A few important notes about the application process to be a Head Teacher with ILP:
Head Teachers must have volunteered at least once with ILP before.Hey alumni — We are excited that you are interested in having this experience again! If this is your first time volunteering with us though, you'll find that application
right here.
The application process is much different than when you were a volunteer.Head Teachers have a lot of responsibilities that can make it very challenging. While there are many perks to being the HT, it is not a good fit for everyone. Because of this we do our best to choose HTs that we feel will be best suited for each specific location and can have a positive impact on a group. Think of the HT application process like you're applying for a job — there will be an interview process and then we make assignments from there based on who we feel is the best fit. Head teacher positions are not like volunteer positions where we accept everyone that is eligible and capable of serving.
HT assignments can take a little longer.HT applications open 1.5 years in advance and it's a good idea to apply as soon as you know which semester you're interested in so that you're ready to go when interview time comes. We will hold on to applications and contact those that we feel may be a good fit for an interview. If a particular location has needs for a head teacher with specialized skills (language skills, teaching expertise, leadership experience, conflict resolution, etc.) we may wait to assign applicants without those skills to see if someone with those skills applies. Our goal is to start making assignments as soon as possible, but can take up until about 1-3 months before your semester so that you can start making plans, but know that we often have last minute openings so there are no deadlines and it's never too late to apply!
HT spots are limited.We typically have 1 (sometimes 2) Head Teachers per group, so it can get a bit competitive. Unlike volunteer teaching applications, there are a large percentage of head teacher applicants that are not accepted. If you make it to a wait list, don't be disappointed--a lot of wait list applicants eventually get assigned. If you have a preference on which country you go to, we are happy to take that into consideration. Each location has unique challenges and we can talk to you about that in more detail during your interview. Let us know below which countries you are interested in — even if you are a great fit for a HT position, know that the more countries you are open to, the easier it will be for us to help you get an assignment during the semester you're applying for. You do not need to go back to the same country you have volunteered in (you might want to go see a new part of the world or maybe you want to go back and see your kids again!) If your volunteer experience was at the orphanage in Romania, you will need to volunteer in a teaching location before you can be a HT in teaching program though, as that teaching experience is very important to have under your belt.
Reach out if you have questions.You will be contacted 1-2 weeks after submitting your application regarding your interview and what is next in the process. If you have any questions in the meantime, please reach out to applications@ilp.org!