Information for applying to teach

I live in the USA and I need to find out the procedure to applying to the elementary or secondary schools to teach English. Do I need to apply at each individual school? Also, if possible, please send me a list of the various schools and adresses, or let me know of a book that has this information. I would like to teach in the northeastern area near Puerta Plata and thereabout. Please contact Estrella at ecruz58344@aol.com thanks and gracias ! I won't get my degree for another 2 years, but I am trying to plan ahead and want to know what all I have to do.

Dear Estrella,

I don't know the procedure for getting a job in local schools in the D.R., but have some information that may be helpful. I'll be moving to the D.R. in August to teach at a private american school. I know that local shools pay very poorly. The average salary in the D.R. is 1,000 year, I don't think teaching salaries are much better. I would suggest pursuing a job at a private american school which will pay much better, and also provides housing, round trip transportation to and from, annual RT transportation home, and medical insurance. I'll be working at the Carol Morgan school in Santo Domingo. 90% of the students are Dominican, the rest american and other nationalities. There are 2 such schools in the D.R., both in santo domingo. There are american schools all over the world that recruit american and british educators. The best way to pursue such jobs is through recruiting agencies such as ISS (International School Services). The only catch is that these schools require a minimum of 2-3 years of teaching experience. Until then my only suggestion is to search the internet for language schools.

The Carol Morgan School, Jody refers to, is the best-paying elementary school in Santo Domingo. They are also probably the only ones that offer benefits such as transportation, housing. If you can link in with them, you are lucky. Note that when they hire locally, they pay less and conditions are less attractive. There are many English language elementary schools in Santo Domingo. In the Northeast, there are none that I know of. In Puerto Plata, there are a few, such as the Sosua International School. If you are considering moving back to the DR, you should request a copy of the Living in Santo Domingo book. It has a list of English elementary schools that might be helpful, plus lots of other good advice and information you will need to adapt here.

There is an Englich school by the name of Santiago Christian School in Santiago. If you are a born again believer in Jesus Christ, you might look into that school. It has a dynamic staff, excellent pay and is only about one hour from the NE coast. It may be an even better school than Carol Morgan. I certainly prefer living in Santiago to SantoDoming. Having taught there I can certainly reccomend it.

Dear Jody,

I don't Know where you got that information from,that a teacher in the DR makes $1,000 a year,but wherever you got it from it's wrong.As far as I know a teacher that teaches full time makes around $US6,000.00 a year which is not bad when you calculate the expenses in the DR compared with the USA.Try getting the real facts.Willy

Estrella, teachers in the DR make approx $5,000 RD - $10,000 RD. Some private schools will pay around $1,000 US but these are few and far between. Best to apply to individual schools around June, when the summer break begins, and they are planning ahead for the new school year. I'll drop you an email with more details.