Job application strategies for prep schools

Parent Cafe
1

<p>I hope this query won’t be out of place. From an earlier thread I saw that there are a number of folks here who teach or have taught at prep/boarding/independent schools:</p>

<p>And old thread: <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/313123-boarding-school-jobs-unique-candidate.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/313123-boarding-school-jobs-unique-candidate.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I’m seeking practical recommendations on how best to go about applying for boarding school teaching jobs. Not advice on any particular school, but rather what things to put in a letter of application, personal contacts I should try to make if any, etc. My prior experience is mainly at the university level, so I want to be sure to adjust my strategy for this new audience.</p>

<p>I have ten years teaching experience at the college undergraduate level (non-tenure track, perpetual adjunct type). I’m a good teacher, and I very much enjoy the work. I also have extensive experience with the residential side of campus life, and that’s one of the attractions that boarding schools have for me. Living on campus would be great, as far as I’m concerned. I’m not much on the team-sports side of things, but certainly have plenty of experience with clubs/societies, outdoor activities, etc., and I would be glad to be involved in that side of school life. (In this day and age, I think we need people to start “farm” teams – you’ll do more good for the world and stay healthier pulling a plow all day than throwing a baseball.) :D</p>

<p>I went to a prep school myself as a day student (a Quaker school), and I have an Ivy Ph.D.</p>

<p>What will they want to know about me? What should I discretely omit?</p>

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<p>The first thing to do is to head off the suspicion as to why you’d go from college teaching to prep school. Be honest about the reasons. I know many people who have happily and successfully made the transition but I think schools worry that someone just won’t know how different it is.</p>

<p>Be sure to mention that you attended boarding school and know what kind of time commitment it entails. Include the types of clubs and activities you would like to be a part of or initiate. Talk about why you would find it satisfying to work with this age group. </p>

<p>As with applying to college, be sure to talk specifically about why you are applying to a specific school. Make sure they know that this is a custom application, not a general letter being sent to a dozen (or more) schools.</p>

<p>If you would like feedback on your cover letter or resume, PM me. I’d be happy to give it a look.</p>

3

<p>Thank you kindly for these ideas. They are more or less along the lines I had been expecting.</p>

<p>It’s actually the comprehensive commitment that is attractive to me. I like residential environments, and there are very few opportunities to play a residential role at the university level. (Most of those positions are locked up by “student affairs” departments that don’t like faculty stepping into their territory.) There are many club/organization-style activities I’d gladly participate in and help to lead, especially in science and environment-related areas.</p>