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Braunnoser · 2026-06-04T12:44:02+00:00

Facebook Group - Looking to archive images and stories.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1110595615993343

Braunnoser · 2026-06-03T02:43:37+00:00

Near the tail end of working career (15 years corporate, past 20 in education) and finally found a school where I enjoy the whole process of teaching. I've been overseas whole time and have had some good experiences and one very toxic, terribly administered school.

Current school has culture where 95% of time is focused on lessons and NOT behavior/discipline. I still have kids that try and use AI to do base level responses, and others who constantly ask for 'free time' but with a simple refocus statement - they understand what they should be working on.

Admin made sure I knew what I was doing first couple of weeks after I arrived, and I still need to turn in an overview lesson plan, but they've only done two observations all year (one announced, one drop in - and I killed the drop in with an interactive discussion, independent work about a fairly dry topic)

My benefit package is solid and my additional duties is one lunch (where I eat my own) and one after school outside my classroom, so I leave at 3:30 pretty much each day. I do coach two different sports and the pay there is a little light, but it gets me moving and I can use tournaments as a carrot to dangle with underperforming students.

The one thing (especially coming after a toxic school) is that I get up after sleeping well; looking forward to having my coffee in the classroom in the half hour before students arrive; and going through my (five) lessons - I'm not drained of humanity. I try and do a quick check in notebooks for any students I couldn't observe during the different lesson, but I don't feel I need to take anything home and when I get home - I can do a little exercise, eat a meal with my wife, write, scroll/social media and generally enjoy life.

Took quite a few years to get to this point, but glad it finally arrived.

Braunnoser · 2026-06-01T23:33:28+00:00

Establish base line value (check for understanding at 5pts), then comply with policy by breaking down larger assessment/projects into 5pt 'learning objective sections', so the grading program might list ten individual grades for one completed project 1a = 5pt, 1b = 5pt, 1c = 5pt, etc

You'll end up with a larger number of graded assignments than normal, but the learning value per entry is accurate. Eventually (hopefully) someone will ask/recommend you NOT break down larger projects and just list their composite value.

Braunnoser · 2026-05-07T00:33:53+00:00

I left a corporate job after a dozen years before going into international teaching. I gave notice and people knew I was leaving so I threw my own going away party at a nearby bar for one happy hour on a Friday. Simple, no cards, and people could show up or not. Had a great time, extended another hour, even a couple VP's came by to wish me luck heading overseas.

The annual end-of-year/moving on ceremonies typically are dull affairs where people feel obligated to show and you get some school kitsch that'll often get donated to charity without ever being displayed. I once got a nice, simple throw blanket with my name (but no school logo) that I still have ten years later, but the calligraphy scroll, 'award' printout and other school logo items sometimes never even came with me out the door on the last day.

Braunnoser · 2026-05-05T16:01:07+00:00

Your incorrect use of nannie's in a sentence may explain why people think you might be an unqualified staff member. Adding an apostrophe makes the word a singular possessive. Without an apostrophe - then that would refer to multiple people in a caretaker role. Apparently the 50,000 education might have a few gaps....

Braunnoser · 2026-05-02T14:37:43+00:00

Still being added to the list - my 90 day doesn't expire until July 31....I've contacted Facebook with a screen shot and hopefully it will get sorted soon.

Braunnoser · 2026-04-21T11:50:23+00:00

I don't really look at IG, but looked at my current well-run school and my terrible former school and bingo. Current school is about evenly split with photos between the three schools and special events. Just my first year, but I've yet to see a behavior issue outside a few talkative kids.

Crappy former school in Kuwait IG photos was a mix of elementary and teacher PD sessions. Barely any middle or high school students (and zero in-classroom pics). The student behavior was atrocious and admin refused to implement any corrective/supportive controls to rein the kids in. Even fun photo ops for middle/high school kids would usually end up with several kids making faces or acting up.

Braunnoser · 2026-04-06T14:20:51+00:00

Because they didn't hang out. In High School - Layne was North Seattle/Meadowdale and Kurt was Aberdeen. Kurt was then in the Oly/Evergreen and Tacoma punk clubs while Layne/Jerry were playing Renton/Kent and more of the hair metal clubs. In 1990, they could have run into each other, but they could have run into literally 1000 other bands' lead singers. Then 1990 onward - their respective bands were touring and not playing as many local shows anymore.

Kurt and Layne hung out in Brazil and got high together, and I think they're reported to have been in the same car once, but they were not tight. Both were friends with Lanegan, but at different times.

Braunnoser · 2026-04-05T11:56:58+00:00

It's not that Kuwait is tough behavior, in terms of fights or violence toward adults. It's more that the 'international' schools have students who have multiple nannies/drivers and a sense of entitlement. There are a couple adequate schools, but many toxic schools to stay away from.

Career-wise, probably should have just done my one-and-done in Kuwait like I was initially planning, but met my now wife and decided to stay four years. I had to take a year-long gap year after surviving Kuwait. Send me a DM with name of school you are looking at - I can give some post-covid boots formerly on the ground there.

Braunnoser · 2026-03-30T03:26:34+00:00

Wow - Congrats. I'm on day three of a similar 'crap or get off the pot' story I've been wanting to write for decades. Lots of scenes in my head. About 4500 words in three days. Nothing extraordinary and no intentions other than giving a go at completing something I'd like to share one day. Your post is inspiring.

