ITP - 137: Teaching Abroad with a Family in Montenegro

Greg: 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.

Matt: All right—welcome back, everybody. This is Matt, the family guy, and I’m here with Greg, the single guy.

Greg: Good to be back.

Matt: And today—we’ve got a really interesting conversation lined up.

Matt: This is one of those topics that comes up a lot in conversations with teachers—especially people thinking about going overseas, or those already out here trying to figure out their next move.

Matt: We’re going to talk about career paths in international teaching—how people move, why they move, and what actually drives those decisions.

Greg: Yeah, and I think this is one of those areas where there’s a lot of assumptions—and not always a lot of clarity.

Greg: People think there’s a clear ladder, or a right way to do it. And the reality is—it’s not that straightforward.

Matt: Not at all.

Matt: I think if you lined up ten international teachers and asked them how they got to where they are—you’d get ten completely different stories.

Greg: And probably ten different definitions of success too.

Matt: Exactly.

Matt: So maybe that’s a good place to start—what does “career progression” even mean in international teaching?

Greg: Yeah, because it’s not just moving from one school to a “better” school.

Greg: Sometimes it’s about location, sometimes it’s about lifestyle, sometimes it’s about leadership opportunities—or just timing.

Matt: Or burnout.

Greg: Or burnout—yeah, that’s real too.

Matt: So let’s break this down a bit.

Matt: When people first go overseas, what are they usually thinking about in terms of their career?

Greg: I think early on, most people are just trying to get in.

Greg: First job, first contract—get your foot in the door.

Greg: And a lot of times, that first job isn’t necessarily your dream job.

Matt: Yeah, it’s more like your entry point.

Greg: Exactly.

Greg: And that’s where you start to build experience—learn how international schools operate, understand different curricula, get used to working with diverse student populations.

Matt: And just figure out if you even like it.

Greg: That too.

Greg: Not everyone does.

Matt: That’s an important point.

Matt: I think people assume once you go overseas, that’s it—you’re hooked forever.

Greg: But that’s not always the case.

Greg: Some people try it for a couple of years and decide it’s not for them.

Matt: So once people are in—what tends to happen next?

Greg: That’s where things start to branch out.

Greg: Some people start looking at moving up—maybe aiming for more established schools, better packages, more stability.

Greg: Others start prioritizing lifestyle—where do I want to live, what kind of experience do I want to have.

Matt: And sometimes those things don’t line up.

Greg: Not always.

Matt: So let’s talk about that tension a bit—career vs lifestyle.

Greg: Yeah, because that’s one of the biggest decisions people make again and again in this field.

Greg: Do you chase the “top-tier” schools—or do you chase the life you want to live?

Matt: And sometimes you can have both—but not always.

Greg: Exactly.

Matt: All right—let’s dig into that.

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Greg: So let’s say someone’s been overseas for a couple of years. They’ve done that first contract—maybe even a second. What are they thinking about at that point?

Matt: I think that’s when people start getting more strategic.

Matt: The first move is usually about getting in. The second move is often about improving something—salary, location, school quality, or just overall fit.

Greg: Yeah, and that’s where you start hearing people talk about “tiers.”

Matt: Right—Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3 schools.

Greg: Which is a whole conversation in itself.

Matt: And not always a helpful one.

Greg: Exactly. Because what one person considers a top-tier school might not be the right fit for someone else.

Matt: Yeah, you might have an incredible school in a location you don’t want to live in.

Greg: Or a “lower-tier” school in a place where your quality of life is amazing.

Matt: So people start weighing those trade-offs.

Greg: And those decisions change over time.

Matt: Definitely.

Matt: Early in your career, you might be chasing experience and opportunity.

Later on, you might be thinking more about stability, family, or long-term plans.

Greg: Or even just slowing down a bit.

Matt: Yeah—finding a place where you can stay longer than two years.

Greg: That’s another big shift.

Greg: Early on, people move a lot—every two years, chasing the next opportunity.

Matt: And then at some point, that pace gets old.

Greg: Exactly. You start thinking about continuity—relationships, community, not having to rebuild your life every couple of years.

Matt: That’s a big one.

Matt: People don’t always realize how much energy it takes to keep moving.

Greg: New country, new systems, new school culture—it’s a lot.

Matt: So some people start looking for that “landing spot.”

Greg: Yeah—a place where they can stay for four, five, six years—or longer.

Matt: But then you’ve got the other group.

Greg: The lifers on the move.

Matt: Exactly. People who just love the transition.

Greg: New place, new challenge—that’s what keeps them going.

Matt: And neither approach is right or wrong.

Greg: It just depends on what you want out of the lifestyle.

Matt: So where does leadership fit into all of this?

Greg: That’s another pathway entirely.

Greg: Some people come in with leadership goals—department heads, coordinators, admin roles.

Others kind of fall into it over time.

Matt: Yeah, they get tapped on the shoulder.

Greg: Exactly.

Greg: “Hey, do you want to take on this role?”

Matt: And suddenly you’re in leadership.

Greg: And that changes your trajectory pretty quickly.

