How I ended up teaching in the Cayman Islands!

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Hi there!

Since I’m starting my blog and haven’t done a proper “introduction” on social media I thought it would be a good idea to do so for my first blog post. I wanted to give you a sense of my background and how I got to where I am today. Like some of you, teaching wasn’t a direct path that I was on from day one, and I certainly never thought living and working in the Cayman Islands was in my future.

I grew up in New Brunswick, Canada, where I lived until I graduated high school. I then moved to Montreal, Canada to attend McGill University where I earned my Bachelor of Science with a major in anatomy and cell biology, and minors in psychology and English literature (I love Shakespeare). I continued my studies at McGill University, earning my Master of Science degree in experimental medicine. During my time in Montreal I conducted medical research and had my very first teaching job working in a human cadaver lab teaching human anatomy! Students would go to their lecture and learn about different parts of the body, organs, or tissues, and then come to the lab where I would get to show them the actual organs and reinforce how it worked and was connected to the body. I absolutely loved it!

When I finished my research project I realized that teaching was a way to combine my passion for science with my love for engaging others. I moved to Toronto, Canada and attended the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at University of Toronto. I earned my teaching certification with a focus on global citizenship and sustainable development and was fortunate to meet a group of teachers from a variety of different backgrounds who shared a similar teaching philosophy. We all had a passion for teaching, and our subject matter, but we also felt a social responsibility to encourage our students to make our world a better place. In a science class there are countless opportunities to help students recognize and make connections with one another and the world around them. It is so inspiring when I hear students talk about the importance of tackling climate change, or brainstorming solutions for some global problems.

After teaching in Ontario and New Brunswick I made the move to the Cayman Islands, which to be honest was a bit of a happy accident. I had been applying for jobs all across Canada when an old professor reached out to tell me another of her former students had an opening for a science position at her school. She failed to mention it was in Grand Cayman, and since I was applying for jobs all across Canada, I decided to get in contact and apply for the job. By the time I realized it was in the Cayman Islands I already had a Skype interview scheduled, and the next thing I knew I got the job. I decided to try it out for a year, and four years later, here I still am.

Before moving I had never really thought about working abroad; it just seemed like a lot of hassle and work. I know the procedure for a work visa and the things required are different for every country, but I can share a bit about my experience for anyone that is curious about the process. Obviously the first step is to research the area that you are interested in: cost of living, different areas you may want to live, local transportation, and how much it could cost to fly home at different times in the year. I was very fortunate in that my school took care of getting the work permit for me, which is typical for most employers on island. They required medical checks, employment history, passport information, etc. The other biggest step was trying to sort out where I was going to live. My temporary accommodations fell through while I was on route to the island, so I ended up staying at a hotel for the first few days after arriving. I set up appointments to view apartments and lucked out in finding a great place near my school, where I still live four years later. Once I found an apartment I had to set up my electricity, order internet, get a SIM card for my cell phone, and open a bank account. I held off for a while getting my own car, as there were a lot of essentials around my apartment and I found getting around on public transportation to be easy enough.

For anyone who’s reading this and ever thought about moving abroad, whatever excuses you’ve made about why you can’t or shouldn’t, stop listening to them! Teaching is a unique profession in that your skills and knowledge are easily transferable to other regions of the world, particularly with the amount of international schools that exist. Teaching abroad has afforded me the opportunity to learn about a new culture and given me even more reference points and comparisons to apply to my teaching. If you’re interested in more information on the Cayman Islands (there are always job openings) check out Cayman resident https://caymanresident.com/. If you’re thinking about making a change and have questions or want to talk to someone about it, feel free to reach out to me! I’d be happy to share more about my experiences or hear more about an adventure that you’re getting ready to set out on!

Thanks for reading my first blog post. I’d love to hear from you – leave a comment below if you have any questions or are thinking about moving abroad to teach!

William

22 thoughts on “How I ended up teaching in the Cayman Islands!”

  1. Hi i will like to know more about your experiences teaching in the Cayman islands. I am in the process of applying and I am scared and reluctant . Need more details on if i would be able to have a comfortable life living there on a teacher’s salary

  2. Hi William,

    Loved reading your post – could you get in touch and we can discuss your experiences further?
    Thanks!

    • Hi Sarah, I emailed you from my gmail, please check your spam if you didn’t receive it or send me an email.

  3. Hi William,
    This article was a very interesting read. I’d like to know more like how the different schools compare. I am considering a move to teach abroad and the Cayman Islands is high on my list. Is ti best to apply to the government or private schools?

    • Hi Mandi,
      Most of the teachers I know on work permit teach at private schools, I’ve sent you an email to see if I can help.

      William

  4. Hi William
    I just came across this blog and thought it so interesting. Great read. I am actually living in the Caribbean and my husband and I were thinking of applying to the Cayman Islands. However, my husband is only a certified teacher with ten years teaching experience.I was wondering if a bachelor’s is a requirement. Please let me know if you can.

  5. Hi William,

    Great blog!

    Could you provide me with information on where to find two bedroom rentals, etc? Thank you.

    • Hello,
      I would check out ecaytrade and see what they have, they’re kind of like the classified ads for Grand Cayman. Good luck with the apartment search!

  6. Hi William!
    Great post. I’m currently on my first teaching abroad experience in the Marshall Islands! Already re`sea`rching other places to go and teach. How do you even go about looking for a job in the Cayman Islands? Apply firectly to the schools or keep an eye on recruitment pages?
    All the best!

    • Hi Alice,
      I would contact schools directly with your resume and inquire about any job openings they may have. Schools start looking fairly early in the new year but there’s usually a few openings again in spring when teachers decide to leave, as the island has a pretty high turnover rate. I hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions.

  7. Hi William,
    Great read! I am a seasoned teacher with a masters degree in Education. I have always wanted to teach in a tropical location. I am also from Canada and want to make the move to a warm climate. My passion is teaching grade one and more specifically teaching children to read! I am the reading expert in my division and feel I could really be an asset to an early years program. If you know of a school who is in need of a grade one teacher let me know! I’d love to keep in touch. I’m so thrilled you made the move, it’s something I’ve always wanted to do 🙂

  8. William! I’ve been offered a teaching spot in Grand Cayman! Can we be pen pals? I have so many questions!

  10. Hello William,
    Your post was very interesting. Thank you for sharing. I am interested in teaching in the Cayman islands and would love to find out some more information. I am hoping you can assist me by answering a few of my questions.
    I hope to hear back from you
    Kristen

  11. Great post, William! My husband and I are both educators. I have 27 years of teaching experience with a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. I currently teach fourth grade reading. My husband is a principal of 30 years with a Master’s in Ed Leadership. We have vacationed in Grand Cayman and fell in love with the island. We would love to teach there. Any advice on how to go about getting the process started? Approximate salaries? Best location on the island? I would appreciate any information and or tips you could share. Thank you!

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