Candidate Stories

The Personal Touch: A World of Support

Search Associates’ (SEARCH) personal touch extends beyond your placement at an international school. Your Associate cares about how you settle in, how you and your new school mesh, and how your…

The Batchelders: Finding the Right Fit

Landing an international teaching position can be a dream come true. With decades of experience, the associates at Search Associates (SEARCH) are there to guide educators in their job searches,…

Teaching Couple with Chihuahuas Bound for China

After nine years as overseas educators in Dubai, David and Jenn Platt are packing their babies— Jo and Rupert —and heading to China! The Platts used to dream of teaching abroad at the end…

Candidate David Noga is on the Move! | October 9, 2019

David Noga earned his first academic degree in consumer science. He never considered a career in education—though teaching has been in his family...

Hope and Nate: Rocking it in the U.S. and Abroad | September 15, 2019

Hope Teague-Bowling calls herself bossy. So when she says she has wanted to teach abroad since grad school, we understand that her significant...

The Watsons: Happy Third Culture Family | August 15, 2019

The Watsons may seem like your average family—but this third culture household is traveling the world while making a difference! Together abroad,...

Mark, Kirsty, & Kids: Overseas Educators over the Moon! | July 15, 2019

As a teaching couple, Mark Bowyer and Kirsty Green began their careers in New Zealand as Heads of Department in Physical Education and Humanities,...

The Perfect Match Professionally and Personally: Overseas Teachers Owen McMullen & Chelsea Utecht | June 15, 2019

So much is coming together for international teaching candidates Owen McMullen and Chelsea Utecht. At the end of the summer (2019), they will...

International Teaching Couple Seizes the Day! | May 15, 2019

In August 2019, Mark and Hannah Bailey will begin their first year as international educators! They have sold their home, and they are packing...

From West Bengal to Florida to Beijing: Candidate Saiti Datta | April 14, 2019

Born in the state of West Bengal in India, Saiti Datta moved around a lot with her family for her father’s job. A memory from her childhood is...

Seasoned Teacher Jessie Lytton Goes International | March 15, 2019

She was on a different career trajectory working in Human Resources when Jessie Lytton decided to overhaul her life and become a teacher. She...

Teaching Couple Bri and Vince | February 20, 2019

As a couple, Vince Dimatera and Nikki Brianne Ragos (Bri) love traveling and meeting people from different walks of life. They enjoy taking photos...

International Administrators Karen and Chris Ryan | January 16, 2019

Candidates Karen and Chris Ryan are thrilled to embark on their new leadership roles, Karen as Senior English Language Learner Coordinator and...

Passionate International Educator Kate Garcia | December 20, 2018

Search Associates Candidate Kate Garcia had been teaching for four years at Colegio San Agustin in her home country of the Philippines when she...

Moving from Joy to Joy | November 30, 2018

Jim O’Malley has been an international educator for all 21 years of his career. Driving him all this time has been the tremendous impact an educator...

Maya Drezgic’s Truly International Family | November 14, 2018

Maya Drezgic has been an international educator for her entire career—18 years, and counting! Born in what is current Serbia, Maya left her...

Teaching I.T. Abroad: Samran Wiriyaphong’s Journey | November 1, 2018

When Samran Wiriyaphng (Sam) was in high school in his home country of Thailand, he faced a difficult time. Two groups of people helped him survive,...

International Teacher Beth Dagitses | September 19, 2018

As California teacher Beth Dagitses glanced at an ad online for an international school, she never imagined she would one day find herself traveling...

International Teachers Melanie and Christopher Dickerson | June 14, 2018

It’s June, and Melanie Dickerson feels buoyant after taking part in this year’s Graduation. It has been rewarding witnessing how much her students...

Francy Johnson’s International Journey | March 21, 2018

When Francy Johnson was young and teaching her two step-daughters to read, she had a Eureka moment: This is what I want to do with my life ....