Job Discussion Forums

[ltroshinsky]

Anyone heard of or worked at Westhill Institute in Mexico City? What have you heard or experienced?

Thanks.

[Guy Courchesne]

Whoops, I answered your post in the General Discussion too...here's what I wrote there:

No airfare or living allowance is fairly common, though you should ask about it when you talk to Westhill again.

Westhill draws rich children yes, but beyond that they draw the rich kids that have been tossed out of other prestigious private schools for behavioural problems, be advised. I have met/known about a half dozen foreign teachers that have worked there and they all say classroom management is a serious challenge.

A couple other things to take into consideration if you work at Westhill...you'll want a car, or a driver as the school is in the distant burbs. Public transport is not easy there. Housing is quite expensive in the area the school is in too, so you're pretty much guaranteed a commute.

[ltroshinsky]

Oh my God. Dealing with behavior problems is not my forte. WIll I survive?

So did the techers you know not like the job? Are they hard up for teachers?

[Guy Courchesne]

I don't know if they are hard up for teachers...will you survive? Well, I'm not saying the kids are going to maim you. Not much anyway.

Sorry, I don't have anything else to report on the job and what the teachers thought...the behaviour issues is the only thing that they all mentioned in unison.

[ltroshinsky]

where do you teach? do you know of any other school looking for teachers?

I'm not sure I should take that job.

[Guy Courchesne]

You're late in the season for international schools and private primary/secondary schools with most hiring having been done in January and February. That said, there are always going to be positions available as schools fill holes, especially come August just as the school year starts.

Here is a magazine article (in Spanish, sorry) of the top 100 schools in Mexico City, published earlier this year.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/46528015/Chilango-Escuelas-2011

They aren't ranked as top to work at as the article is for parents, but it will give you a good idea as to what's out there.

[ltroshinsky]

this article wouldn't come out on the screen.

[Guy Courchesne]

Hmm, not sure why. Over on the right, near the top there's a download option. I think it's a PDF.

The only other link I found shows the top 10 instead of 100.

http://www.chilango.com/general/nota/2011/01/06/guia-de-escuelas-2011-chilango

[doublethinker]

Actually, public transportation there really isn't that bad... metro to Tacubaya and then the Coral bus which drops you off practically in front. From the center it takes about an hour, standard for Mexico City.

[ltroshinsky]

now I'm really depressed. having a hard time finding a job here that isn't a nightmare. I was really excited about this job offer, but I don't want to foolishly jump into another bad situation.

i also would be bringing my pets, which means a lot more work to relocate. it would have to be worth it.

I live in the states now.

[Guy Courchesne]

Sorry to have been the bearer of bad news on Westhill!

You haven't mentioned your qualifications, but here is a top tier school in DF called the American School (my girlfriend teaches here).

http://www.asf.edu.mx/institutional/WorkatASF/Welcome.html

Looks like they have some openings across the board. Much better school, much better commute.

As for pets, it's not very difficult at all to bring them here and maintain them (assuming dogs or cats and not exotic pets).

[Guy Courchesne]

[ltroshinsky]

I saw The American school earlier when I was looking today. It looked kind of exclusive, like I might not be able to get the job.

Do you know how much they pay a month? Westhill is offering between $1500 and $1800 a month in dollars. With no relocation or housing assistance, like I said before.

thanks!

Lisa

[Guy Courchesne]

The ASF has two contract types - national and international with the latter for hires from abroad (though they do apply it to foreign teachers already in Mexico) and including housing stipend, flight, etc. I think a full time position starts around 18,000 pesos but they have a system to calculate salary based on experience and qualifications so it can start higher.

[BadBeagleBad]