International School Kindergarten And Primary Positions With 45 Paid Days Off

May 18

Surat Thani International School
Thailand | Surat Thani
stis.ac.th

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About the School

Surat Thani International School (STIS – stis.ac.th/) is Surat Thani’s first international school! We strive to be the very best school for teachers and students!

Surat Thani means “the city of good people” and is a medium size Thai city with a small-town feel.  In Surat, you can enjoy a true Thai cultural experience while having easy access to western conveniences.  The people are peaceful, welcoming, and friendly.  Surat Thani is known as the hub of the South and is ideally located for easy weekend trips to any of the famous Thai islands and beaches.  The plentiful food in Surat is known as being some of the best in the country. Surat Thani has a very low cost of living and a high quality of living!

Salary & Benefits:

Salary: 50,000 THB to 60,000 THB per month
Job Type: Full Time

1. Free lunch
2. Orientation and training provided
3. Assistance getting settled in Surat Thani
4. Professional development opportunities
5. Optional Thai language classes
   

About the Job

Surat Thani International School is looking for positive and enthusiastic individuals to teach an American-based curriculum to the fun-loving children of Surat Thani.  Teachers spend a large portion of each school day with one small class of young learners. You can create real relationships with your kids.  The students are well behaved, intelligent, and eager to learn!  We provide plenty of resources, top quality textbooks and supplemental materials, Thai teaching assistants, a modern and air-conditioned learning environment, teacher empowerment, a teamwork mentality, and a focus on collaboration and creativity!

At STIS, we are a group of passionate people dedicated to teaching our students.  We work hard because we love to teach and believe in what we are doing.  Our teachers are given freedom and individual responsibility in how they want to structure class time and implement curriculum.  The working environment is friendly, supportive, and relaxed. We give our teachers the time and space they need to develop their class while offering support any time they want or need it.

These positions are specifically tailored for those who enjoy being creative while teaching, are comfortable in a professional organization, like to laugh and have fun in the classroom, are adaptable and positive, and are ready to work hard to make sure the students experience an enjoyable and productive time while learning.  We are looking for individuals who have a passion for teaching young children and do not hesitate to put energy, enthusiasm, and positivity into their daily routine.

The starting date for these positions is August 1st, 2022.

Position Details and Benefits:

Salary: 50,000 THB to 60,000 THB per month based on qualifications and experience

Contract:  12 months (August to July)

School Hours:  8:00am – 4:00pm Monday to Friday

Teaching Hours:   maximum of 25 teaching periods per week

Class Size:  maximum of 20 students per class

Vacation:   35 paid days – 3 weeks over Christmas and New Year, 1 week in February, 1 week in April, and 2 weeks in July

Holiday:    10 paid Thai public holidays

Housing:    Not provided but assistance is given to locate and secure housing. Housing stipend starts in 2^nd year.

Visa:  Non-Immigrant B visa assistance (paperwork provided to obtain visa prior to arrival)
Work Permit: Paid for and provided free once Non-B Visa is obtained by teacher

Qualifications & Requirements

Please note that you must have a minimum of a bachelor degree.

Other Information

Comments about teaching with STIS:

“STIS is an excellent place to work! I am constantly learning, improving my teaching style and classroom management techniques in a way I would not get to in other educational environments. STIS is built to help teachers grow as educators and provide the best for our students. If you are looking for a place that has awesome students and challenge yourself as an educator then STIS is the right place for you.” – Megan Diffey, 4 year STIS teacher

“STIS is a school that focuses on a positive work environment, student happiness and well-being, and student achievement. The staff are all engaged with those goals in mind. The staff are friendly and kind and the students are wonderful. Teaching expectations are high but you are given creative freedom with your class. The support is there if needed or wanted. I find it an excellent school to strengthen my teaching skills. Classes are small (ranging from 6-20) which makes teaching and getting to know and understand each students’ needs easy. I am able to get feedback on my teaching when desired and the work environment is open so teachers often share ideas for their classrooms. The school facilities are excellent, boasting a science lab, full library, art rooms, game rooms, a large garden, and a large gymnasium. My experience with both western and Thai staff has been extremely positive. Surat Thani city is an excellent place to live due to its relative closeness with touristy areas, without being a touristy area itself. Surat is a travel hub to many destinations Southern Thailand; Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Krabi, Nakhon, Khao Sok National park are all relatively close for easy weekend or long weekend destinations. Surat itself is very Thai, with a small but close western community. The cost of living is very cheap and the food is spectacular. I would encourage any teacher looking for a unique and rewarding experience to consider STIS.”  – Meredith Gallinger, 4 year STIS teacher 

