Educators in the Global teaching program are ambassadors for their country and bring with them knowledge, culture, and global awareness to students, peer teachers, administrators, parents and the community. Living and working in the U.S. will require an adjustment period, and Global has provided links below to help educators understand their cultural transition and hopefully make the adjustment effortless and enjoyable. Listed below are areas of interest for you to not only navigate your cultural transition and adjustment but links for you to enjoy your time when not working!
Important Links
Living in the United States
North Carolina
The official travel and tourism site for North Carolina. From the beautiful Smoky Mountains to glorious beaches, this site allows you to explore trip ideas, stories, videos, photos and interactive maps to help plan your weekend trips or vacations across North Carolina. Areas of interest include Arts and Entertainment, Food and Drink, Music, Shopping, History and Heritage, Kids and Family, Outdoor Adventure and Sport.
South Carolina
The official travel and tourism site for South Carolina. From historical Charleston’s mossy oaks to the beaches and shopping in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has a vibrant culture, rich heritage and breathtaking natural beauty. Areas of interest include Recreation, Outdoors, Beaches, Shopping, Music, Museums and Arts, State Parks and Family Getaways.
Virginia
The official travel and tourism site for Virginia. From the calming and relaxing waters of the Chesapeake Bay to the iconic Blue Ridge Mountains, there’s a scenic backdrop to suit all tastes within Virginia’s ten regions. You can explore this site to help you learn more about Virginia’s largest cities and charming small towns. Areas of interest include Outdoor Activities, Historical and Heritage sites, Fun Attractions for Children, Unique Dining Experiences, Sports and Recreation, Spas and Wellness, and more.
For School Districts
Global Teaching Partners is an official authorized U.S. Department of State J-1 visa Exchange Visitor program sponsor and is recognized and approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDOE), and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).
Global Educators are professionally credentialed educators with extensive teaching experience that are required to have online training and a comprehensive U.S. Arrival orientation before their teaching assignment.
Global Teaching Partners provides the recruitment, application process, initial interviews, placement, teaching licensure, visa processing, orientations, and aids in extensive teacher development and cultural exchange during their stay in the U.S. Listed below are the programs offered to Global Educators throughout their employment in the U.S.
For more information on hiring a Global teacher, please call us at 919-361-6951 or complete the Contact Us form.
These programs are designed to create a mutual understanding between people of the U.S. and other countries and provide cross-cultural activities in schools and communities. Also, the programs enable teachers to understand American culture, society, and teaching practices better, and enhance their knowledge of foreign cultures, customs, and teaching approaches. Global Educators are well prepared for success and excited to be a positive influence in U.S. schools.
- U.S. Culture and Diversity Workshop
- International Teacher Fellowship
- Professional Development Opportunities
- Global Lesson Plans, Curriculum, and Resources
- International Education Week
- Network, Collaboration, and Classroom-to-Classroom Opportunities
- Annual Global Teacher Consortium
- Cultural Exchange Symposium for District Central Office Staff
- Graduate Degree Scholarships
Frequently Asked Questions
Application Process and Requirements
Can an educator who has already been offered a job in the U.S. be sponsored by Global Teaching Partners?
No, Global Teaching Partners only provides J-1 visa sponsorships to teachers who have applied and been accepted into Global’s program prior to Global securing employment for them.
Does Global Teaching Partners provide H-1B visas to teachers?
No, Global Teaching Partners exclusively sponsors educators for the J-1 cultural exchange visa, which is a temporary, non-immigration visa.
Does Global Teaching Partners recruit educators to teach preschool in the U.S.?
No, Global does not recruit educators to teach preschool in the U.S. at this time.
Is there a fee to teach with Global Teaching Partners?
Global Teaching Partners does not charge an application or a participation fee; however, those applying to Global’s program will most likely need to pay for a police background check, official transcripts, and a U.S. visa in order to progress through the process. It may also be necessary for the Global Educator to reimburse Global Teaching Partners for costs associated with translating official documents for credential evaluations and for the application for a U.S. teaching license.
If an applicant receives a payment request from anyone stating that they work with Global Teaching Partners, it is imperative that NO FINANCIAL INFORMATION is provided to the sender. Rather, it is strongly suggested that this request be forwarded to Global at: resources@globalteachingpartners.com so that a Global team member can further investigate the situation.
Is there an English language fluency exam for applicants?
Global evaluates the English proficiency of all applicants through interviews, which are conducted only in English. If there is a concern regarding an applicant’s level of English, additional questions may be asked to ensure that the applicant has strong proficiency in English to be successful in the program.
Are bachelor’s degrees earned in countries outside of the U.S. equivalent to U.S. bachelor’s degrees?
Specific parameters are used by our credential evaluation service to determine if degrees earned outside of the U.S. are equivalent to U.S. degrees.
