Teaching?!??

Hey there Stephanie,
WHere in Ohio are you from? Just curious.

Stephanie - actually there are people filling teaching positions who don't have even as much as a Bachelor's degree, much less teaching experience. The schools take what they can get. Sometimes they get lucky and rope in some great teachers, but that's not always the case. Some of the teachers without actual teaching degrees or prior experience turn into great educators, also. Others, with or without the degree and/or experience, will never be much good at teaching.

Teaching doesn't pay a whole lot, but as part of a dual income couple, it does add to the pot. You won't want your four children in the public schools, so don't jump in here unless you can set up a way to cover their private school tuition. Sometimes free tuition for their own children is thrown in as a perk for teachers in the private school, or at least at a large discount.

Most people assume that if they move to Paradise that they will always have lots and lots of visitors. This doesn't turn out to be true for many despite promises and what people would like to do. Airfare isn't cheap and that will limit your visitors.

If the ocean is you're most important reason you have the alantic, gulf of mexio and the pacific to choose from without putting 4 children in a horrible public education system. What do teachers make here about 25k? What will your husband make? I would want to be making at least 50 or 60k to get by here for two people, and by get by I mean things will be very tight. You will loose all that wonderful support system it sounds like you have. And I'm sure with 4 kids its nice to have the grandparents watch the kids for a night out here and there. Please research the costs a little more. The usvi are a wonderful place to vacation and I'm glad they've put a spark in your marriage again but any problems you have there will follow you here times 10.

Here is a link for the public schools. There is a lot of information on what is required to teach, and where help is needed. Good luck. (PS I am not a local I have just researched this a litte, so I a not qualified for any advice 😉
http://www.teachusvi.net/vacancies.htm

On the link that April just posted there is a great presentation that will help you calculate your actual take home pay after taxes, insurance and retirement (8% required by the USVI schools if I remember the presentation) so that you know what you would actually make as a teacher.

WHOA! is right.
Someone with only a bachelors degree and no teaching experience can teach on STX and make $25k a year?? With the summer, school vacations and a million holidays off? Working 6 hours a day? Sign me up. Sounds like an early retirement dream. An honest question: What's the catch!

yes, teachers have many holidays and generally are required to be at school for 6-7 hours each day... however, any good teacher will tell you that while school is in session, plan to be working more like 10 hours a day. having a classroom is like running a household, it takes a ton of planning and preparation. don't be fooled, teachers work HARD! though, having the summer off is lovely!!

erin

Plus, the children in the public schools come from primarily low-income familes with all the problems attendant to that. And you will be teaching children who are culturally very different than you. Even the language will be hard for you to understand.

Yes, yes I understand all of this, same as in any urban school in the U.S. - teachers work very hard, got it!

But in an environment of very low expectations by the system and everyone else; this doesn't seem to be the "catch" that must exist. Otherwise why aren't droves of younger retirees, retirees with not quite enough money to retire in the Caribbean without working, etc., becoming teachers in the US Virgins? Bachelor's degrees are plentiful among boomers.

Because there are no books or at least a shortage of teaching materials - the schools are full of mold - some of the schools are what I would consider dangerous, although I'm just eternally glad not to have a child in a school system at all, in any country, these days.

Teachers are, by nature of their profession, dedicated individuals - dedicated to furthering the learning process. Hard to do if you don't have books, the kids can't go to the bathrooms because they are in disrepair, and schools are shut down because of health issues. It's generally just not a pleasant environment. I would expect the private schools have little turnover because their pool of assets is much larger - and perhaps their standards are higher for teaching degrees. I have no experience there, can't say.

Remember, this is the same VI gov't managing the schools who wanted to appropriate funds for a new flag - same government that can't pay its utility bills....

Well Stephanie,

I could say I have done all the research and actually in the application process as of now. And yes there are teachers in the Vi who don't even hold a B, but luckily for them they began before the late 90s when the federal government (states) insisted that all states and territory had to same the same basic guidelines.

If you are certified than getting a teaching position wold be a whole lot simpler, but if you are like me and only hold a BA or BS than there is another way to go about it. You wold have to go thuugh the application process, which includes getting a background check from a local police station, 3 letter of references, a doctor's note, and taking the Praxis I exam which is a basic exam of your knowledge that are give to most people in their first year of college. The exam is 4 1/2 hours long and cost $145.

It gets better, you could apply with out taking the test, but yo must be at least signed up for it. Also it depends on what you degree is in. What are your degrees in? That will depend on what subject you can teach in certain subjects are in more demand.

Also they say applications should be in by the 1st of August.

ooopppsss I see you said psychology, I'm not sure what you would be able to teach, did have a minor?

Ok Folks
Let's look at what it means to be a teacher in the USVI. First of all. the public schools require that you either have a teaching credential or be in a credential program and can pass the proficiency exam. The private schools usually do not require a teaching credential or even taking the proficiency exam, however many private school teachers are certified. The proficiency exam can be passed by an able 15 year old.

That is not the issue. If you have a college degree, it is quite likely that you can be "hired" to teach in the USVI.

Salary may not be a consideration either. All good teachers are underpaid. In the USVI they are even more underpaid in both public and private schools. Most people who become teachers are aware of this and are willing to work for the wages offered.

In the USVI public schools the system and the students are the big problem. Many of the private schools are doing an excellent job providing an education, despite low salary and low teacher standards. The public schools are mostly doing a terrible job providing an education.

What are the problems in the "public schools"? First of all, the system lacks standards and direction. The problem is not Money, but how money is spent. Secondly the students come in with a very bad attitude that they carry from their parents and their community.

The private schools do a much better job, mostly because they have the BEST students, not because they have the best schools.