“Surat Thani is a great place to live and work! I have worked at Surat Thani International School for 3 years now! The school is very modern with great facilities and friendly, helpful Thai staff! The classes are small with a maximum of 20 students so you are able to adapt your teaching style easily and create fun and interactive lessons! The school follows the American calendar so you are still able to take holidays such as Christmas, unlike the Thai schools!  Surat Thani is a good city to live in as it is close to all the islands and beaches which are easy to get to on Friday after you finish work! The city has a big Thai influence so you can get a good feel of what real Thai life is like in Surat Thani! I really enjoy working here and I enjoy going to work every day! I would recommend teaching at STIS to anyone who feels passionate about education, child development, and wants to make a positive difference in their students’ lives.” – Emily Dickinson, 4 year STIS teacher

"This is my third year working with the students at Surat Thani International School and I must say it has been wonderful. The small class sizes give me the ability to build positive relationships with all my students, and also lets me give each student the individualized help they need to succeed in their academic career. Not only do I enjoy my job but, in addition, being a teacher at STIS comes with the benefit of six weeks paid vacation. Surat Thani is also very conveniently located in southern Thailand. The prime location combined with the generous amount of vacation makes it very easy to make my dreams of traveling the world a reality. Working for Surat Thani International School has truly been an amazing experience!” – Jacob Janota, 3 year STIS teacher

 “The city of Surat Thani and STIS have both given me more joy, memories, and experiences than I could have ever hoped for when I began my time here. The friends I’ve made and the growth I’ve seen in my students will be something that I cherish for a lifetime. A teaching position at STIS may be demanding at times, but the challenges are worth it as you are afforded a great amount of autonomy and freedom to teach how you see fit. This is a huge growth opportunity for anyone interested in becoming an effective, engaging teacher.” – Matthew Buonopane, 2 year STIS teacher

“It wasn’t until I started teaching at STIS that I knew for sure that teaching was the profession for me. After teaching at several others schools with minimal support, organization, or structure, STIS was a very welcome change. Classroom sizes are limited to 20 students or less allowing teachers time to work with each student individually. There is an abundant amount of resources available to the teachers and large classrooms that allow for a wide range of activities to keep the students engaged and happy. Expectations are high because parents at the school are very invested in their children’s education, but this also means that parental support is high which is very helpful in discipline and extra-curricular support. Hard work and good teaching are rewarded and there is an abundance of opportunities to progress as a teacher and an employee. Teachers are encouraged to work together as a team which creates a positive work environment. This being said, the most important thing to know about Surat Thani International School is that student learning is the first priority. I take immense pride in seeing the progression of my students throughout the school year and I feel like this sentiment is prominent throughout the school. The city of Surat Thani is also a wonderful city to live in for teachers. It is not very touristy so you never have to deal with people hassling you on the streets or overcharging you for goods and services. The locals are extremely friendly and helpful and you get a good feel of the local community. There is also a fairly large teacher community that organizes events and helps each other out. I organize a football (soccer) night every Tuesday and there are also quiz nights, art nights, game nights, and any excuse you can think of for a social event or party so it is very easy to meet new people here. Surat Thani is also close to the massive beach at Khanom, the beautiful national park of Khao Sok and its floating bungalows (my favourite place in Thailand), as well as the more touristy islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phagnan, and Koh Tao to name a few. I originally planned to teach in Thailand for only 1 year but the city of Surat Thani and Surat Thani International School have convinced me to stay here for many more.” – Mitch Rioux, 4 year STIS teacher 

“Becoming a teacher at STIS was the best career move I could have made. This is my second year at STIS for over a year and I still find the work extremely rewarding and enjoyable.  STIS has given me the perfect teaching environment for me to develop as a teacher. The STIS team have been superb in providing me with support which I have relished and learned so much from. The whole atmosphere surrounding the school is so positive and makes your work life at STIS so fulfilling.   As well the empowering ethos that STIS promotes, the freedom, the flexibility, the friendly, and supportive environment make it a very rare and remarkable school to work at.” – Marcus Wykes, 1 year STIS teacher

