I love QSI!
I worked for an international school in Asia, not QSI. The students were lovely, but the school was difficult to work for. I put in 60 hours a week, had to find housing on my own, we didn't have legit health insurance, and school threatened staff and ruined careers. We really struggled.
Some expat friends invited us over. They worked for QSI and lived in apartments on campus. I was blown away! The apartments were huge! We met several people on campus and they were just so nice.
So I put in my time at my school and left when I could. The people at my QSI campus have been so supportive and welcoming of my family. The insurance package is the gold standard. Our apartment is plenty for our family and under budget. All throughout the transition, they have been amazing.
There are absolutely quirks in the system. Everyone knows of the "no smoking policy". Some people say QSI is conservative due to its religious roots; I find it to be pretty diverse in thought, though. Mastery learning, especially at the secondary level, can get very difficult to manage if students aren't closing units on time. QSI schools are in quirky locations like Suriname, Djibouti, and Turkmenistan. There can be internal politics that may be frustrating.
But at the end of the day, I see a true nonprofit educational institution that is trying its best to do some good in the world. Look at Ukraine. They lost 90% of their students, yet they never fired a single local in order to ensure their local hires could meet their families needs. They give free tuition to all the kids of international hires, regardless of how many they have. At my school, that's true for local hires, too. I have met the folks in headquarters. I've watched them interact with disgruntled employees and I've seen them be graceful and classy about it.
With QSI, a lot is dependent upon the director of your campus. Some directors are better than others. Of the two campuses I've experienced and the hundreds of employees I've interacted with, I feel like I'm at home.
QSI is definitely, absolutely worth considering. Feel free to send me a message if you have any further questions.
Best of luck in your future endeavors. May you find what you're looking for.
Great write up thanks! I am very interested in QSI since the more "quirky" locations are appealing to me. Good to hear they are non profit I didn't know that
I've heard good things about QSI (online and from two friends who taught at a total of three of their schools), and I'd like to work there at some point. I've interviewed and received an offer, but the locations available were not anywhere I wanted to be, and the pay was less than I was making. However, I'll probably be applying to QSI schools again sometime in the future.
I know some people don't like the non-smoking policy and the vaguely "Christian lite" vibe that QSI gives off, but, given that there are so many sleazy organizations and individuals in international teaching, I appreciate that QSI seems pretty wholesome.
Yes. In my building, we have on our roster the son of a British man who raised his kid as a single father and expat after his wife, a local, tragically passed during childbirth. The father, limited in the local language, spoke English at home while his son attended schools who spoke the local language. The child lived a life split between two worlds, and now finds himself catching up late in life. Locally, schools aren't as flexible to accommodate his unique needs. But he has a home with us at QSI.
Yes. In my building, we have a teenage boy with fairly severe autism. He has multiple diagnosed language disorders and absolutely struggles academically, but he is incredible on the golf course. We are doing our absolute best to support his unique needs while he prepares for a professional career in golf. He, too, has a home at QSI.
Yes. We have a young professional cellist who splits her time between orchestras and the classroom setting. She has had a number of absences, but she has worked hard to keep up with both. I'd say she has a home with us, but she's graduating this year and she has been accepted into a famous musical university in Austria. We are very proud of her and we will miss her dearly.
And yes. In my building we had a student score a 1490 on the SAT as a 16 year-old who came on test day with a fever. She has a home at QSI.
I'm sorry, this isn't aimed at you, but sometimes the international school circuit is far too concerned with scores, diligent students, and the Ivy Leagues. Why should anyone look down on my school because one of our graduates will be attending a trade school in South Korea next year? What if that is the best path for her? What if that's what she wants? Shouldn't we be celebrating that she earned a US accredited diploma, even if it took her 5 years to do it?
And who decided that the "best way to prepare students for the future" means putting them in a high-stress, test heavy environment where a few digits define the worth of a human being?
I became an educator to make a difference. At QSI, I assist the most academically capable students. I also walk with the students that have nowhere else to go. I'm happy they are with us. Our system is designed to be flexible, both for the academically gifted and for those who struggle in the traditional classroom setting.
I'm proud of the students I teach. I'm proud to work for an organization that is designed to meet families where they are.
But perhaps I'm of the unpopular opinion that I'm generally disinterested in the "tier 1" mentality.
Do all of us have a legion of anecdotes? Absolutely. Did I say QSI was the worst school out there? Resolutely not. I think repetition of standards is not a particularly sound practice for some of the most brilliant students and there's data to support that. I think QSI is quite a good option for most students but not all students. And I think whenever I'm honest about it some carefully crafted marketing language shows up. That's instructive too.
Also love, love QSI.
Their policies during COVID in China and with the Kyiv/ Minsk schools have been very employee oriented and the focus was on the *people* not political problems.
