Schools and teachers

Buffy, you really, really need to read through the relocation message board at the numerous entries on the public schools. I taught public school for 9 years in New England and found this to be very interesting (once considering a move to the VIS with this career in mind). We've also visited the VIs 4 times and I've talked with some relocated folks on a couple of visits to get their impressions of the public schools. Despite the mainland problems, it sounds to me like you would be very disappointed in the public schools in the VIs. Enthusiasm is far different from the reality of teaching anyway, never mind in a place that won't be as supportive as you want or with the same interests as you have in education. READ, READ READ then think again. Maybe the private schools are better, this board indicates that they are.

Hello Buffy,

Welcome to the board. The conditions and atmosphere of schools (public and private) in St. Thomas & the USVI is something discussed on this board often, usually in the direction of a parent inquiring about sending their children to school. So if you scroll to the top of the board and click on Search you might do a keyword search for education, schools, teaching (change the date range to all) and read through those.

You did ask for a teacher's perspective... There is a teacher on the board that has posted a few times about her experiences at a local St. Thomas high school. Perhaps in going through the old threads you might find the comments and try sending her a message or maybe she will reply to this thread.

...as for testing. I attended school in St. Thomas many years ago :D; in any case we were given standardized test. I remember a few of the test had state names in front, trying to remember here, Iowa Achievement Test and maybe California Achievement Test come to mind... CRCT doesn't ring a bell but maybe that’s something new in comparison to when I was in school. 😉 The USVI does have to comply with the No Child Left Behind Laws.

Hopefully we have more teachers on the message board that are working in St. Thomas (or STX/STJ) than I am aware of and they can answer your questions.

--Islander

Thanks. That helps. Now that I know that the VIs have to comply with No Child Left Behind, I can imagine that the schools there are very similar to the ones here (as far and cirruclum and testing goes). Thanks again!

I have read a few of the prior discussions on this topic, but it is good to have a teacher's perspective. I understand that most schools have similar goals, and I imagine that (just like here) the schools are all a little different from one another. Thanks for your input!

Oh Gosh Buffy...Unless you're the Vampire Slayer the USVI schools will "eat you alive".

I know a few experienced teachers from the states who came here and were totally unprepared for the Students..fellow teachers..and school officials. They quickly departed. If you are good and tough you could succeed as a teacher here. God knows we need the best of the best. Testing and style is not the problem...survival and iniative is...