ITP - 029: What Directors Look For in Teachers

Greg: All right, listen. Welcome to a very special episode of the International Teacher Podcast. While my friend Matt, the family guy, is out this session, I have with me a very important individual named Roberto Santos.

I think you’ll want to listen to this because when you’re recruiting, when you’re interviewing for an international teaching job, have you ever wondered what directors think? What are the people hiring us looking for?

Roberto is the director of the International School of Eastern Seaboard in Thailand, north of Pattaya, and he is with me for this special session. We’re going to get into the questions, the feelings, and the ideas directors have when they’re looking for candidates. We might get a little emotional—we’ve known each other for quite a few years. Let’s get right to it.

Welcome to the International Teacher Podcast with your host Greg, the single guy, and Matt, the family guy. We’re recording episodes from around the globe to tell you about the best kept secret in education. That’s right, it’s teaching overseas. We’re glad to have you.

So this is Greg, the single guy, and with me today I’m very pleased to have Roberto Santos. He’s an educator with years in international schools, joining us from Thailand. How are you doing, Bob?

Roberto: I’m doing great. Happy to talk to you. It’s been a long time. I have good memories, I think about you often, and I’m so proud of you.

Greg: Thank you. This is going out to all of our listeners—some who’ve never taught before, some about to go overseas, and some just thinking about it. I wanted you on because you’ve been a teacher, you’re now in administration, and you’ve got a long history in international education.

Can you give us a short version of how you got into it?

Roberto: I grew up in New York, and there came a point where I wasn’t happy in the States. I found a position in Guatemala—just word of mouth—and applied. I met the head of school in Florida, he liked me, and three months later I was in Guatemala.

That sparked something in me. I liked being abroad and being able to be who I was. From there I went to Honduras and Nicaragua. I learned a lot about culture and education—things you don’t really understand until you live them.

Then I went to Kuwait for about eight years. I learned about the Arab world, Islam—things that are foreign to us in the West. I started as a counselor, became a principal, and eventually head of school.

After that I went to Spain, then China, where I spent eight years as a principal and academic director.

What I’ve learned is you have to be true to yourself. You can learn systems, languages, cultures—but you can’t pretend to be someone you’re not. It always comes out.

More recently I was in Colombia, then COVID hit. I was supposed to go back to China but couldn’t get a visa. I came to Thailand thinking I’d transition, but that didn’t happen. I stayed in a small condo for seven months.

Then I heard about a school looking for people. A couple days later they contacted me. After a few interviews, I was hired. I signed November 30 and started December 1—the same day my China visa came through. I decided to honor my commitment and stay.

It’s a smaller school, and those can be more complicated. People have been there a long time and feel ownership. I’ve had to hire eight new people, many from my network—people I trust.

You don’t forget good people. You never know when you’ll need them again.

It’s been a long journey. I live on a golf course now, have a house and a car—it’s surreal. But I don’t take it for granted. We’ve been blessed.

For me, education is about humanity—guiding young people to be good people who want to make the world better.

Greg: I’ll add this—you’re a head of school, but you’re also the kind of leader who invites staff over, builds relationships, and shows up for people. You meet teachers at the airport. Not every director does that.

Roberto: It’s about staying humble. We know things, but that doesn’t mean we act superior. People can disagree. We just need to be decent human beings.

Greg: Let’s talk interviews. Everyone looks good on paper. What separates candidates?

Roberto: Competence matters, but so does character. You can be good at your job and still be difficult. I don’t hire those people. I thank them for their time and move on.

Greg: What about new teachers?

Roberto: I look at what they studied. If it’s unrelated, it might not work. If it’s education, I look for certification. But I’ve hired people without full certification if they’re eager to learn.

If you’re young, smart, and willing to learn, I’ll give you a chance—but you need to work toward certification.

You have to know how to teach. Technology has changed everything. Students will catch up quickly.

I like people who try, make mistakes, and grow. I’ll support them with experienced teachers.

Greg: Most candidates do have credentials, though.

Roberto: Yes, but I also want real references—emails and phone numbers. I will call them. At least three.

And be honest. If you had a bad experience, explain what you learned. Don’t hide it. This is a small world.

Greg: Transparency matters because schools invest a lot in teachers.

Roberto: Exactly. Nobody has a perfect career. I want honesty. Hiring the wrong person affects the whole school.