Matt: But it also changes your day-to-day experience a lot.

Greg: Totally different job.

Greg: Less classroom, more meetings, more responsibility.

Matt: And not everyone wants that.

Greg: No—and that’s something people need to think about.

Greg: Just because you can move into leadership doesn’t mean you should.

Matt: Yeah, some people are happiest in the classroom.

Greg: And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Matt: So you’ve got all these different paths—movement, stability, leadership, lifestyle.

Greg: And they’re all happening at the same time, for different people.

Matt: Which is why it’s so hard to give one clear answer to “what should I do next?”

Greg: Exactly.

Greg: Because the answer is—it depends.

Matt: On your goals, your situation, your priorities.

Greg: And those things change.

Matt: Constantly.

Greg: That’s the key.

Matt: All right—let’s keep going.

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Matt: So let’s get practical for a second.

Matt: If someone is sitting there right now—maybe finishing up a contract—and they’re trying to decide what to do next, how should they think about that decision?

Greg: I think the first thing is getting really clear on priorities.

Greg: What matters most right now?

Is it money? Is it lifestyle? Is it professional growth? Is it location?

Greg: Because if you don’t know that, it’s really easy to get pulled in different directions.

Matt: Yeah—and I think that’s where people get stuck.

Matt: They’re trying to optimize everything at once.

Greg: Which usually doesn’t work.

Matt: Right—you might get two out of three, but rarely all three.

Greg: Exactly.

Greg: And sometimes you have to make a very intentional trade-off.

Matt: So how do you actually evaluate a move?

Greg: For me, I always come back to a few questions.

Greg: What does my day-to-day life look like there?

What does my workload look like?

What does my life outside of school look like?

Greg: Because people get really focused on the job—but your life is much bigger than that.

Matt: That’s huge.

Matt: I think people underestimate how much their environment affects their overall experience.

Greg: Completely.

Greg: You can be at a “great” school, but if you’re miserable outside of it—that’s going to wear on you.

Matt: And the opposite is true too.

Greg: Yeah—you can be at a less prestigious school, but loving your life—and that matters.

Matt: So let’s talk about timing.

Matt: How much does timing play into career decisions?

Greg: A lot.

Greg: Sometimes the right opportunity comes at the wrong time—or vice versa.

Greg: And that’s something people don’t always talk about.

Matt: Yeah, because on paper something might look perfect—but it doesn’t fit your life at that moment.

Greg: Exactly.

Greg: Maybe you’ve just moved, maybe your family situation has changed, maybe you’re just not ready for that next step.

Matt: Or maybe you are ready—and the opportunity isn’t there yet.

Greg: That happens too.

Greg: And that’s where patience comes in.

Matt: Which is hard for people.

Greg: Very hard.

Matt: Especially in a system where everything feels like two-year cycles.

Greg: Yeah—there’s this constant pressure to make the “next move.”

Matt: But sometimes the best move is staying put.

Greg: Absolutely.

Greg: Staying in a good situation and continuing to grow there can be just as valuable as moving.

Matt: And probably less stressful.

Greg: Definitely less stressful.

Matt: So let’s flip it—what are some mistakes people make with career moves?

Greg: Chasing labels.

Greg: Going after a “Tier 1” school without really understanding what that means for them.

Matt: Or assuming that a more prestigious school automatically equals a better experience.

Greg: Exactly.

Greg: Another one—moving too quickly.

Matt: Yeah—jumping before you’ve really built anything where you are.

Greg: Or leaving a good situation because you feel like you’re supposed to move.

Matt: That’s a big one.

Greg: There’s no rule that says you have to move every two years.

Matt: That’s more culture than reality.

Greg: Exactly.

Matt: Any others?

Greg: Not asking enough questions during the hiring process.

Greg: People get excited, they get an offer—and they don’t dig into the details.

Matt: And then they get there and realize it’s not what they expected.

Greg: Right.

Greg: Workload, leadership, school culture—those things matter a lot.

Matt: Way more than people think.

Greg: So if you could give one piece of advice to someone navigating their career overseas, what would it be?

Matt: I’d say—don’t compare your path to anyone else’s.

Matt: It’s really easy to look around and think, “I should be doing what they’re doing.”

But everyone’s situation is different.

Greg: That’s a good one.

Greg: I’d add—be intentional.

Greg: Don’t just drift from job to job.

Make decisions based on what you actually want—not what you think you’re supposed to want.

Matt: That’s a great way to put it.

Greg: And be okay with changing your mind.

Matt: Yeah—what you want at year two might not be what you want at year ten.

Greg: Exactly.

Matt: All right—that feels like a good place to wrap this one up.

Greg: Yeah, lots to think about.

Matt: As always, if you’ve got questions or topics you want us to dig into, reach out to us.

Matt: You can email us at [internationalteacherpodcast@gmail.com](mailto:internationalteacherpodcast@gmail.com).

Greg: Or find us on Instagram at ITPexpats.

Matt: I’m Matt, the family guy.

Greg: I’m Greg, the single guy.

Matt: And this is the International Teacher Podcast.

Matt: We’ll see you next time.

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