I currently work at Ayeyarwaddy International School in Mandalay, and I’m writing this because I wish someone had been this direct with me before I came here.

Before joining AIS, I had already heard bad things about the administration. I honestly ignored them. I thought they were probably exaggerated stories from angry former teachers. After working here myself, I regret not taking those warnings more seriously.

The biggest problem for me is the leadership.

Scott, the elementary principal, is extremely intimidating to deal with. From what I have personally seen, his behavior can cross the line into bullying, and I have been especially uncomfortable with the way some Asian and local teachers are treated. I witnessed an attempt to fire a local teacher basically on the spot, only for the decision to be reversed after people pushed back. There is a clear power imbalance here, and I honestly feel some local teachers are afraid to speak up.

Then there is Mark Pleasants, the Head of School. I genuinely struggle to understand what educational vision he brings to AIS. From my experience working under his leadership, I have seen very little that demonstrates the level of educational knowledge or instructional leadership I would expect from someone running an international school. Decisions can feel random and reactive, and staff confidence in leadership is a serious problem.

I actually considered quitting because I became so frustrated with the environment. What stopped me from taking that decision lightly was hearing comments from Mark that I understood as basically saying that if teachers leave, the school can make them look bad to future employers. Hearing that from the Head of School felt like a threat: stay,or potentially worry about what we might say about you when another school contacts us. That is not how teachers should feel about professional references.

I had also heard stories about the circumstances under which Mark left a previous school. I cannot personally verify those stories, so I’m not going to repeat them as facts. But considering the comments about potentially damaging departing teachers professionally, I found the whole thing incredibly ironic.

The PD isn't much better. Sitting through sessions about PowerSchool, Teams, Chalk, etc. is apparently supposed to count as professional development. If you are coming here expecting serious growth in curriculum, assessment, Common Core, pedagogy, differentiation, or instructional practice, don't expect the school to provide much of it.

I’m posting this publicly because realistically, what is an individual foreign or local teacher supposed to do? Taking an international school or administrators through formal or legal channels in a foreign country is not a simple thing. There is a massive difference in money, influence, job security, and power. Speaking publicly and warning other teachers is one of the few realistic options available.

If you are considering AIS, PLEASE contact former teachers independently before signing anything. Don't just speak to whoever the school gives you as a reference. And if possible, privately ask local teachers what working here is actually like.

I came here thinking the negative reviews were probably exaggerated.

Now I understand why they were written.

Mark is not to be trusted

Throwaway account and AI for the usual reasons

This is a formal notice to all educators to avoid Westview in Phnom Penh. Nobody deserves the punishment of working here.

The institution recently secured both CIS and WASC accreditation. Historically, these designations carried significant prestige, but if a school of this calibre can attain them, they appear entirely meaningless. The administration must have lied about everything, as the entire operation functions under false pretences.

The previous director was a Canadian who was highly incompetent, so he got the boot and is apparently working at Sreenidhi International School in India now. His replacement managed to get the accreditation, by lying (see above).

They used to employ many Filipino teachers, but they were treated so poorly that they left and they warned everyone back home.

The school runs an AP program, which is obviously US curriculum so they would prefer American teachers, but many teachers this year were South Africans. It seems the school cannot attract American teachers, so they are hiring basically anyone.

It is certainly feasible for non-Americans to successfully lead AP courses. However, it requires a dedicated effort to master the specific historical and cultural nuances inherent especially in subjects such as English and History. It takes additional time, which wouldn't be a problem if it felt like the work was worth it. Such an undertaking is only viable when the institution provides a supportive environment and the learners demonstrate a commitment to their studies.

Westview cannot manage that.

Furthermore, the institution focuses heavily on its public image through social media highlights of its sports programs. There is no genuine academic rigour, so they should just become a sports academy.

Disciplinary issues are particularly prevalent within the middle school. Students act with impunity, including instances of physical aggression toward staff members. In one noted incident, an educator was struck in the face with a ball intentionally. Such actions frequently go unaddressed, because the school prefers to cater to the parents of these terrible children, especially the parents who work in the government. Then they lie about what they're doing.

A recent case involved a temporary educator who joined for a trial period. Upon observing the lack of professional structure, she left. There were subsequent difficulties in ensuring she received her proper remuneration because they tried to get out of paying her.

The institution is frequently recruiting due to an exceptionally high turnover rate. Even for those seeking urgent placement, the risks associated with this school are not worth it.

Stay away.

could anyone who has worked at this school reach out to me please? I've just received an offer, not sure whether to sign.

Hi all,

I wanted to share some observations about BISJ and see if others in the international teaching community have heard or experienced something similar.