Who would want to teach in the USVI schools? Only those who need to work, or are truly called to the profession. It is not an easy job, and that is why there are always teaching jobs in paradise.

"The private schools do a much better job, mostly because they have the BEST students, not because they have the best schools."

I disagree with the above statement; the private schools have children whose parents can AFFORD to sent them to private school. They are not necessarily the "BEST" students. The public schools in the VI have students who are just as smart but do not have the opportunity to attend private school. Lets be careful not to generalize.

I read the salary in the VI for BA holders w/ no experience begins at $28,000 and even if you do have certification, it only gets a few thousand higher. Thats pennies compared to what some teachers in California get paid. Los Angeles Unified School District (Public schools) pay new teachers w/ certification a starting salary of $42,000. Thats a whole lot more than one can make in the VI.

While I agree teaching in a poorly ran district could be frustrating, does anyone think that theres is a downfall to just doing it for a year to get settled and have a reliable source of income?

The downside will be felt by your students.

Please, Please do not become a teacher because you think it will be easy and you have a lot of time off. My days are generally 12 hour days and I work many days on my breaks. In addition to planning, grading, and doing the general housekeeping of a classroom there are seminars to attend and journals to read to keep up with current research in education. Yes, there will be days off, but they are necessary for everyone's mental health. No matter where you choose to teach you will get paid less than the average office worker. That being said- If you love to teach and you truly want to be with the kids, the salary and conditions don't matter. I have taught in low income schools as well as private institutions- I am just as happy there- at either place. If you are drawn to the idea of teaching I wish you the best, if it is something truly important to you it will fulfill you in unimaginable ways.

How easy it is to get a job in the islands- I don't know. I have applied to the district and several private schools and haven't heard anything yet. I have been teaching 8yrs, have a cert, and a masters. From what I have read on the internet there are openings and shortages, but as I said, I haven't heard anything.

Best of luck with whatever you decide! I am always happy to share lessons and info if you need it!

Our weather and the dream of living in the Caribbean under the American flag attracts so many. As has been posted ad nausea for as long as this forum has been in existence is that although the USVI certainly has its attractions, living and working here is infinitely different from vacationing.

The transient population is huge and this doesn't even include the young people who admittedly come just to spend 6 months as a "break" to work as, for instance, bartenders or servers.

I found 'BeckyR's' later post to be most to the point but found 'independent man's' logical assumption understandable but not relevant to the USVI where his comment about "urban" education is concerned.

I think I can almost speak for the majority when I say that our new Governor not only has his work cut out big-time but that education has been one of the most unaddressed issues on these islands for at least the last two decades and probably longer than that. The educational system here is incredibly flawed and I would have to write close to a book's length to describe it to someone who's thinking of teaching here.

That said, I've known a couple of "continental" teachers who have come here and taught in the public schools. Both still keep in touch from time to time but basically came down here to teach and accomplish whatever they could, That said, the overwhelming day to day challenges wore thin very quickly and they left island to return to the mainland after about a year and a half here,

It's unfortunate that they either didn't know about this forum or segued back into mainland life to the point where they put their VI experience on the shelf. And that can be said of so many who come and go. They search this forum, they come, they live, it doesn't work for them and they leave and are never heard from again.

It's very hard to describe to a prospective relocator who has no knowledge of the U.S. Virgin Islands what life here is really all about. Which is why resident posters most strenuously advocate a serious PMV.

Getting back to teaching jobs here, it might all look good on paper where the general application and requirements (or lack of) are required but the reality where the publlc school system here is concerned requires major research.

Apart from lack of books and basic teaching materials, will you be able to overcome the language barrier with no foreknowledge? Will you be able to really understand from where so many of these kids come and not only be able to teach them but guide them and, once you've built up some sort of trust, be around long enough to follow through?

So many of the public school kids see outside teachers come and go...and they have come from such a disabled family situation that it really screws them up when a real mentor to whom they can finally relate ups and goes.

Hopefully some food for thought there.

The private schools on the islands are basically out of financial reach of the average islander but they offer an incredible curriculum with an actually much higher rate of admission to high-end top stateside universities than many stateside high schools could even dream of. A high price but the tuition fees are well worth it if you can afford them and the teachers are also paid quite well. Oh, I did forget to mention (thinking about payment) that the system here for paying new teachers often results in one of our local government agencies holding up paperwork so that new teachers often have to work for a few months with no paycheck until the system finally works. I think forum subscriber East Ender knows about that.

Cheers!

CMBickish, Are you applying to schools on STX or another Island?

I have applied on all islands but would like STX or STT.

The average office worker in the US Virgins makes $28,000 per year?? Even if so, no summers off with tons of vacations and holidays off each year. Being a teacher still sounds best.

The private schools that I am visiting next week have been very helpful and have been willing to set up meeting times with me. CMBickish, PM me if you have any questions...I'll try to help! 🙂 After I make my visit, hopefully I will know more! Good Luck!

-Mimi

CMBickish,

Have you tried to contact someone directly?

They say it takes 3-4 weeks before you get a responsible but when I spoke ti Mr. Santiago he told me that they do not begin reviewing applicants till May. Maybe thats the hold up. If you have a 8 yrs of experience and certification I am almost positive they will give you a call. As long as you are teaching in a subject thats in demand.

Good Luck

The private schools are desperate for teachers so they are more willing to talk to people from off-island. As far as the public schools -- the government likes to see people face to face before acting on resumes or taking applications. While you are on-island, find out where the correct office is located and go see them in person. Even a phone call is iffy.

I know it sounds stupid, but they get inquiries from tons of people who talk about making a move and never really do. This advice also goes for renting, talking to Realtors, etc.