Teaching in Chicago is great but I’d love to move home

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Stephen Feeney left Ireland to retrain as a teacher in Brighton after he was made redundant from the newspaper where he was working as a journalist in 2011. He now works as a primary school teacher in Chicago.

Why did you decide to leave?

I was working as a journalist for the Longford News, but was made redundant in 2011. The newspaper’s owners came in one day and told us that they were ceasing publication. We had a feeling it was coming. It was in the height of the recession so every week was a story of survival. I was only 25, so it didn’t feel like the end of the word; more like an opportunity to retrain, get another skill and maybe see the world.

I first travelledto Australia where my brother lives with his wife, before coming back to the UK to train for a PGCE at the University of Brighton. After working there for three years, I wanted to move on. Ireland didn’t feel like an option, so I scoped schools internationally and found one in Chicago, and arrived in 2015. I was fortunate that a friend I trained with also managed to obtain a job at the same school, which definitely made the settling in period easier.

Why America? Was it difficult to get a visa? Did you have to get your qualifications accredited, or do an additional course?

I have always wanted to live in the States. My grandmother was a citizen and I have relations all over the country, including my aunt who lives in Wisconsin. Whether merited or not, the country has always held a special place in my family’s heart so when I spotted the job in Chicago, I jumped on it.

The visa was a bit difficult to get. Because I work in a British School where we teach the British curriculum, the visa holder must be a British passport holder. I didn’t know this when I was first offered the job, so after being informed, I had to apply for a British passport. I was born in London to an Irish dad and English mum so this wasn’t a problem.

After that I had to go through the extensive visa application process. Luckily, the company I work for organised for an attorney to help with my papers. I am not sure it would as been as straight forward as it was without their help. I am here on the E-1 Skilled Visa which expires after five years, or for as long as I am with the company.

Because we teach the British curriculum and we are a private school, my qualifications did not need any accreditation, but I did have to undertake an online Illinois state child protection course which we are required to do by law.

Describe your job now.

I am the Year 3 leader (equivalent to 2nd grade in the US) at the school. In addition to teaching my own class of 17 children, I also oversee the day-to day running of the year group. It is certainly different from my role as a P.E. specialist at the school last year, but a challenge that I am enjoying. Although we are an International British School, the majority of children are American. The rest are international so the place is very diverse.

Do you think you would have had the same opportunities professionally if you had stayed in Ireland?

No. I have looked into teaching at home on numerous occasions, spoken to friends who are teachers and also some head teachers. The advice has always been that I would need to start again working on the supply circuit, and when you have been working as a full-time teacher for five years, this is very hard thing to do.

Working for a large multinational company, I have access to things smaller schools wouldn’t have. Our school has links to the Julliard School of Music and MIT. We also have specialists for everything but the core subjects. This also means there are good opportunities for professional development.

How does teaching in the US compare to Ireland, or other locations?

We start quite early; some children come into clubs as early as 7.30am and stay until 5pm. Because of the curriculum we teach, we are in a bit of a bubble compared to what is happening in the public sector in Chicago.

My salary is good, much better than I would have experienced in England where the money is nothing short of embarrassing. My current employers also help out with healthcare, something that is really important in the US.

How does the education system compare to Ireland?

Where I work, we have incredible access to resources. In addition to our links with Julliard and MIT, we also have access to 3D printers, robotic equipment, a gymnasium, library and much more. For any primary school, that is incredible. We also have a support network in place for children with specific needs including a full time school psychiatrist and nurse.

There is a massive focus on grades here, even at a young age, and I never felt that was a focus when I was at primary school in Ireland. In addition, you have the costs of education here. I know many people who have been lumbered with a student debt from college that they will probably be paying off for the rest of their lives.

Tell us about your life outside work.

Chicago is an incredibly vibrant city and there is always plenty to do, between sports, shows, museums and restaurants. I live in a cool neighborhood called Logan Square, and I can be downtown in the train in about 15 minutes. A lot is made of the crime rates in the city, but while it is a matter that needs to be addressed, I have never felt nervous. Its about staying in the right places.

I have met some great people through school and by playing Gaelic football with the Padraig Pearses, where I have just become chairman. The football keeps that link with home, which is so important to me. I have also had the opportunity to travel and have seen lots of the country, something I have always wanted to do. The eyes of the world are on the US at the moment, so to be here, living it, is something I feel very fortunate about.

What are your future plans?

My visa is for five years, and my contract is reviewed every year. I am just taking it as it comes. I left Ireland six years ago and I never thought that I would have been away this long. My brother is just about to move back from Australia, with my nephew and I would love to be close to them, but I will have to see what happens. My family are very supportive of me being here so that means a lot. I am ucky to have family all around the country.

Do you think Irish teachers abroad like yourself will move back to Ireland?

Definitely. When I was training, all I wanted to do was come back and teach at home. The necessity for Irish (language) to teach at primary level is a stumbling block people like me who don’t have an honour at Leaving Cert, but I knew that going into the profession. There seems to be a lot of bureaucracy though. Registering with the Teaching Council is €200 and that is just to start with. Road blocks are being put up before I even try to get a job. It is immensely frustrating as you feel you would be an asset, not just because of your teaching experience, but also life experiences.

From your experience working abroad, what suggestions would you have for the Irish education system?

Pastoral care is so important nowadays, and I think Ireland is behind both the UK and US, where I have worked. PE has always been a major focus for me since I started teaching, but it seems to be absent from a lot of Irish primary schools and if we are going to deal with the obesity crisis that Ireland is entering, then developing a nationwide school PE programme is going to be immensely important.

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