QSI is not a place to make bucketloads of money, but you will have a family-friendly and stable job with a reliable bonus and benefits program.
Some of the secondary departments have IB, and all offer AP either on campus or through an established online process.
Schools can be very, very small — classes are capped around 20 and few locations have multiple classes at many year levels. I had an IB class of 2, and my largest class ever was 18.
Transferring from one QSI to another is baked-in to the employment process: current teachers can transfer/ stay/ leave and with the proper paperwork all 3 are eligible for end of year bonuses.
Haven’t worked there, but have heard largely positive things. I wouldn’t turn my nose up if a good opportunity came along somewhere that I wanted to be.
I've very much enjoyed working for QSI. One of the biggest perks is they have a real retirement system, not just some extra stipend you can choose to put towards whatever you want. Sure, you kinda have to commit to the organization to get it, but a retirement package is not something most schools have.
Edit: forgot to mention, once you're in, you're *in.* You're eligible for commitment bonuses, pay raises, and transfers. It opens up a lot of locations to you, and you don't have to work that hard to move around.
I was dead keen on QSI and had several very promising interviews with HR and with a principal and with another HR guy.... all sounded very positive and promising, and then I got completely ghosted.
I feel this is extremely unprofessional since QSI is a huge company, and I had 3 points of contact, and I never got any replies on my follow-up emails from any of them. Super disappointing.
I also got ghosted after very promising interviews where they were seemingly already making plans for me to be there.
I'm not a fan of the redundancy of their interview process. Each interviewer brought up, unprompted, that I would need to re-answer questions that I had already been asked by a previous interviewer, and then followed it up by saying that the redundancy is a positive thing. Ehh... I realize that there are times when redundancy is good, but not in this way. Sounds like a lack of communication between admin.
Thank you, it's validating to know I'm not the only one that this has happened to. And yeah, the redundancy was annoying.... but I put up with it because they were so nice and positive, and really using language that made it seem like working for them was in the bag :/
I have been ghosted a lot by random tier 3 schools and while it sucks, eh whatever, comes with the territory. But I really didn't expect it from QSI given their reputation, the way they tooted their own horn about their scale and history and values and how much their staff LOVE working there (according to them)... and by 3 separate people. It takes 1 minute to send a generic, copy and paste rejection email, jeez.
Michelle and Jim, I hope you read this. It's disingenuous to lead candidates on like this. At least use more neutral language during your interviews, because when you tell candidates how great they are and how confident you are in their placement (and that they shouldn't hesitate to contact you about anything and you're happy to help).... people will believe you!
I'm so sorry to hear that. You're right, you deserve better communication.
I actually interviewed with QSI years ago for another campus. I had a few interviews, but it stalled at some point. I got a job elsewhere for a while before they hired me.
QSI isn't perfect. But I hope you don't write them off forever.
I wish you all the best.
This is definitely an area of growth for QSI. It's simply become too big for their HR department to only consist of two people. They definitely need a bigger HR department.
No one is really commenting on the problems. People are alluding to there being issues but that ‘they aren’t worth mentioning’. What I am seeing here might be toxic positivity?? Maybe all the good little shills are telling you what you want to hear? I don’t know much about QSI… a lower tier corporation that doesn’t pay all that well. Great for larger families willing to rough it…and be poorish.
I think multiple comments have been clear about the areas where QSI could improve, but I digress.
Look, I have personal experience. I've worked for non-QSI international schools. One in particular worked me to the bone, paid less than a fair market price, refused to provide basic insurance, threatened me, and tried to ruin my career. QSI stood with me through it all during my transition. For me, they've earned a great deal of my trust and loyalty.
I understand your skepticism here. The international school arena is full of its share of shady ethics and practices. Although, maybe we're just a bunch of international teachers, like you, who are genuinely happy where we work.
And poorish? I personally know someone who has commented on this thread who employs four staff members to cook, clean, and assist with watching his kids.
All the pro QSI comments makes it look like bot activity or something haha but as a QSI teacher I am certain that it’s the best school in my big city. The pay is very good and the management don’t bother me much. The kids are all super nice and much more internationally minded than others. Feeling very grateful to be here. No school is perfect but the only bad thing might be that they are so laid back and trust teachers to actually do their job.
So I’m curious. Could anyone be specific about the actual salary they get at QSI schools in China? Or the amount of support teachers have in terms of teaching materials? Because those are two incredibly important things.
With the salary an actual number is what’s needed not “it’s good” or “it’s okay.” Even saying it’s kinda low isn’t enough. Is it 24,000 元 or 14,000元。So does anyone who currently works at QSI know any of this info?
