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Frequently Asked Questions
Questions often asked by prospective and new employees.
The questions on this page were actual questions from prospective and
new employees. The answers were composed by members of the Kwajalein
School staff.
School Questions:
How many staff are employees of the school?
This year we have 383 students and 42 teachers for a student to faculty
ratio of 9 to 1. That's why we feel more like an elite private academy
than a public school.
What are the hours?
The school is officially open from 7:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Uniquely, the
whole island closes for an hour for lunch: 11:30 to 12:30. Teacher
hours, however, are shortened to respect the additional time our
teachers put in. Regardless of time, you would be contracted and paid
for an eight hour day.
What is the teachers’ dress code?
The dress code is casual every day. People who, on the mainland are
jacket and tie guys, here wear golf shirts, shorts, and sandals to
work. Although casual, cool, and comfortable, our teachers do a nice
job of wearing good quality clothing to school to set a good example for
the kids.
What types of materials might I want to bring?
Our classrooms are well financed, so there are ample resources. If you
have computer files that can be carried on a CD or DVD, these are ideal
to bring. Otherwise, a file box of favorite lessons might be helpful.
How is teaching different on Kwajalein compared to the U.S.?
Simply put, it’s better. We compare favorably to U.S. schools in
virtually every category. And this shows in higher student
achievement.
One of the differences, however, is the paperwork here is a little
burdensome, but this is army property. Do you remember the episodes of
show M*A*S*H? Radar would ask Colonel Blake to sign the forms that
order the forms that order the forms that order the forms? That's some
of what we deal with in our office.
How is the student achievement compared to schools in the U.S.?
Some of our nation's best and brightest engineers and scientists are
married with children. They know the value of a good education. When
considering a job out here, the first question they often ask is "How
are the schools?" Consequently, we strive for excellence in all our
programs, and it is reflected in the achievement successes of our
students.
Island Questions:
How hot is it usually?
The temperature seldom reaches the 90's and almost never drops into the
60's. Our daytime high temperature averages 87 degrees for eleven
months of the years, except our cold month of January when the average
daytime high only hits 86. The low each night is 78 degrees.
It really isn't a range of temperatures that affects are comfort as much
as the wind. The rainy season runs from June through November and the
winds drop. When no air is moving, it can be uncomfortable outdoors.
Then December through May is the dry, windy season. The trade winds
blow hard from the East-Northeast. When the trade winds play, the days
are very comfortable. That's when some people say our climate is more
comfortable than Hawaii's because the land area is smaller and cooled
more by the ocean.
The humidity is high; however, we average 100 inches of rain a year..
So for comfort, nearly every building on the island is air conditioned.
For more info on weather, check the web site
http://www.rts-wx.com/climatology/summary .
Is there such air conditioning in the school so instead of being hot
I will probably be cold?
Strange as it may sound, some people do keep sweaters at their work
desks in case the air conditioning is too cool. Bring a sweatshirt or
light sweater for work. Bring rain gear (pants and jacket).
What kind of housing do teachers get?
For single employee housing, we have co-ed dormitories that we call
"bachelor quarters" (BQ’s). Singles will have a private room with a
private bath along with choice of either a twin-sized or full-sized bed
for his/her room. Singles also have a meal card to the Pacific
Dining Room, a cafeteria serving three meals a day. Only the BQ
residents dine there.
Couples and families are assigned to “accompanied” housing. There are
homes with one, two, and three bedrooms. People in family housing do
their own cooking.
Do school personnel eat at the mess hall for dinner? Does the entire
island eat there?
The mess hall is called the Cafe Pacific. Only people in the BQ’s
(teachers included if they live in a BQ) usually eat lunch and dinner
there. Homes and trailers have kitchens so you can prepare your own
meals. A wonderful hot breakfast is also served every day.
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