“Surat Thani International School is a great place to work for many reasons but the one I enjoy most is the bond we as teachers are able to make with the students, parents, and other staff members. We are a smaller, more focused school allowing us the time to really get to know our students and their parents.  Recently the teachers have been meeting after school in the school gym to engage in different exercise programs of the teacher’s choice, which really helps with overall health and getting to know everyone.  Something else that I really like is that we are a fairly new school and we are invited to have an impact on a lot of the decisions made for the school. We have short meetings in the mornings allowing us to stay up to date with all that is happening and voice our own opinions.  Yet another positive and rare aspect of the school is the freedom we have to take control of our class and our daily lessons. While support is always available for any questions, help with resources, or to deal with any issues, we are really given our own space to maximize our creativity.  Working at STIS is both challenging and rewarding and is constantly progressing in a positive and exciting direction!” – Terrance Masso, 2 year STIS teacher

“I can honestly say that working at STIS is the best thing about Surat Thani.  The students are amazing. They are smart and funny. STIS class sizes range from 9-20 students. That means you know every student in the school. You also have your own classroom. You build a connection with your students and really get to know them. As a teacher, you know all your students’ strengths and weaknesses. The Thai and administrative staff is also wonderful. They greet you every morning with a smile. They help you with everything such as accommodations, the visa process, and even motor bike problems. They are always there to help and they are happy to do so. There is guidance and support for everyone.  The expectations are very clear. The school is set up so that teachers have lots of freedom in the classroom and with lesson planning.  Every teacher has the opportunity to grow professionally.  I’ve had a great experience here and developed a lot as a teacher.  Highly recommended!” – Michelle Bourassa, 1 year STIS teacher

“I truly feel we hit the lottery when it comes to teaching jobs in Thailand. The school has taken such great care of us from the day we arrived. I fell in love with Surat immediately. It is the perfect city to get a feel for true Thai culture, while still having many of the comforts of the western world. It is a huge transportation hub, so you can get anywhere you want to go easily. There is a great group of teachers here if you like to be social. We have things like Tuesday soccer night, Thursday art night, and a monthly quiz night. In addition to all this, STIS is the best school in town for both students and teachers. We have the freedom to manage our own classrooms while still having support and guidance whenever we need it. I’ve learned so much in my 2 years here and I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity.”  – Hannah Watkins, 2 year STIS teacher

“I arrived in Surat Thani in late April. I liked it from the very start. It is everything that you make of it. If you want a weekend at home with pizza, NetFlix and burgers, easy. If you want to party like it’s ’99, head over to nearby Phuket or Samui. A visit to a sleepy, beautiful beach town…? One hour away.  If you want an immersive Thai experience, ask a new Thai friend (friends are made quickly) or just wait for your neighbor to invite you over. People here are so friendly and interested in who you are and what you are doing. Surat Thani is a sweet spot where Western folks are seen but are still a curiosity. In Surat, a stranger might say hello or offer you a beverage; I have personally been offered food and drink from a stranger, as he ate supper on his porch with a couple friends. It’s no trouble to politely decline, but I strongly recommend engaging a few times. Don’t fear the food, either. If you’re afraid of trying new things, there are loads of sandwich, pizza, chicken, and BBQ options. Working in Surat has been a very good experience. I recommend having a Western director/ manager, as they can mitigate misunderstandings and cultural nuances that will be foreign to you, initially. Surat has several good schools. If you want to work for the best, see real results, and be treated fairly, STIS and Super English are your best choices.” – Scott Doland, 2 year STIS teacher

“At STIS I have been provided with the resources, flexibility, and support to effectively teach my students. It is extremely gratifying to see results from them and know how far they have come since the beginning of the year. I love working with my kids and the classroom we have created together! In addition, because of the sense of community at STIS I am excited to come into work every day. I can count on my co-workers to help me with classroom details, brainstorm new ideas, or just have a good laugh. I truly enjoy being a part of the STIS teaching team!” – Taylor Sruba, 2 year STIS teacher 

