School Year Abroad

School Year Abroad (SYA) is a boarding program for high school students built around full language immersion. Its administrative home is North Andover, Massachusetts, but the real work happens overseas. Each year, between 100 and 200 high school students live and study inside the cultures tied to their language — French, Italian, or Spanish.

Faculty positions at SYA are unlike most independent school teaching jobs. Teachers live abroad for the full academic year alongside their students. They teach language and humanities courses while sharing meals, neighborhoods, and daily life in a foreign country. That closeness is the design, not a side effect.

The role asks for real adaptability. But it gives something back: a teaching environment where cultural immersion is the actual curriculum. Faculty who fit tend to stay for years. When someone does leave, the opening matters — the team is small and each hire shifts the culture of a site.

SYA reported revenue of nearly $15 million in 2023 and holds net assets above $34 million, making it a financially stable employer. Overseas faculty benefits typically include housing support, which can offset a large share of living costs abroad. Candidates comparing salary figures should weigh that benefit carefully before drawing conclusions.

School Year Abroad hires for language instruction, humanities teaching, student life support, and site-based administrative roles. Faculty candidates should expect to demonstrate strong language fluency and prior high school teaching experience. Roles open on a limited cycle, so it pays to check listings often and apply early.