New Teachers Arrive in Tashkent

It is a big responsibility to bring international school teachers and their families to a new country. I want to ensure they feel supported while settling into their new homes. At the end of the Orientation Week, it is my goal to have all of them confirm that they made a good decision in coming to Uzbekistan. It takes a team to make a successful onboarding experience. This starts when they are hired during the last school year and continues until the end of their first year at the school.

I would like to thank the many people who made this a successful onboarding, starting with our HR Manager, Yuliya, to her team of Ahat and Khurshida. To the leadership team, including assistant principals and curriculum coordinators who went above and beyond to meet the individual needs of the newcomers.

I am honored to have the privilege of working with such outstanding people and professionals. This year’s group has all found accommodations this week. The real estate market in Tashkent is always in flux. One recent trend is the availability of new apartments as the city grows. Earlier in my tenure, new apartments were few and far between and most new employees found houses of varying quality. Real estate is generally expensive in Tashkent. We offer generous living allowances for teachers to find their own housing. Often, schools assign housing, but we give everyone a choice. It is more work this way, and it can be a bit stressful at times, but I think it is worth it. We want teachers to be comfortable and ready to teach.

The main goal of Orientation Week is accommodations. It is important for the new teachers to understand the location of the school and the different neighborhoods where our current teachers live. After they establish an address, comes registering with the government, setting up a bank account, getting a SIM for their mobile phones, etc. Finally, we want them to see the school, get their laptops, and start thinking about classroom set up and prepping for the arrival of the students on August 19.