Positions by Subject Area
International Schools (foreign or private) often follow a specific set of criteria when it comes to hiring teachers. Below are some common positions often pursued by these schools and their basic requirements.
International Homeroom Teacher (Head Teacher), Elementary Level
Math Teacher (Bilingual needed in some cases for private international schools), Secondary Level
Computer Science and Technology Teacher
International Homeroom Teacher (Head Teacher), Elementary Level
Similar to a head teacher position in the U.S., an international homeroom is the most sought after teaching position by the elementary sector of international schools. In Private International Schools, however, teaching hours and responsibilities differ from what are commonly known because instruction time needs to be split between English and Chinese for different subjects. As almost all private international schools place an emphasis on Chinese language arts and culture as part of the national curriculum standard, the instruction time for ELA is usually significantly less than that in a foreign international school where Chinese is treated as a second language only.
In a private international school, an international homeroom teacher often shares a classroom with a partner Chinese homeroom teacher, and together, they assume the responsibilities of classroom management and parent-school communication. In some schools, however, an international homeroom’s classroom management responsibilities are reduced to cover the teaching loads of more than one class. To make up the required teaching hours, many homeroom teachers are also asked to contribute to the school community in additional capacities such as sports coaching or extracurricular advising. Given the variance, it is highly recommended to clarify your roles and responsibilities with the school principal in the interview.
We encourage you to apply for candidacy if your qualifications meet the following:
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Current, valid state teaching certification, or a BA/MA in education.
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Teachers from independent/private schools who are not credentialed must complete TEFL/TESOL certification.
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A minimum of two years relevant teaching experience is preferred.
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Working knowledge of Common Core Standards, and 21st-century learning principles and techniques.
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For applicants in K-3, training in the teaching of phonics is desirable.
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Experience working with children who have English as a Second Language is desirable.
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Skills and flexibility for contributing to the school community in other capacities such as coaching sports, advising extracurricular activities, leading school clubs, supervising a dorm at a boarding school etc.
Design Thinking/iLab Teacher
Part of the general mission of the private education in China is to cultivate the next-generation innovator and changemaker, who are inspired by empathy toward others, equipped with problem finding and solving capacities, and are able to challenge the unknown in the constantly evolving world. Therefore, many schools have placed an emphasis on design thinking, project-based learning and overall, the development of a comprehensive STEAM curriculum. They have invested in innovation labs or maker spaces to facilitate and support innovative learning and teaching at school. Therefore, a design thinking/iLab teacher should not only have the engineering skillset, but also the passion to design a program that allows for creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. They should also be able to promote design thinking and problem solving mindset, and support the development of a community-wide common language of innovation through cross-curriculum collaborations with the aid of the equipment of a maker space or an iLab.
Some key Responsibilities of a design thinking/iLab teacher include:
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Plans and instructs integrated design thinking and design technology curriculum.
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Creates a fun, safe and engaging environment for students; assists students with their school and/or class projects.
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Maintains a safe iLab environment, performs general iLab facilities maintenance, and enforces iLab rules and policies.
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Manages iLab budget and inventory of materials and consumables; organizes project storage space.
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Brainstorms project design ideas and curriculum planning with teachers, coaches, mentors of other subjects; trains faculty and staff on safe usage of iLab equipment.
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Support other iLab programs as necessary, such as parents info session or extended day programs.
We encourage you to apply for candidacy if your qualifications meet the following:
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BA/MA in STEM majors is highly preferred.
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Engineering background, or former working experience in related industries are desirable.
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Experience with facilities repair and maintenance, especially in a maker space or iLab environment is desirable.
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TEFL/TESOL certified if not a credentialed teacher.
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Knowledge or demonstrated willingness to utilize diverse raw materials to create.
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Understand the role as a facilitator for learning, and the ability to be comfortable not having all the answers.
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Demonstrate understanding of the social development needs of different age groups.
Drama and Theater Teacher
There is much to be learned from the theater - about history, literature, psychology and human emotions. Moreover, the main elements of learning theatrical arts such as self-expression, poise and creativity reinforced the core values of many international schools to educate the students with the 21st century skills. The practice of theatrical arts has not only created more confident individuals, it also benefits the learning of a second language through improvisation and contextual communication. Thus, many international schools in China have made dramatic arts essential to their curriculum. To better provide opportunities for those who are passionate about drama, and to encourage students to actively engage in dramatic arts, international schools heavily invest in state-of-the-art set equipment and performance spaces, and in some cases, even invite professional directors to facilitate the final production of a school play.
Drama and theatre teachers play a vital role in cross-curriculum programs as the practice can be connected with many other disciplines such as English, Chinese language arts, history and social emotional learning. We encourage you to apply for candidacy if your qualifications meet the following:
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BA and/or MA in Theatre, Drama, or Technical Theatre.
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Love and enthusiasm for teaching drama or theatre.
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Experience working with or teaching children is strongly preferred, particularly in an independent, private, or international school environment where drama is part of the school culture.
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Skills and flexibility for contributing to the school community in additional capacities, such as advising extracurricular activities, directing plays and musicals, etc.
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Additional theatre-related skills and work experience is desirable, such as leading improv workshops, advising student productions, teaching a dance, music or public speech elective, etc.