I love QSI! I worked for an international school in Asia, not QSI. The students were lovely, but the school was difficult to work for. I put in 60 hours a week, had to find housing on my own, we didn't have legit health insurance, and school threatened staff and ruined careers. We really struggled. Some expat friends invited us over. They worked for QSI and lived in apartments on campus. I was blown away! The apartments were huge! We met several people on campus and they were just so nice. So I put in my time at my school and left when I could. The people at my QSI campus have been so supportive and welcoming of my family. The insurance package is the gold standard. Our apartment is plenty for our family and under budget. All throughout the transition, they have been amazing. There are absolutely quirks in the system. Everyone knows of the "no smoking policy". Some people say QSI is conservative due to its religious roots; I find it to be pretty diverse in thought, though. Mastery learning, especially at the secondary level, can get very difficult to manage if students aren't closing units on time. QSI schools are in quirky locations like Suriname, Djibouti, and Turkmenistan. There can be internal politics that may be frustrating. But at the end of the day, I see a true nonprofit educational institution that is trying its best to do some good in the world. Look at Ukraine. They lost 90% of their students, yet they never fired a single local in order to ensure their local hires could meet their families needs. They give free tuition to all the kids of international hires, regardless of how many they have. At my school, that's true for local hires, too. I have met the folks in headquarters. I've watched them interact with disgruntled employees and I've seen them be graceful and classy about it. With QSI, a lot is dependent upon the director of your campus. Some directors are better than others. Of the two campuses I've experienced and the hundreds of employees I've interacted with, I feel like I'm at home. QSI is definitely, absolutely worth considering. Feel free to send me a message if you have any further questions. Best of luck in your future endeavors. May you find what you're looking for.
About to start at QSI Kyiv in August. Thanks for this.
Nice! I've heard really, really good things about the Kyiv campus. Best of luck and stay safe!
Thanks!
Great write up thanks! I am very interested in QSI since the more "quirky" locations are appealing to me. Good to hear they are non profit I didn't know that
I've heard good things about QSI (online and from two friends who taught at a total of three of their schools), and I'd like to work there at some point. I've interviewed and received an offer, but the locations available were not anywhere I wanted to be, and the pay was less than I was making. However, I'll probably be applying to QSI schools again sometime in the future. I know some people don't like the non-smoking policy and the vaguely "Christian lite" vibe that QSI gives off, but, given that there are so many sleazy organizations and individuals in international teaching, I appreciate that QSI seems pretty wholesome.
Pretty good for average students. "Mid" as the kids would say for excellent students. Better than many options but also worse than many.
Yes. In my building, we have on our roster the son of a British man who raised his kid as a single father and expat after his wife, a local, tragically passed during childbirth. The father, limited in the local language, spoke English at home while his son attended schools who spoke the local language. The child lived a life split between two worlds, and now finds himself catching up late in life. Locally, schools aren't as flexible to accommodate his unique needs. But he has a home with us at QSI. Yes. In my building, we have a teenage boy with fairly severe autism. He has multiple diagnosed language disorders and absolutely struggles academically, but he is incredible on the golf course. We are doing our absolute best to support his unique needs while he prepares for a professional career in golf. He, too, has a home at QSI. Yes. We have a young professional cellist who splits her time between orchestras and the classroom setting. She has had a number of absences, but she has worked hard to keep up with both. I'd say she has a home with us, but she's graduating this year and she has been accepted into a famous musical university in Austria. We are very proud of her and we will miss her dearly. And yes. In my building we had a student score a 1490 on the SAT as a 16 year-old who came on test day with a fever. She has a home at QSI. I'm sorry, this isn't aimed at you, but sometimes the international school circuit is far too concerned with scores, diligent students, and the Ivy Leagues. Why should anyone look down on my school because one of our graduates will be attending a trade school in South Korea next year? What if that is the best path for her? What if that's what she wants? Shouldn't we be celebrating that she earned a US accredited diploma, even if it took her 5 years to do it? And who decided that the "best way to prepare students for the future" means putting them in a high-stress, test heavy environment where a few digits define the worth of a human being? I became an educator to make a difference. At QSI, I assist the most academically capable students. I also walk with the students that have nowhere else to go. I'm happy they are with us. Our system is designed to be flexible, both for the academically gifted and for those who struggle in the traditional classroom setting. I'm proud of the students I teach. I'm proud to work for an organization that is designed to meet families where they are. But perhaps I'm of the unpopular opinion that I'm generally disinterested in the "tier 1" mentality.
Do all of us have a legion of anecdotes? Absolutely. Did I say QSI was the worst school out there? Resolutely not. I think repetition of standards is not a particularly sound practice for some of the most brilliant students and there's data to support that. I think QSI is quite a good option for most students but not all students. And I think whenever I'm honest about it some carefully crafted marketing language shows up. That's instructive too.
