Teaching and living in Turkey is for many a highlight in their teaching career. In Turkey, the teaching profession is highly regarded and the role of a teacher is deeply respected.  Students at Hisar are confident, intelligent, motivated, and energetic. In contrast to Turkey’s more traditional rote learning style, Hisar is known for its progressive constructivist approach towards education. Classroom management, like at any school, is an essential component of an educator’s skill set and something we value highly.

The process of obtaining a work and residence visa can be long and arduous as approval from the Turkish Ministry of Education/Labour may take up from two to three months. In addition to the legal necessities, the Turkish Ministry of Education programmes and examinations is a reality for a teacher working in a host national Turkish school.  However, for both the approval process and complexities of navigating the education system there will always be a supportive and knowledgeable colleague at your side.  Departments consist of experienced veterans and your creative flare in the classroom will still have plenty of opportunity to shine through.  The requirements and standards imposed by the Turkish Ministry of Education along with Hisar’s enthusiasm and passion for current pedagogical thinking require a fine balance and experienced hands; again, Turkish and international colleagues will be there  to support you.

From middle school to graduation, a nationwide exam system plays a significant role in every student’s life.  Students from Grade 6 and up may choose to attend evening preparation courses in order to study for summative examinations and this in turn can put indirect stress on the student, the teacher and the parents.  This is most apparent in grades 11 and 12 for those students who wish to attend Turkish universities.
We seek teachers with a depth of knowledge within their subject area, strong classroom management skills, open mindedness, flexibility and most importantly, a creative and outgoing persona.

What follows, are a series of frequently asked questions which will hopefully give you a clearer picture of Hisar School.

Faculty credentials for recruitment
Teaching candidates are required to have the following credentials to be hired:
  Undergraduate degree in the area to be taught 
  Teaching certification
  5 years of teaching experience is required; however, depending on the needs of the school, teachers in their internship may also be considered
  Literacy in computers and technology;  candidates may be asked to present a certificate or may be assessed and evaluated by the school 
  Strong academic credentials  are required

Hisar School Faculty Hiring Procedures
The recruitment and policy in Hisar School is based on the alignment of the short and long term goals of the institution with the employee profile.

Once the vacancy for a teaching position is confirmed, the hiring process is put into place through the following steps:
  Announcement of the vacant positions 
  Participation in recruiting fairs abroad
  Evaluation of applicants, based on the qualifications and credentials required for the position involved
  Making a preliminary interview with suitable candidates by the department heads and head of human resources
  Interviewing by the evaluation committee of candidates who are found to be eligible after the preliminary interviews
  Observing the candidate who is found to be suitable and eligible in the interview, while she/he teaches  in a class room environment for one period, by the evaluation committee
  Checking by the Human Resources department the official credentials and references of the candidate who has had a positive class room observation 
  Obtaining the teaching approval for the candidate from the Ministry of Education 
  The School Head offers the job to a candidate who is found to be suitable through the steps of the hiring process

Application:
Candidates who have the required credentials and who would like to join the Hisar School family should send a cover letter and their resume to e-mail address: hr@hisarschool.k12.tr
Please do not hesitate to send any questions you may have to the same e-mail address. The Human Resources department will forward your emails to the relevant staff person(s). 

Employment at Hisar School
Teaching and living in Turkey is for many a highlight in their teaching career. In Turkey, the teaching profession is highly regarded and the role of a teacher is deeply respected.  Students at Hisar are confident, bright and on the whole motivated and energetic. This is in part due to Hisar’s progressive constructivist approach to education and in contrast to Turkey’s more traditional rote learning style. Classroom management, like at any school, is an essential component of your job description and something we value highly.

The process of obtaining a work and residence visa can be long and arduous as the Turkish Ministry of Education/Labour is often perceived as a bureaucratic behemoth. In addition to the legal necessities, the Turkish Ministry of Education programmes and examinations can often act as a thorn in the side of the creative teacher, however for both the approval process and complexities of navigating the education system there will always be a supportive and knowledgeable colleague at your side.  The departments are made up of experienced veterans and your creative flare in the classroom will still have plenty of opportunity to shine through.  The requirements and standards imposed by the Turkish Ministry of Education along with Hisar’s zeal and passion for current pedagogical thinking require a fine balance and experienced hands; again colleagues will be around to support you.