“We’re lucky at STIS to have a great Thai staff who are an unbelievable help in the classroom every single day! They assist us in so many ways from help with lessons and classroom management, to taking care of the children’s physical needs so we can focus on teaching, as the English teacher leads the class the majority of the day. They are a huge support without which we could not provide the safe and nurturing environment we are known for. They are also very welcoming to us ‘farang’ (foreign) teachers! They are always willing to talk about Thai culture, invite us to go on trips or to hang out, and answer any questions we have about holidays and customs. They are also very curious about where we come from, and eager to pick up English vocabulary and phrases! I’ve gotten to know my Thai teachers pretty well since we spend so much time together and I can honestly say I could not do my job without them!  We are also lucky to have a tight-knit group of foreign teachers at the school who are all dedicated to providing a great environment for the students.  It’s easy to see that we all take pride in our classes and really care about ‘our kids’! Many of us eat lunch together, motivate each other to work out after school, and travel together on the weekends as well. All of this makes for a supportive and fun work environment at STIS!” – Cati Vanden Breul, 2 year STIS teacher

“Working at STIS has been an incredible experience! From day one the kids stole my heart. They are fun, sweet, and very curious learners. The staff here is incredible and greatly supportive too! I have enjoyed the whole full experience of working here. Thailand is a beautiful country and STIS is an incredible school filled with talented teachers and students. It always amazes me just how smart the students are and how much they love learning. Everyone is super helpful as well! They provide you with a great deal of freedom to use your own teaching methods in the classroom and they are always there if you need any kind of support. I am beyond blessed to have had the opportunity to work at STIS, which will make it all the more difficult say “goodbye” at the end of this year. But this is an experience I will cherish for a lifetime. I have learned so much about myself through moving to Thailand and teaching at STIS. If you’re thinking about applying and moving to Thailand, do it! You’ll be amazed by the incredible people you meet and the awesome time you will have teaching this precious group of students.” – Megan Farmer, 1 year STIS teacher

"As a city, I love that Surat Thani isn't a "touristy" spot in Thailand. You truly get to experience living like a local, including eating the food and learning the language (if you can). Surat Thani is known as "the city of good people" and I can honestly say this is true. I was nervous about the VISA/work permit process coming here. But the administrative staff completely walks you step by step through the entire process. They consistently go above and beyond their job description to help you settle into STIS and Surat Thani. The Thai staff at STIS is absolutely incredible. They always greet you with a smile, and provide amazing support while you're teaching and as you transition into the school. I love having a Thai teacher with me in the classroom. She's my wingman and righthand support with my kids and always makes me laugh! I love that the class sizes are all under 20 students because it gave me the chance to really get to know my kids, which not only allowed me to better understand how they learn but more importantly how I can help them improve. As a teacher, you have the freedom to manage your classroom as you please but always have support and advice available. The expectations are to create the best learning environment for the kids at STIS and it's obvious the priorities are the kids and the teaching staff. I’ve had a wonderful experience at STIS and highly recommend it!" – Katie Suitor, 1 year STIS teacher

“I have been living in Suratthani, Thailand, for just over 2 years now. I can honestly say it's been one of the greatest times of my life.  Because of the excellent professionalism of STIS, I never worry about paperwork being mishandled, something not being ready when it's supposed to be, or issues with communication. Removing that stressful concern from my mind has made my time in Thailand all the more enjoyable. I genuinely enjoy my work and my coworkers. It feels very much like a family.  I work with the K2 level at STIS and they are absolutely wonderful. The smaller class sizes of STIS really offer a more personalized style of learning, ensuring each child gets the absolute most out of their education. We genuinely care for our kids at STIS and aim to give them the best learning experience possible.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the time I have spent here! The community of Thais and expats alike are a wonderful people. Everyone I have encountered has been super helpful with anything I have needed. This aside, the food is incredible, the culture is intriguing, and the location of Suratthani itself is ideal for popping over to some beautiful beaches and islands. There is a ton to see and do around Thailand, but if you're looking for more, it's also not too difficult to bounce to some other countries and enjoy some other cultures. I've dreamed about traveling across the world since I was a child, and I'm perfectly glad I chose Thailand as my first destination." – Christel Chappell, 2 year STIS teacher