Jobs in Boarding Schools

If you went to a boarding school, you know what teaching in one is all about. It's a multi-faceted job with many unique benefits. So, for those of you who didn't go to a boarding school, here's what's involved?

First of all, teaching in a boarding school is not a 9-5 job. (Well, strictly speaking, 8-3, but let's not quibble.)

• So, if you are looking for a job that you can leave behind at the end of the school day, teaching in a boarding school is probably not for you.
• You see, boarding school teachers teach.
• That is, after all, their primary function, but they also function as parents.
• A Latin phrase describes this concept succinctly: in loco parentis, i.e., in place of a parent.
• Because families have sent their children to a residential school away from home for weeks, even months, the school staff functions in place of the parents.
• Boarding school students are supervised 24/7, just like they are at home.

A boarding school teacher's duties

Teachers in a boarding school wear many hats.

• They teach.
• They coach.

• They manage a club.

• Yes, teaching is your primary responsibility and function.

• When you submit your application for a teaching position, that's one of the first things the school will evaluate. A school's clientele expects an excellent academic curriculum taught by top-notch, highly credentialed professionals.
• That aforementioned clientele is paying handsomely for that experience.

One of the other hats you will wear is a coach's hat.

Teaching or working in a boarding school is quite unlike any job in a day school. Why? Because in most schools you will live above the store as it were. Most faculty, deans, and heads of school as well as some key support staff such as the admissions and development directors are housed in school accommodations as part of their conditions of employment.

Home and School

Boarding schools are self-contained communities. Students and faculty eat together. They share relaxing times watching TV and playing games together. That is because teachers and staff in a boarding school function in loco parentis. They take the place of parents literally and figuratively. They play a powerful role in shaping and guiding their young charges while they are at school. Because the students cannot escape at the end of classes, they cannot avoid teachers' strong influence on them. This is a major reason many parents send their sons and daughters off to boarding school.

This video offers an overview of Woodberry Forest School.

Finding a Job

How do you find a job in a private school? The best way is to use your network. Alums, colleagues past and present, friends, and family constitute the most important group of people who know you and can attest to your suitability, skills, and experience for employment better than anybody. They will often be your references