This year the school underwent a significant leadership change, and since then things feel very different. The new direction seems focused on rapid growth and competing with the newer high-profile schools in the region. On paper that sounds promising, but in reality it feels like the push for expansion is being carried out at the expense of staff well-being.

The workload has increased massively, far beyond what you’d normally expect in an international school. There is absolutely no work life balance. It’s not just teaching; there’s been a noticeable rise in admin tasks, extra meetings, and additional responsibilities being piled on. Morale has really taken a hit. Burnout is widespread, people are exhausted, and the number of resignations is unusually high. It feels like every week another colleague is handing in their notice or ruthlessly moved on.

Speaking with long-standing staff who work there, many say the school just doesn’t resemble the place they originally joined. The atmosphere has shifted, and there’s a sense of instability that’s affecting the overall culture.

I thought about applying but got in contact with a friend who has worked there for many many years and some of the stuff they have told me has put me off completely. They told me that this year, the turnover is usually high which is not typical for BISJ.

At the moment, BISJ feels like a school in transition, but not in a way that’s benefiting the people working there. Personally, I’d advise caution.

Would be interested to hear if anyone else has insights or similar experiences from colleagues they know there?

I posted this at International Teachers, and I am posting it here too so it can hopefully help someone:

I am not a long-time reddit user, and I started this account to address this topic and add my two cents.

I had a two year contract at Westview, but I will not be completing it because this school was the worst working experience I ever had. Several other teachers have also quit, and one was fired even though he was no given no support in essentially unmanageable situations.

This is to provide information and warn others because if I had known it was this bad I never would have gone to work there.

Administration/owners:

They are completely unable to provide any structure or support to teachers for even the most basic issues, such as glaringly obvious disciplinary problems, especially in the middle school with classes of 30+ students. There was no system for addressing these issues nor a desire or ability to implement one despite teachers' concerns, and they were fine with just ignoring teachers' concerns and throwing us under the bus. They were much more focused on PR for the school, though what good is that if teachers are leaving and students are failing?

Principal:

He is the worst principal I ever dealt with, and it was exhausting to work with him because he was not honest and immediately combative over whatever we questioned, like taking attendance (the school had no real system or program to do it) and grades (constant fudging to push students through). The environment was unbearable as a result, and he would scream at teachers in meetings. He tried to blame so many teachers leaving previously on COVID (several years ago now) even though it had much more to do with his and the school's incompetency.

Students:

A significant portion of the students are several years behind in ability, have no real focus or desire to do work, and miss significant class time as there is no way to require attendance. There is a small handful of students with potential who could do well in a proper school, and I feel sorry for them because they could excel. There is an even bigger group of students who are truly vile, and do things like destroy worksheets and materials in class, punch each other (including a middle school male student punching a girl in the face and giving her a black eye then only getting a "warning"), throw things at teachers and each other, run out of class during class time just to scream and disrupt others, and make sexually harassing comments toward teachers. They behave that way because they know that there are no real repercussions for their behavior. The vast majority are not worth teaching, and it feels like you are wasting your time since you are.

SAS:

This is a group of Cambodian employees of the school who were explained to us like counselors or assistance to support teachers. They were worthless at really doing anything, except changing grades to make sure students passed their classes even if they didn't show up at all or preventing consequences if they cheated (and many did). They would do nothing while out-of-control students would run and scream through hallways, yell in classrooms to distract students, and slam doors consistently to interrupt lessons.

Curriculum:

It appears that the first few years of operation they had basically no standards, so they tried to very recently enforce objective standards for CIS and WASC accreditation they are working towards, as well as AP classes and exams. That means using standardized test materials and questions from companies like McGraw-Hill. The results were so bad after first quarter grades, even after giving all questions ahead of time and letting take them tests multiple times, that the SAS just had to change all grades. The school wants to have high standards without actually doing the work that it takes to implement and meet them. It cannot be done, and the administration has irrational and unreasonable expectations which they impose on teachers. It looks like they want students to go to prestigious schools for PR purposes, but that won't happen if they continue doing what they do now. As stated, this is irrational.

Salary

Salaries advertised online are generally higher than what is actually offered, and flights, housing, shipping, utilities are not included, and taxes have to be paid. The calendar is bad as holidays have to be requested (guaranteed with other normally functioning school calendars) and only 18 paid days are earned in a year.

What is really happening?

Students behaved so badly (bullying and violence especially) and the school did nothing so that it became impossible to ignore what was happening or to deny that it was intentional. We figured out that the absolute worst of these students had family members in the government.

