Preparatory schools

[Spectre]

I attended one of the many job fairs I've signed up for this past week. Gave out about a dozen resumes and several seemed very interested in me.

One school, a "prep" school in another county of my state, was particularly interested and I am quite curious about them too.

They are a charter school, that is, a public school with a special emphasis and thereby granted more flexibility than most public schools. Yes, they are answerable for AYP and all that, but with students from families who want them in that particular school and, if they are enrolling in a "prep" school, value education, I have to think it would better than where I am. :confused:

Now, before anyone points it out, I KNOW that any school has issues. It just depends on which ones you prefer to deal with.

Has anyone ever taught in a preparatory school or does anyone know anything about this kind of school? They are expanding from grades K-2 last year to grades K-11 this year and having to fill 80 positions.

I just don't want to leap from frying pan to fire....:D

BTW, I took your advice, Chef Dave, and am checking out Moore County schools, where Pinehurst is located. Also signed up, on line with ARAMCO (now you know I have snapped my cap, right?) just to see what they would say.

[Chef Dave]

Merciful Heavens ... ARAMCO, the "Cadillac" of international schools?

Be advised that Aramco has a mandatory retirement age. I don't remember whether it's 60, 65, or even 70. If it's 65 or 70, then you could go for five to ten years and make some decent money.

Best wishes! If you get in with Aramco, I'll refer you to some old friends who are hopefully still in Ras Tanura.

Regards,

David

[Chef Dave]

Good news! I looked on line. The mandatory age for retirement is 65. If you actually went to Saudi Arabia and took full advantage of the matching 401K contributions, you could probably leave Aramco with a good $150,000 in your 401K not including additional money in savings.

[muinteoir]

The prep schools down here are awesome! Every teacher I know in one feels like s/he has died and gone to heaven.

Unfortunately, they are private schools and don't pay into the TX Teacher Retirement System. I have to put 2 more years into the system or I would be applying myself.

That Saudi Arabia deal sounds pretty good if you like deserts.

[busbus]

Spectre,

Glad that several options have been opened to you. The "prep" school sounds interesting; but, the idea of going overseas to teach would be an adventure.

Keep us informed. I'm excited for you! :D

[Spectre]

Good news! I looked on line. The mandatory age for retirement is 65. If you actually went to Saudi Arabia and took full advantage of the matching 401K contributions, you could probably leave Aramco with a good $150,000 in your 401K not including additional money in savings.

And I will do this if given the chance, seriously.

I can retire in 5 more years from the state of North Carolina, but since I start getting my army pension this december and with it, full medical bennies, who needs the NC retirement system? I can just place what money I have in it already into a CD, go off to the middle east for five years and, from what you tell me, come back with more in an IRA and in savings than anything I could ever get from NC.

Well...they haven't responded to me yet and it's been a few weeks. Ah well, it never hurts to try. Without effort, no matter what the task, failure is guaranteed if we don't try.:D

[jsfowler]

I think the fact that it is a public school is a plus. Private "prep" schools do not usually offer as high a salary and the extra duties are out of control. Also, and I know this isn't everywhere, but in some cases I have heard of the "principal" or head master being a total dictator. If they offer you a job, I would go for it...it seems like a great opportunity.

[Chef Dave]

Well...they haven't responded to me yet and it's been a few weeks. Ah well, it never hurts to try. Without effort, no matter what the task, failure is guaranteed if we don't try.:D

So be proactive and follow up with a phone call. It doesn't hurt to be a bit aggressive in a job hunt.

Regarding NC retirement - you might want to crunch some numbers. Compare how much you'd have in retirement to how much you'd be able to save with Aramco.

You can live on $1000/month easily in Saudi Arabia and invest the rest in mutual funds. You'd also have a nice 401K but this assumes five years of employment to mandatory retirement at age 65.

Keep in mind that volatile conditions in the Middle East might preclude you from staying for five years. One never knows what will happen ...

[Spectre]

Keep in mind that volatile conditions in the Middle East might preclude you from staying for five years. One never knows what will happen ...


That's a fact. Don't think I haven't pondered that. :eek:

[Chef Dave]

That's a fact. Don't think I haven't pondered that. :eek:

On the brighter side, during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, we got hazard pay because Iraqi scud missiles were targeting Dhahran.

[Spectre]

Been there, done that. Got the combat patch. I was with a special ops unit during the "storm."

[Chef Dave]

Been there, done that. Got the combat patch. I was with a special ops unit during the "storm."

Ah yes ... but you were in the military at the sharp end of the spear.

I was a civilian working for an oil company and was most definitely rear echelon.

Our salary and benefit package was a lot better ... and with the exception of the Scud missiles, nobody was shooting at us.

When the first U.S. military units began to arrive in August, they were deployed in the desert. They slept in tents. They ate MREs. In 110 degree heat, they sweat buckets of water.

They didn't have showers, access to phones or e-mail. They didn't have air-conditioning.

At Aramco, we organized a volunteer group called the "Desert Dogs." Our volunteers set up BBQ grills behind friendly lines and troops would be rotated off the line for a cold soda, a bag of chips, and a grilled hamburger.

The military also bussed troops into our corporate community at Dhahran for weekend meals. Civilian volunteers would meet the troops at the gate and take as many home as possible. Troops washed their laundry in our washing machines. They called home on our phones. They took showers, ate home cooked meals, and even took naps in our beds.

We did everything we could to support you guys because you guys were the tip of the spear. You were all that stood between us and the Iraqi army.

Yep, we were both in Saudi Arabia during the First Gulf War ... but on the whole, I was happy to be there as a civilian.

The incoming scuds were a nuisance. When the civil defense sirens went off, we'd grab our gas masks and run for the nearest shelter ... but the scuds were a hit or miss weapon ... not like bullets or tank shells ...