Math Teacher (Bilingual needed in some cases), Secondary Level
Being a math teacher in a Chinese private international school is quite challenging. On one hand, the teaching needs to conform with the Chinese national math contents and standards, on the other, it should break the conventional pedagogy associated with rote memorization and dry textbook practice problems. Teaching in a private international school in China should adopt a new teaching method that embraces the 21st century education tenets of critical thinking, collaboration, problem solving, and creativity.
A qualified math teacher thus should teach students how to understand concepts rather than simply memorizing formulas, how to access and analyze data and information, how to utilize technology and tools, and how to solve real world problems that affect our everyday lives. He or she should also place math under a comprehensive and cross-disciplinary STEM curriculum structure, thus work proactively in tandem with teachers from other departments.
We encourage you to apply for candidacy if your qualifications meet the following:
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BA and/or MA in Mathematics or a related field. A math teaching credential is not required but desirable.
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Experience teaching students in a school and classroom setting.
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Experience teaching higher-level math classes such as A-Level and AP is required for certain G10-12 math electives.
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Familiarity with STEM education and capabilities in teaching or coaching STEM-related courses and school programs.
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Skills and flexibility for contributing to the school community in additional capacities, such as coaching a math competition team, advising extracurricular activities, supervising a dorm at a boarding school, etc.
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Teaching certification is not required, but can be helpful.
Science Teacher
Science, with its accentuation on creativity and problem-solving, is a centerpiece of a comprehensive education agenda. Placed under the framework of a STEM education, traditional science subjects (biology, chemistry and physics) are no longer taught in isolation. Beyond imparting knowledge and allow students to understand how the world functions, an emphasis has been placed on the application of theories to real-life situations. In a private international school environment, teachers are given more autonomy in curriculum design and cross-disciplinary collaborations. They are also provided with more resources to set up labs and facilities, and to pursue teacher training opportunities to stay attuned with the most recent development of STEM principles and pedagogy.
We understand the competition for STEM talents with other industries is fierce. But if you are excited to share your passion for science, and are thrilled about the prospect of mentoring the next Steve Jobs or Stephen Hawking, teaching in a private international school might be the right career option for you. We encourage you to apply for candidacy if your qualifications meet the following:
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BA and/or MA in your chosen teaching subject, or a related field.
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Experience working with or teaching children in a classroom setting.
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A love and enthusiasm for teaching biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, earth science, etc.
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Familiarity with STEM education and capabilities in teaching or coaching STEM-related courses and school programs.
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Knowledge of STEM learning principles and techniques.
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Experience teaching higher-level science classes such as A-Level and AP is required for certain G10-12 electives.
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Skills and flexibility for contributing to the school community in additional capacities such as coaching sports, advising extracurricular activities, leading scientific excursions, supervising a dorm at a boarding school, etc.
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Teaching certification is not required, but can be helpful.
Computer Science and Technology Teacher
With the advancement of technology, science education has expanded from basic physics, chemistry and biology to more niche ones like computer science and robotics.
The society’s emphasis on innovation led to an enhanced computer science and technology curriculum, which has also extended beyond the computer lab, thanks to the fast development of edtech tools and devices. Therefore, schools are not only looking to hire experienced and innovative computer science teachers, they are also looking for staff that could support the deployment of the school’s edtech plans, such as the adoption of iPads, chromebooks, or personal laptops. In many small-sized schools, these two roles can be performed by a single teacher, whereas in others, a specialized Director of Technology might be needed to oversee the technology implementation of the entire school.
We encourage you to apply for candidacy if your qualifications meet the following:
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BA and/or MA in Computer Science, technology, or related fields.
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Experience and/or interest in teaching computer science and technology classes.
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Experience with 1:1 laptop programs and/or iPad programs in schools.
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Interest and willingness to learn new technology and/or programming platforms.
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Skills and flexibility for contributing to the school community in additional capacities. For example: coaching extracurricular activities, advising a computer club, leading a robotics team, etc.
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For computer science teaching candidates, knowledge of general technology, graphics, lego and robotics, basic and advanced computer programming to the AP level if needed, and/or Scratch or similar programs.
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For Technology Director candidates, experience in implementing school technological infrastructure and supporting classroom digital learning environment. Familiarity with or knowledge about different school management platforms such as Moodle, Schoology, Canvas etc.
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Certified Google Educator or Apple Certified Educator is a plus.
Art Teacher
In recent years, a variation of STEM which is STEAM has gained immense popularity. Art, especially artistic design is becoming an indispensable part of the 21st century education which values creativity and innovation. Thus, art education has evolved from training mostly talented artists to include product designers and innovators of new technologies. In response to the digital and globalized world we live in, artists no longer work alone. Instead, they collaborate with others from different industries, and opened the channel of communications with their viewers and users.
We encourage you to apply for candidacy if your qualifications meet the following:
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BA and/or MA in Art (preferred), or other demonstration of mastery of your art medium.
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Experience teaching children, preferably in an independent, private, or international school setting.
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Skills and flexibility for contributing to the school community in additional capacities, such as leading extracurricular activities, designing school marketing productions and materials, serving as an adviser for student publications, etc.
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Teaching certification is not required, but can be helpful.