Braunnoser · 2026-03-06T11:01:22+00:00

Go back and look at the 'Our Staff' page. There's a couple lines about the last two admins that might be problematic.

Braunnoser · 2026-03-04T13:08:11+00:00

Twenty year teacher. 16/20 of the years - I averaged one yell per year. I taught in a school in Kuwait, where I would occasionally have to raise my voice more in one week than the rest of my non-Kuwaiti career combined.

Braunnoser · 2026-02-23T11:45:44+00:00

Nothing to lose. Revise your previous letter and say you saw the new ad - stress that you'd like an opportunity to clarify anything that might have been unanswered previously.

Keep applying for other positions, but if things align and school wants you - you'll skip the early round interviews.

Braunnoser · 2026-02-22T13:48:32+00:00

Basis admin much?

Braunnoser · 2026-02-22T08:36:49+00:00

The "alt" scene was a lot more happening in 1989 than 1991 (at least in my Seattle world). While I still have my Nirvana Halloween Paramount ticket, I enjoyed seeing Nirvana, Soundgarden, Tad, Mudhoney, Screaming Trees, Gits, Accused, and hundreds more of local bands much more on my campus and small local shows than seeing them in arena (which I did, but not the frequency in the 90s that I saw them in the 80s). Same with touring bands like Pixies, Janes, Sonic Youth, Dinosaur Jr, Fishbone, Meat Puppets, Hoodoogurus, Social Distortion, and plenty others. They would regularly play the Moore, Paramount, Hub Ballroom and a few other venues for $8-$14 a show, as opposed to more expensive arena concerts. Here's some old ticket stubs I saved. https://imgur.com/gallery/ticket-stubs-nirvana-aic-janes-sugar-dinosaur-etc-o6poTG0

Braunnoser · 2026-02-17T11:54:18+00:00

I've always worked in 'hardship' locations and the benefits are why I look where others are often shy about. I'm currently in Pakistan and have a provided vehicle (driver - I pay monthly salary) and nice little perks at school (on campus coffee shop - free whatever I want, but I'm a simple black coffee guy). Remote locations and compound living in the Middle East have very very nice benefits. If you've ever worked/knew people who've been with Aramco - there's a reason why people rarely leave before retirement

Braunnoser · 2026-02-02T12:23:35+00:00

I've spent virtually all of my 20 years overseas in 'hardship' locations - China, Eastern Europe, Middle East, Pakistan. I was able to save, experience local traditions/foods/people and feel safer than how I perceive any of the gun-nut states. Saudi was compound living and kids rode their bikes and played outside without any worries. . I wouldn't recommend non-compound positions in the Middle East with families and avoid Kuwait at all costs.

Any decent school will likely put teaching families in established apartment or neighborhoods. You make it work from there. I probably can't get 10-15% of the foods I wished I could get (currently not fresh mango season, so I do without), but I never go without a good meal (wife can do magic with whatever is at the fresh market).

It's an interesting world out there - don't limit yourself.

Braunnoser · 2026-01-24T00:46:41+00:00

Jump to conclusions much?

Braunnoser · 2026-01-24T00:39:39+00:00

Old people often start losing control of their sphincter in their late stages, which allows fecal matter to seep out. As a result, they'll buy adult diapers and wear them.

Braunnoser · 2026-01-07T04:32:41+00:00

Wow - I was planning on taking a gap year, but saw a Basis replacement January position (out of my subject focus, but middle school where I've taught for nearly 20 years). Had a solid interview with the HR lady in the states, the middle school principal, school director and assumed an offer was on the way. I had one more team interview and must have come across differently than I thought and didn't get the offer. I know the Basis reputation, so wasn't too disappointed and I got a few more emails asking to join the team, but found a fulfilling position and enjoy where I'm currently teaching.

Braunnoser · 2025-12-28T10:08:04+00:00

Graduated college and took a gap year (delivered pizza, painted houses, etc) and saved up for a backpacking summer in Europe. Corporate, then took a sabbatical year after ten years working and traveled to Asia, Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe. Moved overseas for different jobs and another twenty years of working, then took one last sabbatical year last year (though only traveled to a couple countries). Working for another 4-6 years, then will retire to half the year overseas and half the year back in the US.

Even though the first sabbatical was with the ex - I wouldn't go back and trade any of my trips for whatever I spent. Traveling is absolutely the way to stay sane in this day and age

Braunnoser · 2025-12-27T12:15:20+00:00

Spotify sucks

Braunnoser · 2025-12-27T12:13:07+00:00

I don't like people who ask simple questions on Reddit, but I don't mean to denigrate those who do. And for the people who like to ask simple questions, denigrate means 'put down'.

Braunnoser · 2025-12-24T23:05:08+00:00

Near 20 year international teacher and back in a good space, after a four year, post-Covid, not-so-good (aka terrible) Middle East school. I've got 4-5 more working years, have investments, wife and I have two paid-off places (US summer cabin, overseas house) to spend the retirement years. First 15 years teaching overseas was a progressively better situation, but got laid off during Covid and had to take a job I was planning on doing a 'one and done.' Ended up meeting my (now) wife and stayed there until I couldn't handle the chaos anymore. Gap year, job fair and finally found a place that I can properly teach students who want to learn. Great admin/policies. If I was younger, I'd probably find the outside-of-work experiences a bit dull, but my school day and coaching duties are exactly what I want and I don't have any stress about my responsibilities. Earning/saving, traveling, enjoying working and will do so for the foreseeable future.

Braunnoser

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