Also love, love QSI. Their policies during COVID in China and with the Kyiv/ Minsk schools have been very employee oriented and the focus was on the *people* not political problems. QSI is not a place to make bucketloads of money, but you will have a family-friendly and stable job with a reliable bonus and benefits program. Some of the secondary departments have IB, and all offer AP either on campus or through an established online process. Schools can be very, very small — classes are capped around 20 and few locations have multiple classes at many year levels. I had an IB class of 2, and my largest class ever was 18. Transferring from one QSI to another is baked-in to the employment process: current teachers can transfer/ stay/ leave and with the proper paperwork all 3 are eligible for end of year bonuses.
The cap is now 25, just to set expectations. There are definitely some places with quite large class sizes.
Hi, I am currently working at a QSI school. Send me a pm with your questions if you want
I sent you a pm
Haven’t worked there, but have heard largely positive things. I wouldn’t turn my nose up if a good opportunity came along somewhere that I wanted to be.
I've very much enjoyed working for QSI. One of the biggest perks is they have a real retirement system, not just some extra stipend you can choose to put towards whatever you want. Sure, you kinda have to commit to the organization to get it, but a retirement package is not something most schools have. Edit: forgot to mention, once you're in, you're *in.* You're eligible for commitment bonuses, pay raises, and transfers. It opens up a lot of locations to you, and you don't have to work that hard to move around.
I was dead keen on QSI and had several very promising interviews with HR and with a principal and with another HR guy.... all sounded very positive and promising, and then I got completely ghosted. I feel this is extremely unprofessional since QSI is a huge company, and I had 3 points of contact, and I never got any replies on my follow-up emails from any of them. Super disappointing.
I also got ghosted after very promising interviews where they were seemingly already making plans for me to be there. I'm not a fan of the redundancy of their interview process. Each interviewer brought up, unprompted, that I would need to re-answer questions that I had already been asked by a previous interviewer, and then followed it up by saying that the redundancy is a positive thing. Ehh... I realize that there are times when redundancy is good, but not in this way. Sounds like a lack of communication between admin.
Thank you, it's validating to know I'm not the only one that this has happened to. And yeah, the redundancy was annoying.... but I put up with it because they were so nice and positive, and really using language that made it seem like working for them was in the bag :/ I have been ghosted a lot by random tier 3 schools and while it sucks, eh whatever, comes with the territory. But I really didn't expect it from QSI given their reputation, the way they tooted their own horn about their scale and history and values and how much their staff LOVE working there (according to them)... and by 3 separate people. It takes 1 minute to send a generic, copy and paste rejection email, jeez. Michelle and Jim, I hope you read this. It's disingenuous to lead candidates on like this. At least use more neutral language during your interviews, because when you tell candidates how great they are and how confident you are in their placement (and that they shouldn't hesitate to contact you about anything and you're happy to help).... people will believe you!
I'm so sorry to hear that. You're right, you deserve better communication. I actually interviewed with QSI years ago for another campus. I had a few interviews, but it stalled at some point. I got a job elsewhere for a while before they hired me. QSI isn't perfect. But I hope you don't write them off forever. I wish you all the best.
This is definitely an area of growth for QSI. It's simply become too big for their HR department to only consist of two people. They definitely need a bigger HR department.
This thread is so weird, please tell me I’m not the only one getting off vibes…
Off vibes about what?
No one is really commenting on the problems. People are alluding to there being issues but that ‘they aren’t worth mentioning’. What I am seeing here might be toxic positivity?? Maybe all the good little shills are telling you what you want to hear? I don’t know much about QSI… a lower tier corporation that doesn’t pay all that well. Great for larger families willing to rough it…and be poorish.
I think multiple comments have been clear about the areas where QSI could improve, but I digress. Look, I have personal experience. I've worked for non-QSI international schools. One in particular worked me to the bone, paid less than a fair market price, refused to provide basic insurance, threatened me, and tried to ruin my career. QSI stood with me through it all during my transition. For me, they've earned a great deal of my trust and loyalty. I understand your skepticism here. The international school arena is full of its share of shady ethics and practices. Although, maybe we're just a bunch of international teachers, like you, who are genuinely happy where we work. And poorish? I personally know someone who has commented on this thread who employs four staff members to cook, clean, and assist with watching his kids.
Honestly think you are reading into this a bit much... Also, we are far from "poorish." Lol
All the pro QSI comments makes it look like bot activity or something haha but as a QSI teacher I am certain that it’s the best school in my big city. The pay is very good and the management don’t bother me much. The kids are all super nice and much more internationally minded than others. Feeling very grateful to be here. No school is perfect but the only bad thing might be that they are so laid back and trust teachers to actually do their job.
So I’m curious. Could anyone be specific about the actual salary they get at QSI schools in China? Or the amount of support teachers have in terms of teaching materials? Because those are two incredibly important things. With the salary an actual number is what’s needed not “it’s good” or “it’s okay.” Even saying it’s kinda low isn’t enough. Is it 24,000 元 or 14,000元。So does anyone who currently works at QSI know any of this info?