Notes from the General Manager by Diane Jacoutot
This week the news was dominated by Europe. There is a fear that if Greece and then Italy fall the Eurozone could dissemble and then all the people holding fistfuls of credit notes in euro currency might look down and see wads of worthless paper. This is bad news for pretty much everyone if it happens. Let’s hope not. Getting rid of Berlusconi was a good first step. I hope I don’t insult any of our Italian readers, but I suspect that if we looked up the word ‘buffoon’ in our respective dictionaries we would see his photograph nearby. A man who thinks bunga bunga parties are more important than national productivity is not suited to hold public office, in my book. He should be applying for a place on the next Celebrity Big Brother rather than trying to run a country in the midst of an economic crisis. It’s not a surprise that the world breathed a huge collective sigh of relief at the arrival of Super Mario. Here’s hoping!
The leader of a school, like the leader of a country, can have a huge effect on its ethos and direction. There are so many different leadership styles and so many different leadership environments that you cannot say there’s a right or wrong way to run a school. Each school requires a different style and skill set.
Teachers looking for jobs abroad are entering into a minefield in many ways, trying to judge a school by an interview with the Head Teacher (Principal) which might last all of 30 minutes and then trying to determine what the ethos and leadership style of the school they are entering will be and if it will suit them is difficult.
There’s a particular school in Dubai that springs to mind. Its website is fabulous and the premises are lovely...but the owner and the owner’s family are anything but wonderful. They seem to go through a Head Teacher every 6 months or year but at interview the owner is the most endearing guy. Each Head and member of staff is told the same story – that it’s the previous Head’s fault and they have the power to make everything right. Which they set out to do. Until they too get the sack. It’s obviously a school we don’t work with- but it shows that sometimes even with the best Principal or Head Teacher, the leadership of the school can be hamstrung by an interfering owner. It’s a minefield out there. There’s no way to really know except by experience.
Because Teachanywhere has been at this for many years, we thankfully have insights into these situations which are fluidly changing every year. We depend on feedback from teachers and school leaders on our books and thankfully, due to our size and breadth, it is nicely extensive.
What are some warning signs for teachers? They are not foolproof but here’s a few things that might throw up red flags and make you ask questions:
- Constant advertising for teacher posts all year, every year. This can be a sign of growth but it can also be a sign of high staff turnover.
- Consider how you are treated up to the point of interview. Is it a smooth, clearly defined, organised and considered process? If so, the school is more likely to be well organised and efficient.
- If you see anything untoward about the school during your research, ask the school about it. If they blame ‘the other guy’ or don’t seem to have good answers (or worse, get offended by you having done your research) think twice. A good school will be aware of their reputation and will have ready and believable answers to any objections you might have. Every school has challenges, but a good school faces them head on and fixes them. A poor school blames a particular person (usually the ex-head) and papers over the cracks.
- Frequent changes in Leadership are often a sign of trouble. See if you can find out how long the Head /Principal has been in place. Some of the more infamous schools abroad change their leadership every 6 months or every year. (One very very infamous school in west Africa barricaded their fleeing Principal in the school and he was forced to call the British Embassy to rescue him by helicopter!) Whilst longevity is not always the sign of good leadership, 5 leadership changes in 4 years usually indicates something is structurally wrong ... usually an owner problem.. but they will be the last to admit that. The average international headship lasts 2 years, but in a decent and well run international school, 3 or more years on average is more typical.
Good leadership is critical, if leaders are allowed to lead. Think about what leadership style suits you and think about some good questions to ferret this out. Feel free to ask your TA consultant about a job that seems too good to be true.
It very well might be.....
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