Job Discussion Forums

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I'm considering trying to get a job with IBO schools. www.ibo.org

Has anyone ever worked for one of these? What was your opinion of working for them? Good, bad, ugyl? What's the pay like compared to international schools.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 4:44 pm Post subject:

Incredibly varied. A lot of IBO schools are international schools, so the pay would be the same- which is to say, varied.

It's a qualification that is gaining in prestige, so a lot of Ecuadorian schools are trying to become part of it. It doesn't seem to offer any guarantees in terms of conditions for teachers, though- it's just a question of what an individual school has on offer.

best,
Justin

11:59 · Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 5:38 pm Post subject:

I think you may have got a bit mixed up. The IBO doesn't have any schools, but rather is a curriculum publisher and an examination body. The IB Diploma, for example, is apparently one of the most widely recognised pre-university programmes on the planet (which is most likely why many international schools were among the first to opt for the IB route). Teachers of IB courses have to attend IBO training (usually just a two-day course), but the IBO doesn't have any schools or teachers of its own anymore than the Oxford Examinations Authority does. You will see references to (and advertisements for) 'IB schools' but this simply means the school in question runs one or more of the three IB courses the IBO administers.

I taught the IBD at a run-of-the-mill international school and I have to say that, although in my view the diploma does not come anywhere close to the hype (and hubris) surrounding it, it was a quite refreshing course to teach after having had the international variant of the UK A level curriculum in place for so long.

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

Here in Canada lots of schools run optional IB programs within normal public schools. You have to have a B.Ed and teaching certificate to teach in one.

From what I've read about working (as a teacher) overseas in IB schools you generally need a permanent teaching certificate, which you get after you do a B.Ed degree and teach for x years in a school that uses the government-mandated curriculum in your home country. Here, it's two years. I've seen a handful of postings for IB schools where teaching core subjects requires teaching certification, but elective ESL classes doesn't.

The_Hanged_Man · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 224 Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

Nowadays in international schools, B.Eds are not quite necessary with alternative certification being an acceptable substitute. A M.Ed. or B.Ed. will help your candidacy but are not requirements at most schools.

Generally, schools require you to be fully certified and to have 2 years of K-12 teaching experience. It is possible to get hired without either, but you will face long odds and will likely end up in a less than reputable school.

Most overseas IB schools are 'international schools'. However, a good number of them primarily only have host country nationals as students and are not true international schools with a diverse population. That being said, many of these schools are still good places to work with similar pay and benefits to proper international schools.

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

How would you get those two years of K-12 experience without a B.Ed and teaching certification in the first place?

The_Hanged_Man · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 224 Location: Tbilisi, Georgia

Many states (Texas and Florida in particular) have alternative certification programs. With these you work at a school on a full teachers salary while attending seminars and workshops for your certificate. The programs aren't cheap (usually a few thousand dollars), but are much less (in both time and money) than going back to school to earn a B.Ed. the traditional way. I was fully certified in Texas this way after one year through one of these programs.

The big downside of these programs are that they usually are a trial by fire in a low income school. I spent 2 years in the sixth poorest district in Texas, and there were some days that were a classrom management nightmare. However, now I am teaching overseas again at an international school in Kuwait and am much happier.

vashdown2 · Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Posts: 124 Location: Paris, France

I'm also looking into routes into Int'l Schools.

Anyone have experience with the Master's of Ed offered at John Hopkins, George Washington, or George Mason Universities? These offer MA in 1 year, teaching internship, and state credentials- all in ONE year. Not bad!

The con: tuition prices...But there seem to be some tuition reduction plans for teachers at these schools.