WAB Teacher Profile

WAB is proud of our talented, caring and professional staff and faculty. Success in any overseas teaching position depends on realizing many synergies. Teachers who are successful at WAB typically match closely with the characteristics listed below.

Basic Qualities

• Minimum two years’ experience, qualified with at least a Bachelor's degree, and a teaching certificate where applicable
• Highly professional
• Child focused – warm, caring and supportive
• Ability to work with parents and be part of a community
• Team player – collaborative, adaptable, positive and flexible
• Commitment to ongoing professional development
• General interest in Beijing and China

Professional Experience

• Experience/training in working with English as Additional Language (EAL)
• High level of IT skills and experience in integrating IT with teaching
• Experience with authentic assessment practices
• Experience in organizing school events and extracurricular activities
• Experience in coaching sporting teams and/or performing arts
• Experience in outdoor education & recreation programs

Pedagogical Profile

• IBPYP, IBMYP, IB Diploma or First Steps programs preferred
• Inquiry-based, activity-based and hands-on learning
• Using local context and environment to enhance learning
• Multi-cultural approach or experiences
• Stimulating classroom environment
• Experience in differentiating teaching techniques

Expectations

Western Academy of Beijing is a progressive school and has a dedicated community with high expectations – excellence in teaching, full involvement in the school’s development and with extracurricular activities. Candidates considering working at WAB should be prepared to meet these expectations in addition to the regular teaching load. A standard workload is outlined below:

School Year

Each school year has approximately 190 contact days, starting on August 1 and ending July 31. The winter break in December is usually 2 or 3 weeks, and the summer break is usually 6 to 8 weeks, from June to August. In the fall, the students normally start school in mid-August right after the Teacher’s Planning Week. New Staff Orientation starts on August 1.

School Hours

School hours normally starts at 8:30 AM, and ends at 3:30 PM. Teachers are expected to be at the school before 8:00 AM and be in the classroom by 8:20 AM. Teachers should remain in the school for at least 15 minutes after school is dismissed. Yard duty on a rotating basis is a part of a teacher’s routine.

Teaching Hours

Our school schedule is based on 40 periods of 40 minutes per week in the Elementary School, and 20 blocks of 80 minutes per week in the Middle and High Schools. A full teaching load in a week is generally 30 or 12.5 periods/blocks respectively. The non-contact periods/blocks are allocated for planning, preparation, classroom management, and general meetings with colleagues and parents, as well as the PSE, Personal Social Education in the Middle and High Schools.

School Life/Development

Teachers are expected to implement goals from the Strategic Plan and take part in the development of the school.

WABX (WAB Activities Department)

WABX encompasses all activities outside the classroom including, but not limited to: After School Activities (ASAs), WABX Activities include the arts, sports, clubs, enterprise, homework support, community service, and expeditions. Teachers are expected to contribute to the equivalent of two ASAs per year or coach 1 Inter-school Sports Team.

Teacher Professional Development

WAB provides a range of professional development opportunities throughout the year. These include school-based trainings, conferences and workshops in China as well as overseas. Many of these occur outside of the normal working day.

After School Meetings

Staff meetings are compulsory for all teachers and are held once a week after school. Teachers are also required to attend the after school collaborative planning meetings.

 

Learn more about our Teacher Compensation and Benefits package.

Learn more about the WAB Employee Code of Conduct.

Learn more about WAB’s Information Technology Policy and Guidelines.