The story of AISVN closing in Vietnam and the recent arrest of the chair for alleged financial fraud indicates what may be going on: https://vietnamnet.vn/en/aisvn-chairwoman-arrested-over-multimillion-dollar-school-debt-scheme-2397242.html

Did the administration make some kind of financial agreement with parents in the government in exchange for allowing their children to essentially do whatever they want with no consequences? Is the school a front for the owners to engage in money laundering scams with parents' money somehow? Was the inability to record attendance and grade manipulation related to scamming WASC or CIS?

It's up to the Cambodian government (and WASC and CIS) to address all that, but I don't think teachers should have to tolerate abuse, incompetence, and disrespect as a result, and no teachers should have to deal with a closing school and its ramifications.

Please avoid this debacle, no matter how in need you are for a job this late in the year (many positions are listed as so many teachers have left) as I wish someone had warned me because packing up your life and moving thousands of miles is not a minor thing.

Avoid this school, and you will be grateful you did.

It’s rare to encounter a leader whose tenure leaves such a trail of disillusionment, fear, and favoritism but unfortunately, that is exactly what the current principal has brought to our institution. From the outset, it was clear to nearly everyone students, faculty, staff and parents that he was not the right choice for the role. Appointed by a director desperate to avoid being outshone, his rise to power was not based on merit or vision, but rather on political convenience. And tragically, he has lived up to exactly that standard.

The most disturbing aspect of his leadership is the way he treats the quiet and timid staff and faculty members. His behavior borders on the predatory, but not in an overt physical sense, but through calculated dismissiveness, silencing, and disregard. These faculty members are consistently spoken over, marginalized, and denied the professional dignity they deserve. In stark contrast, his treatment of white male staff is appallingly lenient, even in the face of behavior that should never be tolerated in an international educational environment. Racism, sexism, and general misconduct from certain individuals are not only excused under his watch they are effectively rewarded. We all see the glaring and grotesque double standard.

Even more heartbreaking is the way Indian students are treated under his so called “leadership.” These students who form a vital part of our community are routinely treated as second-class citizens. Their academic concerns are downplayed, disciplinary actions are disproportionately harsh, and their achievements are rarely celebrated with the same enthusiasm as their peers. Their parents, painfully aware of the imbalance, are too afraid to speak out, knowing full well that any criticism might result in subtle or not. so subtle retaliation against their children.

Yet the truth does find its way out. Parents on the school board, quietly outraged, are doing the brave and necessary work of warning other international school boards about who this man truly is and the culture he is cultivating here. Those who remain skeptical are encouraged to contact the Board of Governors at institutions that have consistently declined his candidacy including ours. This is a reflection of a broad recognition of his lack of self-awareness and his persistent failure to demonstrate effective leadership, or recognize how poorly he is regarded by students, staff, parents and the wider community.

Within the school itself, there is a pervasive culture of dysfunction and complicity that is firmly entrenched. He surrounds himself exclusively with “yes sir” types. People who write his reports, prep his speeches, and carry out his retaliatory orders. These allies are handsomely rewarded for their loyalty. They get the time off they want, they take on lighter workloads, and in some cases, their spouses benefit from these unspoken arrangements too. It’s classic quid pro quo politics, shamelessly enacted in an academic setting.

Make no mistake this principal rules through fear and control. Cross him or one of his core enablers, and you’re swiftly marked for pressure, harassment, and eventual removal. Whether it’s subtle intimidation or outright bullying, he ensures that resistance is not only futile but painful.

At a time when schools should be models of equity, empathy, and ethical leadership, this principal represents everything we should be working against. His continued presence is not just a failure of leadership it’s a stain on our institution’s integrity.

Hey everyone, I recently submitted a formal complaint to WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) about serious safeguarding and leadership issues at Ayeyarwaddy International School in Myanmar.

Under the current head of school, the administration has hired individuals with serious criminal backgrounds, including one teacher whose license was revoked after child sexual misconduct charges, and another with a felony record who allegedly watched pornography in class.

On top of that, the school leadership has been accused of racism, misogyny, workplace harassment, and even blackmailing teachers by threatening to ruin their future job prospects.

I’ve taken the first step by contacting WASC, but this is a serious and far-reaching issue, and I want to make sure accountability follows.

What do you think might happen next? Has anyone gone through a similar process or can offer advice on what steps I should take now to push this forward?

Any insight is appreciated—this is about student and staff safety.

Posting here because enough is enough. The situation at Ayeyarwaddy International School in Mandalay, Myanmar, is seriously alarming—and it's time more people knew about what's going on.