Global Teaching Partners closely reviews applications and credentials to determine teachers’ eligibility for the program, and, if the teacher is hired by a U.S. school, Global will obtain an official credential evaluation for the teacher to ensure that his/her degrees are sufficient.
Can someone without a driver’s license apply to Global Teaching Partners?
Applicants must provide a copy of a valid driver’s license from his/her country of residence in order to apply with Global Teaching Partners.
Global Teaching Partners requires that all program participants have a full and valid motor vehicle driver’s license, as Global’s partner school districts may be located in areas with limited access to reliable public transportation. Global Educators must be fully independent in case of emergencies and for day-to-day living while in the U.S.
Global Educators cannot be dependent on their spouse or other family members for transportation in the U.S. Please note that the following cannot be accepted: motorcycle licenses, learners’ permits, temporary licenses, and/or certificates of competency.
How long does the Global Teaching Partners application process take?
There are many aspects that factor into the length of Global Teaching Partners’ application process. Delays may occur if an applicant has to request certain documents (e.g., an official transcript from a university, a criminal background check from their local police station, etc).
Hiring Process
Are teachers who have been accepted into Global Teaching Partners’ candidate pool only considered for employment for the upcoming school year?
If a teacher is accepted into Global Teaching Partners’ candidate pool, the upcoming school year is their first year of eligibility for employment in the U.S. This does not mean that that candidate is guaranteed employment in the U.S.
Candidates who are not hired during their first year of eligibility are typically still considered for subsequent school years.
At what point in the year do Global Educators begin teaching in the U.S.?
Global Educators start teaching during the first semester of the school year, which is typically in July or August. Global Teaching Partners does not provide placement for teachers at any other point in the school year.
Are Global Educators able to choose the location of their employment in the U.S.?
Throughout the hiring process, Global takes candidates’ preferences into consideration; however, due to Global not knowing when and where employment opportunities will arise, those who are flexible regarding location are more likely to secure a teaching position.
What is the maximum amount of time that a Global Educator can teach in the U.S.?
Because the J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa, Global Educators can stay in the U.S. on their J-1 visas for three (3) years with a possible extension of two (2) additional years for a maximum of five (5) years.
At the conclusion of their program, most participants are subject to a two-year home residency requirement in order to complete the cultural exchange and to share what they have learned with their school and community in their home country.
Are Global Educators guaranteed employment for their entire stay in the U.S.?
Global Educators are hired on year-to-year contracts. While school districts desire to rehire all educators annually, continued employment is dependent upon the educator’s ability to teach successfully in the classroom in accordance with the requirements of the school district.
The terms of program participation are stated in detail in the Global Educator Agreement provided to all Global Educators prior to the start of their programs.
Are Global Educators guaranteed employment for their entire stay in the U.S.?
Global Educators are hired on year-to-year contracts. While school districts desire to rehire all educators annually, continued employment is dependent upon the educator’s ability to teach successfully in the classroom in accordance with the requirements of the school district. The terms of program participation are stated in detail in the Global Educator Agreement provided to all Global Educators prior to the start of their programs.
Benefits of Participation
Does Global Teaching Partners pay for participants’ air travel to the U.S.?
Global Teaching Partners provides one-way airfare to Global Educators in his/her first year on the program. Additional travel to and from his/her home country will be at the Global Educator’s expense. Global Educators are responsible for all travel costs associated with their J-2 dependents’ flights.
Which family members are permitted to join the Global Educator on a J-2 visa after the Global Educator’s six weeks in the U.S.?
Children under the age of 21 and legally-married spouses of Global Educators are permitted to travel to the U.S. on a J-2 visa. Other family members of the Global Educator including parents, siblings, etc., are not permitted to travel on J-2 visa.
Can Global Educators bring their J-2 dependents to the U.S. with them immediately?
No, Global Teaching Partners requires that Global Educators initially travel to the U.S. by themselves for in-person orientation prior to the start of the school year.
To ensure a smooth transition, Global Educators’ J-2 dependents must wait a minimum of six (6) weeks after the Global Educator has arrived in the U.S. to travel to the U.S. The initial six (6) weeks that a Global Educator is in the U.S. is an opportunity for that individual to adjust to life in the U.S. and to gain independence before any family members arrive.
What medical and health benefits are offered to teachers through Global Teaching Partners?
Global Educators are offered benefits that are commensurate with their American counterparts. Please see further information on this topic here [hyperlink to Teacher Applicants → Living in the U.S.→Fees & Expenses].
What is the annual salary of a Global Educator?
While the exact salary amount varies from teacher to teacher, Global Educators are compensated on the same salary scale as other educators in their school districts. Compensation is determined by teachers’ level of education, their teaching experience, and the policies of the district and state in which they teach.
Where does Global Teaching Partners currently offer teaching positions?
At this time, Global Teaching Partners primarily recruits educators for our partner school districts in North Carolina; however, Global Teaching Partners is authorized to provide placements in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.