Teaching

Hello Tanya,

Visit our section on schools at: https://www.vimovingcenter.com/schools/

There are links there to the Dept. of Education web site, lists of schools by island, links to schools that have web sites.

--Islander

Tanya: You might call before you arrive to find out if you can visit a school or some of the Special Ed staff. Their office is in the Frostco Building (someone can direct you) and the number is 340-774-4399. Have you checked the education dept. website? www.teachislands.vi (I think that's correct.) Read the Daily News online today- www.virginislandsdailynews.com or dailynewsvi.com? An interesting story on one of our special ed students.

Just an FYI--
The USVI had representatives recruiting at the Council for Exceptional Children conference last year. I don't know about administrative openings, but my understanding is that they have a real hard time getting special education teachers. So, if you are willing to go back into the classroom, you might do well.
(Not that I am there...need a bit more time in the classroom before I go for it, but I did have a chance to talk to their representative about it and the idea has been planted in my head ever since...)

I am going to be there in march doing the same thing. I will be there from March 20-26. When will you be there? I am a special educator education /administrator as well. Lets compare notes. There has been articles in the daily newspapers about special education issues. Check them out. Let me know when you are going to be there. I have taught in in the District of Columbia Public Schools and in Fiarfax County. Lets talk.

I teach in Houston right now. I am only in my 2nd year teaching and need to get student loans paid off/down before I would move to VI. I'm not going to CEC this year because it's too far for my school to pay the trip. (Went to NABE instead...being both bilingual and special education certainly has perks!)
I am just a long term planner and considering a move a year from this July.
So, I don't have a lot of notes, but thought you might want to take advantage of the opportunity at CEC, should they be recruiting again this year. If you make it down this year, I may be picking your brain to get info for my move.
Good luck!

There was a very nice article in the Daily News today about how the Department of Education has been moving toward meeting goals in the area of Special Ed. Should be available on line.

I think this article may have a key in the last paragraph, where it talks about hiring qualified subs. NCLB says "highly qualified teacher" so obviously there are still openings and, indeed, demand for qualified special education teachers.
Also, if they are undergoing (or even have recently undergone) federal audits, they should be glad to hire someone with both teaching and administrative experience to keep the paperwork in compliance and provide necessary instruction.
Let me know how your visit goes in March and what the lay of the land is like in Sp Ed in the islands. Also, what (if any) demand exists for bilingual in this area.