American International School of Kingston

2.65 / 5

(1Reviews)

Ranking:

Country:# 1Top 3

Region:# 1Top 3

Overall:# 170

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Located:

Kingston, Jamaica

Region:

Carribean

Website:

Score Over Time:

Category Scores:

5.3

Overall Grade

How are scores determind?

4.8
School
4.3
Students
3.8
Administration
5.5
Salary
5.1
Benefits
6.3
Housing
4.8
Colleagues
5.8
Place
6.0
Professional Development
8.0
Settling In
3.0
After Arrival

Affiliate:

Additional Information:

Curriculum:

Grade Levels:

Type:

Enrollment:

USA

DP

Non-profit

295

Review Summary:

School Students Administration Salary Benefits Housing Colleagues Place P.D.Settling In After Arrival

School:

Question 1:

The facilities of the school adequately provide for a positive learning/working experience.

3 / 10

Question 2:

School provides adequate access to teaching materials without any extra expense by the teacher (books, lab supplies, art supplies, materials, copying, etc.

5 / 10

Question 3:

School is well funded to provide students and faculty with adequate materials to support their course offering.

7 / 10

Question 4:

Parent community is actively involved in supporting the school's mission and their child's education endeavors.

4 / 10

Question 5:

Classroom student to teacher ratios are kept low.

5 / 10

Students:

Question 6:

Students are generally of high aptitude.

4 / 10

Question 7:

Student interactions with faculty are primarily characterized by respectability.

4 / 10

Question 8:

Students are of diverse ethnicity.

5 / 10

Administration:

Question 9:

Administration positively supports faculty in a professional manner.

4 / 10

Question 10:

Administration actively encourages a dialogue concerning school related issues.

4 / 10

Question 11:

Administration is actively engaged in developing/supporting/maintaining a clear school vision.

2 / 10

Question 12:

Administration makes sure that the financial stability and integrity of the school is well maintained.

5 / 10

Question 13:

Administration/Ownership uses school funds to support the well being of the school.

4 / 10

Salary:

Question 14:

Salary scale is competitive.

5 / 10

Question 15:

Salary provides the opportunity to save appropriately.

5 / 10

Question 16:

Salary provides the opportunity to travel during vacation.

5 / 10

Question 17:

Salary scale provides for vertical and horizontal movement based on years of experience and/or units/degree's earned.

7 / 10

Benefits:

Question 18:

School provides a quality health insurance plan that covers all major medical (health, vision, dental.

6 / 10

Question 19:

School provides retirement benefits that are competitive.

1 / 10

Question 20:

School provides a health insurance plan that covers international travel/coverage.

2 / 10

Question 21:

School provides for faculty child tuition benefits.

8 / 10

Question 22:

School provides strong support for maternity benefits.

6 / 10

Question 23:

School provides an adequate amount for end of contract airfare cost.

9 / 10

Question 24:

School provides an adequate shipping allowance.

4 / 10

Housing:

Question 25:

School provides quality available housing or a housing stipend that affords quality housing.

5 / 10

Question 26:

The proximity of housing in relation to school location is within an acceptable distance of travel.

9 / 10

Question 27:

Options of moving housing during the course of contract is acceptable.

5 / 10

Colleagues:

Question 28:

Colleagues foster a welcoming environment to new faculty.

2 / 10

Question 29:

School hires a diversity of family structures (Singles, couples, families.

8 / 10

Question 30:

Colleagues foster a professional environment that supports growth.

4 / 10

Question 31:

Colleagues foster a personal support structure in place of family.

5 / 10

Place:

Question 32:

City the school resides in provides opportunities for things to do without having to travel

5 / 10

Question 33:

City the school resides in provides easy opportunities to travel to other places.

7 / 10

Question 34:

Local culture is apparent in the city/country in which the school resides.

7 / 10

Question 35:

Local culture of in which the school resides is open to integrating expats into local customs and traditions.

5 / 10

Question 36:

City/Country in which the school resides does not exact personal restrictions on lifestyle choices.

9 / 10

Question 37:

City/Country in which school resides provides for potential tax benefits.

5 / 10

Question 38:

Quality of local health care is excellent.

7 / 10

Question 39:

Cost of living in the city/country where school resides is reasonable.

3 / 10

Question 40:

City the school resides in has excellent infrastructure for mass transportation (e.g. - is a car required.

6 / 10

Question 41:

City/Country in which the school resides provides for adequate personal safety.

4 / 10

Professional Development:

Question 42:

School makes available a variety of professional development opportunities.

5 / 10

Question 43:

School makes available funds to support continued development.

5 / 10

Question 44:

Time is specifically set aside in the calendar for faculty and staff formation.

10 / 10

Question 45:

Faculty and Staff are encouraged to professionally grow by the school.

5 / 10

Question 46:

Faculty and Staff are encouraged to experiment, implement, and bring up new ideas for classroom innovation.

5 / 10

Settling In:

Question 47:

School meets you on arrival and escorts you to accommodations.

10 / 10

Question 48:

School provides an adequate orientation to the school and local culture upon arrival.

7 / 10

Question 49:

School provides an allowance to support the transition.

7 / 10

After Arrival:

Question 50:

Facilities of the school were well represented during the hiring process.

1 / 10

Question 51:

Contract is honored based on what was agreed upon during the hiring process.

3 / 10

Question 52:

School actively maintains a dialogue and support structure to make sure basic needs are being met.

5 / 10

Review Narratives:

1 reviews

5.3

Reviewed:

10/26/2019

There has been administrative turnover for three years. The board did not appreciate the changes Shane Kells wanted to implement, and the front office staff were vocal about disliking him. The disrespect was tangible and appalling. If you do not get on with "the AISK way," you will not last here. The new administration has staff parking in the muddy field in order to keep the car park empty for parents and student drivers. The goal is keeping parents happy at any cost. Teachers are not welcome or appreciated at this school. Favoritism, nepotism, and friendships hit a new level in the disregard for professionalism. The school is overcrowded in the primary school. Teaching assistants do not accompany students to all specials, and there are no consequences for them. The secondary teachers share classrooms and float to teach classes. Counselors are being used for student assessment, since the learning support department is so overworked and understaffed. The IT department is working to get Apple TV in every classroom, but there is no training how to best utilize it. Other than laptops, there is no technology. This is not a purpose-built facility. If you want PD, you may or may not get it approved, and the school either wants it online or you have to pay for flights to go. Expat teaching staff are provided housing, but this is not equitable. Utility bills are not the same for everyone, and people who use very little electricity still have very high bills. Asking for help from HR usually yields an uncaring response. Not everyone pays a water bill. If something breaks or goes wrong in your apartment, you may or may not receive help. Some local staff are given tuition exemptions for their children, but not all. You never know what you must do to be on the good side of things, but for the few on the good side, life is very easy. Jamaica is fantastic. There are many lovely beaches and sunny, warm weather. You must drive to get to those beaches, but you will want to leave the city as much as possible. A car that can handle rough roads is preferable, since the roads are terrible and full of holes. However, there are many things on the island to experience. There is always fresh seasonal fruit available, but anything imported is expensive and goes bad quickly. If you have food allergies, it can be challenging.

American International School of Kingston

Kingston, Jamaica

Carribean

www.aisk.com

Score Over Time:

Category Scores:

5.3

Overall Grade

Affiliate:

Additional Information:

USA

DP

N/A

Non-profit

295

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Review Narratives: