about the benefits, even if it is hard to slog through the payment plans and the "ifs" about whether someone is eligible for certain things (like shipping a car abroad). Why does your friend seem so focused on only this type of job?

[stoth1972]

[olabueno]

I've submitted my app. to DOD. and would also like to know more.

Here's what I know:

A co-teacher of mine worked for DOD in Panama for 20 years. She says nothing but great things about the program. She also said it depends (of course) on the country/ region your placed. She saved heaps of money over the years b/c of her local econmy. Her housing allowance was "generous" and they also kick in for some of your monthly expenses (power, telephone, etc.). You can also buy western food/provisions on base for next to nothing (compared to local alternitives). They pay to ship over certain household items, in some cases vehicles.

I've emailed some DOD schools in Germany and so far I've learned:

Almost no one living in the States is hired at a DOD school in Europe; the principles exact words were " I can't remember the last time we hired someone directly from the states."

She did say most newbies to DOD start out in the Pacific. Go to DoDEA website and find link to DOD schools in the Pacific. There's something like 45 high schools, pretty good amount.

hope this helps a little,

Anyone else have thoughts on DOD?

[The_Hanged_Man]

From what I gather it is like having a regular US public school job only in an another country. This means a number of things both positive and negative.

Positive:
Decent Salary with good benefits including proper health insurance.
Nice pension upon retirement.
Regular professional development support.
Small ESL population to have to deal with.
You'll live near or on an army base have easy access to American goods and an APO box.

Negatives:
Similar classroom management issues to what you have deal with in the US
You must pay US taxes (although paying into Social Security can be a plus).
You'll live near or on an army base and have to deal with a local population that may have a less than favorable impression of the US and the US military.
You have to deal with No Child Left Behind and all the BS paperwork and testing that is associated with that.

Overall I think it is a very decent gig. However, personally I prefer international schools as IMO you have more academic freedom (No NCLB) and less classroom management issues.

[ecocks]

I was raised on military bases and can think of no place where you won't make a good bit above the local wages for teachers. Maybe some sort of ultra-elite, European finishing/prep school would pay more but it would be hard to find. Pay is great (you are covered by the government retirement system), housing and recreation is significantly cheaper due to military discounts and your vacation plans can be spectacular due to govrnment travel benefits. As the above post mentions, you have the management overhead but, then again, you are usually backed up by MP's rather than politically correct policemen. Kids think twice before getting too aggressive with the military establishment which controls their parents, housing and recreation. You will have somewhat normal school problems like drugs, girl/boy relations, testing, athletics, etc. but it is a pretty sweet gig. Jobs used to be more available in the Far East (Okinawa and Guam) and Alaska. Even Guantanamo Bay has a DoD school (William T. Sampson High!).

[wildchild]