Overseas with Marc and Melanie Curless

With his mother and sister both teachers and his father a high school principal, Marc Curless could not avoid a career in education. The wanderlust kicked in when, during Marc’s lower elementary school years, the family spent four years at a school in Ramallah, Palestine.

In 1997, three years after graduating from college, Marc volunteered at Murree Christian School as a middle school boys’ houseparent in Pakistan, where he met Melanie, another volunteer, who became his wife. Marc had such a wonderful experience that he made the decision to return to the U.S. for certification as a social studies teacher. His goal: to teach abroad. Marc exclaims,

“I LOVE working with international students! They bring an energy and dynamic that I have not found during my short times in the U.S. I also enjoy working in an environment in which change is often the norm, and flexibility and a sense of humor are expected.”

Over the past 15 years, Marc has held a variety of positions, most of which have been in international schools: Middle/High School Teacher at both the American Pacific International School and the Northbridge International School, Cambodia, where he also served as Athletic Director, Middle/High School Principal, and High School Counselor; High School Counselor at both Shanghai American School, Puxi and Cairo American College; and as Director of College Guidance at Gerstell Academy, a small school near Baltimore, MD.

Marc’s latest international job search focused on high school counselor positions that would provide for both him and Melanie, who is a non-teaching spouse. He speaks of their collaboration with Search Associates

“We met Harry and Margaret Deelman while working in Chiang Mai and have worked with Search Associates ever since. Although I haven’t yet attended a Search [Associates] job fair, I have utilized their website and database extensively and truly appreciate it for the resource it has been … The search for vacancies and the school information have been integral in my previous searches.”

Marc accepted the position as High School Counselor at Shanghai American School, Puxi via Skype in the late fall/early winter of 2014. The Curlesses were able to choose between two great offers [by using] both the schools’ websites and feedback from friends who currently work at, or recently worked at, the schools. Excited for their next adventure, Marc keeps his advice simple for prospective overseas teaching administrative candidates:

“Be flexible; be ready to go anywhere, and enjoy the ride!”