Candidate Stories

After 14 Years in International Schools, Leesa Downes Heads Overseas!

Leesa Downes has spent the better part of the last 14 years working for an international school in her home country of Australia. Now, with the help of Search Associates, she is heading to Beijing…

Home in International Education: The Millers' Teaching Adventure

Liz and Dan Miller have been teaching candidates with Search Associates (SEARCH) so long that they can't quite remember how they first got involved with the organization. After meeting at Zurich…

Participate Learning Graduate Yaodong Li is Heading to Hong Kong

Search Associates loves collaborating with educational organizations across the globe. Three years ago, Senior Associate for the Midwest Brian Lettinga began working with Participate Learning,…

The Stephensons: From Peace Corps to International Classrooms | December 15, 2023

While wandering the exhibition hall of a conference in San Francisco for the National Council for Teacher of Mathematics (NCTM), Dwight Stephenson...

Special Needs Educator Charles Karuri Takes Flight to Beijing | November 22, 2023

For over two decades, Charles Karuri taught in international schools in his home country of Kenya. The special needs educator served in two schools...

Boon Khang: Revisiting Roots in Southeast Asia | October 30, 2023

After nine years in U.S schools, School Counselor Boon Khang completed his first year at Singapore American School (SAS) in June 2023. What makes...

Jessica Martinelli & William Fraser: Following a Dream | October 2, 2023

After receiving an email around midnight about eight years ago, Canadian William Fraser made a decision to take a “complete and total risk!”...

Balancing Passion and Work: Insights from Teaching Couple Sabina & Dan | September 11, 2023

Seventeen years ago, Sabina Conjamalay and Dan Hall committed themselves to teaching for a couple of years in London before teaching abroad....

International School Administrator Matt Letham to the Rescue! | August 21, 2023

While Matt Letham has a passion for taking things and turning them around, his last seven years in Brunei have been particularly busy! He turned...

International School Family Bursts the Expat Bubble | July 31, 2023

Adriaan and Carmen Elias have enjoyed rich experiences teaching in international schools for some twenty years. They have had the opportunity...

Derrek Berkompas: Open to Adventure | July 10, 2023

“I wish I had agreed to the adventure sooner!” admits veteran educator Derrek Berkompas, after teaching abroad for the last few years. The driving...

Taking the Leap from Australia to Cambodia to Shanghai | June 21, 2023

Andrew and Traleen met when they were teenagers. Decades later, they have stayed together as their career paths veered apart—and then back together...

The Dream of Africa: Andrea Lewis | May 30, 2023

A two-week trip to South Africa in December 2014 to visit relatives working at the International School of Johannesburg inspired the Lewises...

Khalilah Ali: Rejuvenated by International Teaching | May 5, 2023

Khalilah Ali spent most of her adult life living and teaching English in Atlanta, Georgia. Now this self-described mother of two kids and two...

This International Teaching Couple Welcomes You to China! | April 5, 2023

The Robinsons took a tremendous leap to teach abroad this school year. And why not? Search Associates (SEARCH) was behind them every step of...

From International Schools in Africa to South America: Hellen Ommani | February 22, 2023

After teaching in her home country of Kenya for 12 years, Hellen Ommani moved to South America to her new home at Colegio Panamericano in 2022...

Miki Kobayashi: A Third Culture Kid Returns Home | January 25, 2023

For a Third Culture Kid, it can be the international school rather than the country of birth that truly feels like home. This is certainly the...

Citizen of the World: Dr. Fiona Philip-Mayer | December 14, 2022

Over twenty years ago, Dr. Fiona Philip-Mayer registered with Search Associates (SEARCH) on the recommendation of a friend, who also recommended...

Adam Davies: Making the Big Move | October 7, 2022

Four years ago, when professor and novelist Adam Davies began teaching at a school that combines college with high school, he discovered a joy...

Priya and Robin Branson: Mission Driven | September 16, 2022

A chance to travel and earn a bit of pocket change spurred college grad Priya Jaggi to teach ESL in Bangkok through the Teach in Thailand Program...