Greg: And hiring the right people shapes the school’s future.

Roberto: One hundred percent.

Greg: Let’s talk about support. What should candidates ask?

Roberto: Ask if someone will meet you at the airport. If not, that’s a red flag. If they don’t take care of small things, bigger things will be worse.

Ask about mentors—someone to help you with life, not just work.

Greg: That first moment matters—seeing a familiar face.

Roberto: Also ask about salary, what you’re teaching, and the curriculum. Don’t wait until you arrive.

You need to know exactly what you’re walking into. What are you teaching? Is that going to change? Don’t let it be vague. Get it in writing if you can.

You should also try to talk to current teachers if possible. Ask them what the school is really like, what the dynamics are, what they’re teaching, and how things actually work day to day.

Ask about resources. Do you need to bring your own materials? Because we’ve both been in places where you absolutely had to bring your own.

Housing—where is it? How far is it from the school? How do you get there? Is there transportation? How long is the commute?

You need to understand your living situation. If your life is stable, you can focus on teaching. If not, your mind is somewhere else.

Food matters too. What’s available? What can you eat? What can’t you eat? These are things people don’t think about until they’re there.

Airfare—do they pay for initial flights, end-of-contract flights, or annual flights? Or nothing at all?

And the home of record—this is very important. Make sure it’s clearly defined. Where would you actually go if you left? Because that’s what determines what the school pays for later.

Ask about resources—do you need to bring your own materials?

Housing—where is it, how far from school, how do you get there?

Transportation—how long is the commute?

Daily life—food, availability, environment.

Airfare—initial, annual, or none?

And home of record—make sure it’s clear in your contract.

Greg: That’s a big one people miss.

Roberto: It can cost you later if it’s wrong.

Greg: What should candidates avoid in interviews?

Roberto: Don’t bring a massive portfolio. There’s no time.

Look professional. You don’t need a full suit, but you need to look ready for work.

Understand the culture of the school.

Do your research. Know what the school stands for.

Be clear about what you bring, not just what you want.

And listen. Listening is critical.

Greg: You can’t memorize answers. You have to be yourself.

Roberto: And show you understand the school.

Greg: This is a small community. Administrators talk. If you burn bridges, it follows you.

Roberto: I don’t engage in online negativity. It comes back around. Stay professional. I’ve seen situations where people write negative things online about schools, and it always circles back.

One time, I had to ask a large group of teachers to leave in a very difficult situation when a school was going through major issues. People wrote things online. I never responded. Not once. Because once you engage, it becomes something else entirely, and it follows you.

In this community, people talk. Administrators know each other. It’s a small world, even though it’s global. You have to protect your reputation.

Greg: Final thoughts?

Roberto: For experienced teachers—learn from your mistakes and don’t repeat them. Leave on good terms. Remember your errors when you sign into a school. Remember the things you’ve done that you’re not too proud of and don’t do them again because it adds up. Sometimes you can’t shake that feeling once you repeat those mistakes. We forgive ourselves, but that doesn’t mean we should keep doing the same thing over and over again.

You want to leave with a smile. You want to say you did the best you could. You don’t want anything hanging over you that’s going to come back later.

For young people—and I love young people—I used to be young too. Be yourself. Be true to yourself. But understand this is more than just a job. I don’t think we talk about that enough. This is a higher calling.

You’re going to make me cry, man. I remember when you came and worked with us. You’ve been dedicated to children all these years. You could have done a million other things, but you chose this. It’s not about the money.

You’ve touched kids. You’ve changed lives. That’s what this is about. It’s not a 3:30 job. You have to take it seriously because those children depend on you. You can’t let them down.

At the end of the day, it’s about humanity. That’s what matters most.

For new teachers—be yourself and take this seriously. Teaching is a calling. You impact lives.

Be committed, be honest, and care about students.

Greg: Thank you, Roberto. I appreciate your time and insight.

Roberto: Thank you for having me.

Greg: And to our listeners, thanks for tuning in. We’ll see you next time.

Roberto: Thank you, folks, for listening.

Greg: How was that, man?

Roberto: That was great. You got me there at the end.

Greg: I didn’t mean to.

Roberto: Those were kind words. I didn’t expect that.

Greg: I meant every word.

Roberto: I appreciate that.