Negotiating my next contract - Ajarn Forum

MisterStretch · 10th August 2008, 18:56

My contract isn't up until early December, but I am looking at staying for another year if my conditions are met.

Let me set my scenario. I work in a very rural area that is finding it very difficult to attract teachers. One middle school hasn't had a teacher for the last 9 months, one got a teacher 6 months into the school year and one elementary school got a couple of inexperienced recent college grads 7 months into the year. I am the only high school teacher in the county.

Without a question, with 12 years experience in 7 countries I am top dog in the teaching chain. My current schools (3) are extremely happy with my work, providing me extra classes at top rates which add another 1/3 to my salary. They have indicated they will continue to do so (very happy students) when I return from vacation.

I am looking ahead to next contract and while I would like a Cost of Living raise, I am more interested in not losing any money (or extra work) and getting entire summer and winter vacations free.

Has anyone had any luck in negotiating such things with their schools? I don't work for a hagwon, I work for government schools in an area where the local municipality literally has money to burn.

I'd appreciate any insight and experience you have had with negotiating second or third contracts.

jimbo · 10th August 2008, 19:00

It might be too much info., but could you give more hard numbers?? (PM is fine)

I know someone who has been in similar shoes who would gladly pass some advice to you thru me.

I can forecast his very first question as: "Well,....how much money are we talking?" ( + hours, student numbers, days a week, etc...)

And I'd smartly reply: "Gee,..I dunno"

peelieorion · 10th August 2008, 21:39

Good luck for your negotiations. if your school is good and see the value in what you do you'll get what you ask for. My negotiations are simple. I do it my way, I don't participate in nonense and if you don't give me information about lesson changes and days off, I'm walking. Worked out alright for 3 years.

Killing Me Softly 101 · 11th August 2008, 00:48

contract + negotiations

Pretty inconceivable concepts in Asia. IMHO

Good luck though.

phuketbound · 11th August 2008, 03:47

I've just negotiated a third contract with a different school board. The problem with SMOE and perhaps EPIK is that they have a pay scale based on experience and degree, plus they also have set days of vacation, including whether you have to do a summer and/or winter camp.

You can always ask for the winter and summer off, and use your experience as leverage. There is no hurt in trying. You can always say that you have another job and they are willing to give you so many days vacation. Scare them a bit. If they value you enough, they may budge, but there is no guarantee. Congrats on your marriage btway.

MisterStretch · 11th August 2008, 09:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by phuketbound

The problem with SMOE and perhaps EPIK is that they have a pay scale based on experience and degree, plus they also have set days of vacation, including whether you have to do a summer and/or winter camp.

Yeah, that is an issue. But my contract is with the school, not EPIK. Even though I have an EPIK contract, my schools pay me twice what the EPIK contract stipulates for over time, I didn't have to teach Summer camp this year and I am truly hopeful that I can negotiate no camps at all for the next year. The county had also budgeted extra salary for me in the event that I did teach the camp, also different than what EPIK contracts say.

Quote:

Originally Posted by phuketbound

You can always ask for the winter and summer off, and use your experience as leverage. There is no hurt in trying. You can always say that you have another job and they are willing to give you so many days vacation. Scare them a bit. If they value you enough, they may budge, but there is no guarantee. Congrats on your marriage btway.

Thanks for congrats...and that's what I'm hoping for, as well, that my experience and my 'niceness' (compared to the idiot who worked here the previous year - a real whiner and an ineffective teacher) will be the things that tip the scales in my favor.