1. What are the inclusive dates of the employment year, and when are applications for employment accepted?
The teachers’ school year begins in early August and runs through late June. However new faculty members are expected in Cali during the last week of July. Most hiring for the following year is completed by April, although last minute openings do occasionally occur. Applications are accepted throughout the year. While an interview is not absolutely essential, it is very helpful. The majority of such interviews occur during the director’s recruiting trip in November, January, and February.
2. What are the basic qualifications for employment at Colegio Bolivar?
All expatriate teachers working at Colegio Bolivar must hold a valid teaching certificate from one of the fifty states or, in the case of Canada or other country of origin, from the appropriate agency in that country. Normally, we prefer a minimum of two years of professional experience and, all else being equal, an advanced degree. Both of these have been waived, however, when interviews, recommendations, or both indicate an unusually strong though inexperienced candidate.
3. What is the expected length of stay?
The initial contract is for two years, at the beginning and end of which we provide plane tickets and baggage allowance to point of origin. The contract is, at the convenience of both parties, renewable for up to a total of six years.
4. Can married couples, couples with children, or single parents with accompanying children be hired?
The answer to all three questions is a very qualified yes. We will hire couples, but only if both are qualified teachers who plan to work at Colegio Bolivar. It is virtually impossible for a non–teaching spouse to find employment in Colombia, and one salary is not enough to comfortably support a couple and provide any savings. Couples with school age children will have an 80% scholarship of the school’s annual tuition for two children. Couples with younger than school age children find that adequate and reasonable full time, live–in help is available. In the case of the single teacher parent, some outside source of income may be necessary.
5. Please tell me something about Colegio Bolivar
Colegio Bolivar was founded in 1947 to provide a North American style education to dependents of North American Business and diplomatic families, as well as to those Colombian and third country families who desired such an education for their children. In the years since its founding, demographics have changed and the school has become more and more Colombian in population (nearly 85%), but the basic mission of the school has remained the same. Today Colegio Bolivar is located on a beautiful 35 acre campus on the outskirts of Cali. With over 1300 students, it is, in both process and product, comparable to the private country day school you would find in any medium or larger sized North American city, although the ability range of our students may be somewhat wider. Facilities include more than 60 classrooms, a modern library, a science building, an auditorium, a gymnasium, a semi-Olympic pool, an instructional pool, computer laboratories, an administration building, and ample playing field space.
6. What is the language of instruction?
Although the population of Colegio Bolivar is overwhelmingly Colombian, it is an English language school, beginning with English as a Second Language in the pre-school (K4 and K5) and early elementary school. While all students have at least one hour of Spanish language study daily, virtually all other academic classes are taught in English. By upper elementary school, the students are all academically bilingual. Traditionally, some 20–30% of the graduates attend universities in the United States where they matriculate as any North American would, with none of the special requirements of the average foreign student.
7. What is the makeup of the faculty?
Colegio Bolivar has around 170 faculty members, 20 teaching assistants and 10 administrators of whom 40% are North Americans and third country, and 60% Colombian. Nearly 80% are either native English speakers or have near native fluency. More than 30 of the faculty are foreign–hire teachers, those brought specifically from the U.S. for employment with Colegio Bolivar. The staff includes a majority of teachers with master’s degree and 7 PhD’s.
8. Please tell me something about Cali
Cali is considered to be one of South America’s hidden gems, until recently unknown to most people outside Colombia. Located in the southwestern part of the country, it is its third largest (population almost 2.5 million) and most casual city. Cali is located at three thousand feet in the agriculturally rich Cauca Valley, two hours from the Pacific Coast. Its climate is extremely comfortable throughout the year (85 by day and 65 at night) and is chiefly responsible for Cali being an open, outdoor city. The quality of public services (electricity, phone, transportation, health), while sometimes not at the level of the U.S., is normally quite high. Rather centrally located, with a busy international airport, Cali is within easy reach of a large number of geographically, recreationally, and historically interesting sites. Cali’s night life is active, with an abundance of reasonably priced restaurants, theaters, nightclubs, and concert halls. Considered Colombia’s sporting center, Cali offers tennis, swimming, golf, soccer, basketball, volleyball, cycling, racquetball, backpacking, paintball and hiking.
9. What help is given to newly arrived teachers in adjusting to Colombia?
The school will purchase your airfare to Cali and will have representatives who will be expecting you at the airport on the day of your arrival to Cali. The Human Resources team will have everything set at a hotel close to school and will assist you in finding adequate housing and will help you with the overall process of settling in. The school provides an orientation that is both practical and theoretical in nature.