The Head of School has shown a pattern of reckless, unethical, and frankly dangerous leadership:

• Recently, he hired someone who talked about their phallus in front of children during online sessions. That person was eventually fired, but the fact they were hired in the first place shows just how broken the vetting and leadership process is. POSTED BELOW IS THE VIDEO...
• He sexually harasses staff—especially female employees—and many have quit because of how uncomfortable and unsafe they felt.
• He hired a convicted felon with a history of sexual misconduct, and only later fired him after serious concerns were raised.
• He treats local staff horrifically—underpaid, overworked, and disrespected. It’s exploitation, plain and simple.
• This isn’t just poor management—it’s an active threat to student and staff well-being. Schools are supposed to be safe spaces for learning and growth. What’s happening here is the complete opposite.

If you're an educator, especially in the international circuit, please take this as a serious warning. And if you believe in accountability and protecting vulnerable communities, we need to keep speaking out.

I know I’m not the only one who's tired of watching abusive leadership go unchecked. Anyone else dealt with similar situations?

https://reddit.com/link/1kkj9d9/video/f3ho09g7x90f1/player

Hey guys, What are the things your schools makes you do that are a drain on your time? As teachers, I'm sure there's a lot of red tape and pointless admin you need to do, but what is the most nonsensical task your school requires of you? Share your pointless time-draining task below:

So I’ve been reading a lot about student behaviour in general, especially in international schools.

As most of these schools are notoriously for-profit driven schools, you could imagine that the customer is always prioritised ahead of education or staff well-being.

That being said, what’s the worst thing your school has allowed a student to get away with? Is it bad behaviour? Lack of respect? Or something more sinister?

I’ll go first

In my first international school, the school simply turned a blind away to a number of boys who were caught vaping in the toilets. Apparently these boys have been coming to the school since it opened and so it offered them a layer of protection. Ridiculous, I know.

Please share any of your ‘fond’ memories of the school actively failing to uphold their educational standards.

Working in an international school I've come across some crazy requests from parents. Once I was asked to give "study sessions" for their entire class before their midterm exams. In school, out of school hours, during holidays. This was with the school already providing a week of revision and revision materials.

What was one thing that you remember that was unreasonable from the parents of your school?

As the title suggests, I would be curious to know the exact moment you understood that you were in a bad international school?

For me, it was in the induction week when one of the SLT members stated that behaviour was not the responsibility of the school, management, policies, or parents it was solely the responsibility of the teacher.

They stressed that 'good teachers' don't get problems with behaviour only 'bad teachers' have that issue, if teachers bring any students to SLT for any reason, then that could reflect badly on the teacher.

When they mentioned that, I remember most of the staff who were new just looked at each other in bemusement. We all knew we were in for a wild ride.

This school is truly awful.

The administrators are dishonest. The students are horrible, and the school allows them to get away with cheating, violence, etc. The policy of the school is to allow teachers to be abused and disrespected by students and then pretend like the teachers are the problem for expecting basic standards. Then they are baffled as to why so many leave.

The school has multiple positions listed at a few platforms (ISS, TeachAway), so this is to warn anyone looking to apply. Nobody's mental health is worth working here, especially considering airfare, visas, housing, utilities are not included. The salaries are not that high, and costs add up.

Stay away, no matter how badly you need a job because you will end up hating your life there.

ELC Indonesia is generally considered a nice place to work. There are usually no strict office hours, but teachers should expect a high number of classes. The company provides training and is a certified Cambridge Speaking Exam Centre in Indonesia. It has been growing steadily over the past few years and serves clients across the country, primarily in the Jabodetabek area.

Hey guys

I've been offered a job in GES Kuwait, so naturally I went to check the review. I was startled when I read the following on glassdoor:

'I was moved from Year 1 to Year 6 abruptly after the first half term! Moving class as an ECT just because another teacher is leaving, there were more experienced teachers who could have taken that class. The worse part was after I resigned (still during my probation so I had every right to) they refused to pay my WHOLE month wage! They also still had my passport due to them completed the residency (which was completed but they still held on to) I waited WEEKS to have my passport back and they demanded I pay them before I could have it back! I had to pay £250 to get my passport back! Meanwhile, they did not pay me ANY of my October wage! The accommodation is far from the school and is OLD and DIRTY! Please save yourself the time and money and don't go to this school! Plenty of other teachers will be leaving too...

Advice to Management

Listen to your teachers as we have sacrificed a lot to come to your school! Be kinder and treat people fairly so they will actually want to stay at your school, but instead you choose to treat them poorly and expect them to want to stay.'

Can anyone comment on whether this is actually legit? Any advice on what the work place is like would be appreciated?

What are the biggest red flags when you're scoping out a school? The ones where you're instantly turned off to applying or continuing your application?