Help - Teaching in STX

Good Hope tends to hire people who are off-island, which seems to be the problem... they hire too many damn teachers from the states who are not committed to the island or the local culture.

Are you a parent or teacher?

Former student of Good Hope.

Good Hope does seem to hire from off-island. the problem is, IMO, not the quality of the new hires, but the new teacher really doesn't know enough about the islands, no PMV, no chance to get themselves oriented.

The turn over is great.

We used to have so many teachers who only stay for one year, even some who have left in the middle of the semester! It's pretty ridiculous. The pay is also not as good as at the public schools, I hear. I think they pay around 25K/ year or so.

goalstx asked:

"Honestly, will the Country Day or Good Hope hire people who are not already on island?"

Country Day School has a very low turn-over rate. Many of the teachers have been there for decades. It is one of the things they will tell you if you apply for a position there. If Country Day needs staff, they always advertise in the local papers. If you don't see an ad, they're probably not looking to fill any vacancies.

One of the best ways to get on the Country Day staff is to start as a volunteer. This may be difficult for someone trying to move here to make a living.

Remember, there has been so much turnover of teachers at schools here in general over the years that you may not be taken seriously as a new arrival looking for a teaching job. St. Croix can be a difficult place for some, and we have seen many teachers leave after being here for only a very short time, sometimes only days.

The Country Day School website is http://www.stxcountryday.com

Unfortunately, many people make the move without knowing what they are getting into, even teachers.

I don't want to make the move if my husband couldn't get a teaching job (what he currently does on the mainland) because he loves his profession and is so dedicated to it.

Good Hope has a technology teacher position open. I am really impressed with everything I've been able to find out about the school and if they really live up to their mission statement then I'm very impressed. Does anyone know what the technology teacher position would pay?

goalstx asks:

"Good Hope has a technology teacher position open. I am really impressed with everything I've been able to find out about the school and if they really live up to their mission statement then I'm very impressed. Does anyone know what the technology teacher position would pay?"

Good Hope School has excellent computer technology. You may need to find out at what level the technology teacher is expected to teach...is it Upper School, which may involve teaching Advanced Placement Computer Science using Java, or is it Lower School, which may involve just general computer literacy.

An Upper School Tech teacher position should pay around 40K.

Some of the Good Hope teachers have already worked in other overseas private schools and they understand more of what they are getting themselves into. New college graduates come with a lot of idealism, nothing in their bank account, and without the life experience to avoid some of the pitfalls of island life. There has been a revolving door at the school in some positions... including the Head of School. This doesn't teach the students some very important life lessons that most children learn through watching how the adults in their life approach responsibility.

Even so, the students graduating from Good Hope are pretty well prepared for moving onto the college experience. One of my sons graduated from Good Hope last June and is happily ensconced in his freshman year at Louisiana Tech University.

Oh... the teachers may not be all that well paid, but for those with children of their own, there is the added benefit of free tuition for their kids. At $6500-$10K each, that's quite a boost in the value of their employment compensation package.