Questions about Teaching

It is not too late to apply for a position for next, if anything it is too early for such an application. You should be concerned about the salary, they are low and the cost of living is high. There is no relocation bonus, and in fact, you should be prepared to go without a paycheck for the first few months of working, it typicall takes that long to process your hire. the private shcools pay less than the public schools, in some cases, a lot less. If you haven't been to the territory for a PMV, you absolutley need to do so before making a decision as to whether or not you want to move here. You need to do a search of this forum egarding teachiong in the USVI and the challenges you will face. You may find they are more than you are prepared to deal with.

Last week there was an ad in the Daily News - Antilles School needing several teaching positions. I also know that VI Montessori School is hiring high school teachers. Check out the private schools. Salaries and benefits may be better.

Actually their is a relocation bonus. Every new teacher that started with me was granted it if their were moving from the states or another country. I received my paycheck on time, but you must stay on top of them about the NOPA. This is a good time to apply because the process was very long for me. I think becasue I started too early. You can send me a personal message. I can give you more info. It might be helpful. Yes there are challenges and their are rewards. I will be hapy to share anything I can that might assist you. Oh! are you elementary or secondary? You might want to try Kingshill. Iknow that there may be a specific need for you there.

When do applications for teachers need to be in?

When do schools notify the teachers when/if they are hired?

There are forms going around in the schools now to project what the need will be in the public schools for next school term. I think they start making offers to new teachers in July. In the mean time I would make conections to pricipals or directors who might assist you in getting into a particular location.

Let me also say for the record. The NOPA is a very important document that needs to be signed in order to generate a paycheck. I was informed about the NOPA just as other teachers who have inquired on this board. My relatives and friends also informed me about the NOPA. The Taxi drivers told me about the NOPA. Yes I was very concerned about the NOPA. SO I had to track it down. So most of my phone calls to HR after the offer was made was about this NOPA. I was propbably called the NOPA lady by HR personnel. Thats all I wanted to inquire about as I was preparing to move. As soon as I arrived I went directly to HR to check on the status. This for some may be too uncomfortable. You know making the move with out the SIGNED NOPA. Some have stated to HR. "I will start when I receive my NOPA" (Notice of Personnel Action). I met so many others when I arrived that knew nothing about the NOPA. My thought was Oh My God they do not know about the NOPA. I was somewhat familiar with NOPA from another school system and local government agency,but the processing of this document was less of a factor to when you were going to be paid in the other school system. I guess the NOPA that I was familiar with at the time ran through a more smoothly run machine.

I've worked with those who were not as fortunate as I. I could share with you how some were assisted with the delay, atleast within my camp. Contact me if you need more information about that.

Hi,

I have been offered a job in the Virgin Islands through and H1B visa. I am supposed to pay certain amount of money to have that visa processed. I would like to know if it is possible to live with my wife and two children with a beginning teacher salary. I would also like to know whether medical and dental insurance is covered by the department of education. If you can explain to me what the NOPA is and how do you get it I would appreciate it.

No, a family of 4, including 2 school-age children cannot live on a beginning teacher's salary.

Look at http://teachusvi.net/ . . . under the link for pay scale there is a power point presentation that will help you calculate your actual net pay after taxes, insurance and retirement funds are all taken out of your pay. It will give you an idea of what your actual take home pay will be.

Take some time to look through prior posts (thank you to all the posters who took the time to list some specific numbers of costs for rent, utilities, food, etc) and build a budget based on some of those figures and see how much income you will need to cover your costs and compare it to what your take home pay will be based on the presentation on http://teachusvi.net/.

Hope that helps 🙂

The medical and dental insurance provided by the territorial government is probably better than most stateside insurance. However, you'll need to check what your cost is for your dependants.