From middle school to graduation, a nationwide exam system plays a significant role in every student’s life.  Students from Grade 6 and up may choose to attend night courses in order to cram for summative examinations and this in turn can put indirect stress on the student, the teacher and the parents.  This is most apparent in grades 11 and 12 for those students who wish to attend local universities; rest assured our planning and programmes reflect their needs.

We seek teachers with a depth of knowledge within their subject area, strong classroom management skills, open mindedness, a degree of flexibility and most importantly, a creative and outgoing persona.
What follows, are a series of frequently asked questions which will help paint a clearer picture of Hisar School.

FAQ

When was Hisar School established and is it an international school?
Hisar is a K-12 bilingual school which has obtained international school status.  Our student body  made up of almost entirely Turkish nationals.  The school was founded in 1996. However, the outlook of the school is international. We want students to become global leaders and our graduates go on to attend universities in Turkey, Canada, the UK, and the US.

How many faculty and staff members does Hisar have?
The total number of faculty and staff is 312, there are 201 teachers.  52 % of the English department are Turkish and 48% are foreign national teachers who are made up of British nationals, Americans, Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders.

How is the administration and academic departments comprised?
The General Director (the School Head) overseas three school Principals and an Academic Dean – Preschool, Elementary and High School respectively.
The academic departments are made up of Turkish Language and Literature, Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences, Music, Art, Physical Education, Computer Science, Modern Languages and English. 

How would you explain the Hisar school culture?
The school is still relatively young (15 years old) so tradition is being created – as for culture it is democratic, open minded, constructivist in nature and once again aspires to international school standards (we have been accredited by NEASC and CIS in recent years).

Is Hisar School coeducational (boys and girls?)
Yes, pretty much 50/50.

What is the total student population at your school?
1248 students for the 2011/2012 academic year,
Elementary School (Preschool-8): 934 students
High School (Prep-12): 314 students
Class of 2011: 58 seniors
College Matriculation: 100% attend 4-year colleges; 50% matriculate abroad 

Is your English/Science/Maths department made up entirely of native speakers?
Our middle and high school English department is made up of native English speakers only while primary school is predominantly bilingual speakers (Turkish-English).  For math and science we have a mixture of native and bilingual speakers in the high school only.

What is the average class size?
Middle and high school average about 21 students while the primary grades (K1-5) average 25.  Our Kindergarten has 15 students in a class.

What is your school’s English language policy for students? 
Enforced in classrooms, you will hear English around the halls but it isn’t really enforced – you can confidently approach any student in the school (with the exception of the very low grades) and have a conversation in English.
 
Do the students have a uniform? 
Generally yes – the primary and middle schools have a clear uniform policy – in the high school the wide choice of colors and clothing means the dress code is somewhat relaxed.

What are your facilities like? 
The school is extremely well equipped.  In 2009, saw the completion of an Arts and Culture Centre and a Sports Centre with extensive sports facilities including gym, basketball and dance studios along with a professional theatre with music studios and practice rooms. For a school this young, we have had considerable growth in our facilities.

What are your extracurricular activities and are they varied?  
Our MUN program is internationally respected, and Hisar possesses the only JMUN program in the world that is affiliated with the Hague. Additionally, the Arts and Culture Centre and Sports Centre have added a lot of extracurricular and weekend activities under the banner of 'Hisar Academy'.  Activities include karate, volleyball, art, music and performing arts.  Students have the opportunity to work with departments after school on subject matter – currently there is large scale theatre project underway – we are staging "Fame".  For teachers there are after school English and Turkish classes, art classes and of course full access to the sports complex.

