Teaching in the USVIs

Hi, Jen,

I don't have much experience with the education system, but a friend of mine moved here from Texas, where she was a high school guidance counselor, after having been an English teacher for years. Cancryn (public) hired her after she moved here, she worked for only 3 days, then walked out. Never even returned to clean out her desk. Her salary was only $26K, if I am not mistaken, but I could be, as it's been a few years. And, then again, I have another friend ( a bit younger) that works for the Montissory (sp?) school, and she seems quite happy. Another friend, who has since passed on, was an English teacher at Antilles (private), and it seemed as if she was always doing well. Anyone else have any input on this?

do a search on teaching at the top of the page. Teaching was talked about a lot all summer long. You will find a ton of discouraging information on this board

Hi Jen,

What grade level do you teach? Salaries in the private schools are lower than in public here, just like in the U.S. Many mainland teachers have difficulty making the adjustment to the school culture here, but this is particularly true in the public schools. You need to be very flexible and willing to adapt your own ideas about education.

In the private schools, Antilles and Montessori pay best on St. Thomas. The St. John school is probably comparable, maybe a little lest. All Saints is next, followed by Sts. Peter and Paul and then some of the other smaller religious schools. Moravian is up and coming among these.

If you have no other financial support for you and your daughter other than a teacher's salary, you will need to make some lifestyle sacrifices here. Of course, in other areas you will have lifestyle bonuses, such as having the option to bathe in the Caribbean sea after your last class each day. My family, all teachers, may eat rice and beans for dinner but after a romp on the beach we don't much care that we're not having steak. We can always pick a guava from the tree outside for dessert! We drive old, clunky cars but we find they take the island beating pretty well. Our clothes are deep, deep discount, but we do invest in bathing suits. It's a matter of what's important to you and yours.

The USVI needs teachers badly who will (gently) bring fresh ideas into the system. If you're a teacher, you already know what it means to make sacrifices. Think it over carefully, and get all the info. you can. You will find many different perpectives on the topic!

I'm planning on moving there to teach next year. I'm currently teaching in South Korea and my contract finishes up at the end of June. I was just wondering when would be a good time to start the application process. Is it difficult to get a job teaching there? I will have 3 years of teaching abroad experience, but I don't have a teaching certificate from the states. Thanks for any information.....
Seth

As recommended by previous poster maalse, do a search on this forum on "teaching" as there has been much discussion on the subject !