AboutJared Romey Expertise I live in Puerto Rico so can answer travel related questions, as well as adapting to the local culture. I own a business in Puerto Rico, so can also answer questions related to that and similar business issues. I CANNOT answer detailed legal questions, as I have had almost no experience in this area. This includes being unable to answer questions on inheritance, trusts, probate, etc.
Experience I have lived in Puerto Rico for 7 years, and have traveled the island (as well as surrounding islands) extensively.
Publications Book "Speaking Boricua", 2004, about Puerto Rican spanish slang.
Book "Speaking Phrases Boricua", 2005, about Puerto Rican sayings.
Book "Speaking Argento", 2009, about Argentine spanish slang.
Book "Speaking Chileno", scheduled for early 2010, about Chilean spanish slang.
Education/Credentials Master's in International Business, with a focus in Finance and Spanish
I am currently teaching in Tucson, Arizona. I just found out there is a possibility that my family will be moving to Puerto Rico. We might be moving later in the year. I have been trying to reasearch information on teaching requirements in Puerto Rico, but had no luck. I even tried calling the Department of Education in Puerto Rico and I get no answer.
I would like to know who and where I can find information on this matter. I am looking for teaching requirements, salary for experience teachers, jobs available, and where and when to apply for them. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Also, I would like to know what are the best places to live in Puerto Rico. Thank you for your time and attention.
Answer Veronica,
The education system is in a dire situation at the moment. The Puerto Rican government has just laid off or fired thousands of public school teachers due to budget problems. The government has had financial problems, close to bankruptcy for several years now. Because of this your options will be severely limited, if at all possible in public schools.
A better option, would be private schools. You can check for different options on www.superpagespr.com, or write to www.buscandpr.com to see if they can pass you some suggestions. From memory, I can think of the Baldwin School, American Military Academy, Robinson and St. John's as options.
I am not clear on the exact qualifications necessary, although I will say that from anecdotal experience I know that in the public schools not all teachers have college degrees. Although the private schools are more stringent, I have a friend who taught, without any prior teaching experience, although she did have a college degree.
I would suggest contacting some of the private schools directly to see if they can explain to you the local requirements, since you haven't heard back from the Department of Education. My guess is that they are so busy at the moment, and that hiring is not an option for them, so they have not put any importance on your inquiry. Just keep trying them; maybe you'll get through.
Starting salaries for teachers (which is a bit different from your case, given your experience) in public schools are probably less than $20,000. I think that private schools will be only slightly higher.
The best places to live question is a bit subjective. I happen to like cities and beaches, so good options are Old San Juan, Condado and Isla Verde. You should know that these are also some of the most expensive areas. In San Juan, Guaynabo is also a good area. Other than that, it depends a lot on what your preferences are. There are mountain areas, as well as more rural areas that are also beautiful. The major cities are Ponce, San Juan, Caguas, Arecibo, Mayaguez and Fajardo, in no particular order.