How would you rate the school’s technology infrastructure?
Every teacher has a laptop running Windows 7 and Office 2010.  Classrooms are equipped with either a projector or a large flat screen TV.  We have three computer labs and a large library/learning/technology centre.  Wireless internet is available throughout the school and if you have a specific need we are confident it can be easily met.

How is technology in the classroom?
In the past four years there has been a considerable shift in this direction – throughout the department teachers have converted a lot of materials into PowerPoint and alike to be used with smart boards or projectors, we also have a fully functioning Moodle site that is updated daily. The next step is to allow students to bring in laptops into the classrooms – we are not there yet but the infrastructure exists.

Are there a lot of professional development opportunities for the faculty? 
There are plenty of opportunities to develop yourself.  In the academic year of 2010/2011 Hisar School established a Professional Learning Community (PLC) to manage, enhance and maximise all professional development opportunities across the school.  The PLC operates on a simple premise; those who dare to teach must never cease to learn.  The PLC in conjunction with departments throughout the school take into account current teaching methodology and best practises across the world and if there is a specific request (overseas workshops/training/literature) you can put it in writing and it is sent to our professional development committee – the school is very supportive of a teacher seeking more knowledge and skills and the reciprocal accountability set up by the PLC means that we look forward to you sharing your new learning experiences with your department and the school.

What is the recruitment procedure? 
We recruit teachers in a number of ways - local hires, overseas via SKYPE/telephone and at recruitment fairs throughout the year. Local hires, along with a standard interview and reference checks are also asked to undertake an observed lesson. For overseas hires and teachers we meet at fairs a heavy emphasis is placed on the references and interview. In all cases teachers must meet our minimum standard requirements and upon a successful interview the teacher must then be approved by the Turkish Ministry of Education.  Teachers are guided by the Human Resources department every step of the way and we pride ourselves on providing a personal touch as the candidates are followed and kept informed throughout the process by the relevant department head.

What is your criterion for selection?
In terms of foreign national hires we require a university degree in the subject to be taught, teaching credentials and a minimum of five years experience in a school environment.  A masters degree or alike is deemed desirable.

All courses in the Social Sciences are taught in Turkish that is why we cannot hire foreign teachers in these areas.

How do I go about obtaining the work and residency visas?
You’ll be pleased to learn that Hisar takes care of all of this for you. This means covering the costs of these visas along with assisting in providing all the necessary documentation. All we ask of you is to gather all the relevant documents and the rest is taken care of by the school and a trusted company who specialise in this field.

How long is the contract for and how much will my salary be?
Contracts are usually signed for two years and evaluated on a yearly basis there after based on your performance appraisal. Salaries are paid in Turkish liras and based on a scale which will be presented to you at the initial interview stage.  Upon arrival in the country you will be met at the airport and taken to a central hotel where you can stay for up to two weeks which will allow you plenty of time to find an appropriate apartment.  We encourage you to take advantage of this two week stay at the hotel and glean from our existing colleagues’ local knowledge. Moreover, throughout this process you will be guided by a professional company who specialize in finding foreigners appropriate housing and getting them ‘settled in’ and rest assured, upon arrival in Istanbul your immediate needs will be met. We believe that our teachers should enjoy the full Turkish living experience and all our foreign national teachers prefer to live in the centre of Istanbul which is approximately 30 minutes commute by school service bus. Furthermore, you will receive a settling in allowance of 00 and baggage allowance up to 00 (Please check the sample and additional benefits contract).  The school is happy to purchase your ticket for you before your embark on your journey however if you prefer you can be reimbursed once you arrive in Istanbul. Once you are settled in additional benefits include full medical insurance, school meals, free staff service bus and use of a laptop.

How is Istanbul in terms of affordability/cost of living in relation to salary?
Istanbul is not a cheap city however the housing allowance given to teachers (paid in Turkish lira to the current dollar rate) allows you to live in a comfortable and well located district (foreign nationals usually choose Taksim – it is the centre of the city and a 30 to 40 minute commute to school by free school service bus). Most, if not all, teachers have an active social life, plenty of travel opportunities both in and outside of Turkey and very comfortable living standards.