Online teaching and other employment

[maize]

Please don't quote.

My sister and her husband have been teaching at a school in China for the past ten years. They were in Europe on vacation when the coronavirus epidemic broke wide open, they postponed return plans several times as school re-entry kept being pushed back. It's been postponed indefinitely at this point and they've made the decision to return to the US. They need to find immediate employment, they've already burned through much more of their savings than anticipated as they had to extend their vacation.

I figured online teaching for VIPKid or others could be a good place to start so there is at least some money coming in, and could be done from home so less concern about child care. My sister needs time to renew her US teacher certification, her husband has a college degree and years of teaching experience overseas but no certification. They can probably jump into substitute teaching. Any other ideas for them to at least cobble together income while they work out a more permanent solution? 

[Farrar]

Private schools are a possibility. Many hire based more on experience than licensure (though it's obviously a huge bonus).

I'm sorry they're stuck like that. My sister has an in-law staying with her who is in the exact same boat. Came to the states for Lunar New Year vacation and hasn't been able to go back.

[DawnM]

I am so sorry.  That is tough.  Do they have a place to stay without having to worry about living expenses for a little while?

Private school is definitely a possibility.  Coming back this late in a school year may be an issue though.  They may not be able to secure positions until August.

What does your sister need to do to get her credentials back?  Is it a lot or will it be relatively easy?  This is one reason, even though I no longer live in CA, I keep my CA credentials up, they have reciprocity with most states and allow me to keep them up, even while in NC.  NC isn't so generous and I would have to let them lapse if I moved.

Oh, and does your sister have her ESL certification in the US?  She may have a good chance of getting a job with that.  Our local city schools need ESL teachers.  I have my ESL certification/MA, but am no longer teaching (I moved into school counseling.)

 

[maize]

18 minutes ago, DawnM said:

I am so sorry.  That is tough.  Do they have a place to stay without having to worry about living expenses for a little while?

Private school is definitely a possibility.  Coming back this late in a school year may be an issue though.  They may not be able to secure positions until August.

What does your sister need to do to get her credentials back?  Is it a lot or will it be relatively easy?  This is one reason, even though I no longer live in CA, I keep my CA credentials up, they have reciprocity with most states and allow me to keep them up, even while in NC.  NC isn't so generous and I would have to let them lapse if I moved.

Oh, and does your sister have her ESL certification in the US?  She may have a good chance of getting a job with that.  Our local city schools need ESL teachers.  I have my ESL certification/MA, but am no longer teaching (I moved into school counseling.)

 

They can stay with my parents temporarily.

Your other questions I don't know the answers to. She mentioned needing to renew her certification so it must have lapsed; don't know if she has ESL certification or not but she was originally certified as a special ed teacher and I know those are in demand as well; she may be able to find a position that will let her work while renewing her licensure.

So much is up in the air; they only have the couple of suitcases they took with them on vacation. 

I will suggest they look into private schools, especially for her husband. If he started as a substitute that could be a foot in the door. 

I guess one positive--they're entirely mobile; if they find a position somewhere that pays enough to live off of they could just pack up their suitcases and go.

Edited March 1, 2020 by maize

[DawnM]

9 minutes ago, maize said:

They can stay with my parents temporarily.

Your other questions I don't know the answers to. She mentioned needing to renew her certification so it must have lapsed; don't know if she has ESL certification or not but she was originally certified as a special ed teacher and I know those are in demand as well; she may be able to find a position that will let her work while renewing her licensure.

So much is up in the air; they only have the couple of suitcases they took with them on vacation. 

I will suggest they look into private schools, especially for her husband. If he started as a substitute that could be a foot in the door. 

I guess one positive--they're entirely mobile; if they find a position somewhere that pays enough to live off of they could just pack up their suitcases and go.

 

This is 2 years old, but I don't have time to look for something more current, but they can google......if they are that mobile, they can definitely cast their nets far and wide......MANY areas with teacher shortages will allow a person (with a BA) to work on certification while teaching.

https://www.teachaway.com/blog/states-with-teacher-shortages

I started teaching in 1989.  I had a BA and no credentials.  I started teaching and was considered a long term sub, but with a year long contract, for 2 years, while I got certified. It might be a possibility for your BIL, esp with ESL experience.

[AmandaVT]

What part of the US? In my area, there is a shortage of special educators and she could probably find a job relatively easy, get a provisional license while renewing her teaching license. Also, lots of long term subbing positions seem to be opening up this time of year. SLP's and gym teachers are the other in demand positions right now where they have more jobs than applicants.

[maize]

28 minutes ago, AmandaVT said:

What part of the US? In my area, there is a shortage of special educators and she could probably find a job relatively easy, get a provisional license while renewing her teaching license. Also, lots of long term subbing positions seem to be opening up this time of year. SLP's and gym teachers are the other in demand positions right now where they have more jobs than applicants.

My parents are in Florida, so that is where they are heading for now.