Teaching the Nations

When Dr. Jon Hill finished his master’s degree in teaching, he did not expect to lose his desire to teach after just one year, but that’s all he lasted—at least, in the U.S.

One year of American public school made Hill “disillusioned” towards teaching, in his words, but the opportunity to impact people overseas and experience diverse cultures helped revitalize that passion. 

His education career is still going strong after almost three decades, including stops in Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, South Korea, and China. Hill is currently the Superintendent of Rosslyn Academy in Nairobi, Kenya.

After leaving his public school in 1996, Hill returned to Oregon State University for his third degree. He initially pursued a Ph.D. in Oceanography but pivoted to a master’s degree partway through the program and decided to explore K-12 teaching again.

“My parents had friends who taught in numerous countries, so I contacted them to look into that,” Hill said. “I bailed on the Ph.D. program about halfway through, attended a job fair, and was hired at a school in Tanzania.”

Today, Hill has spent 25 years in international schools, 13 of those years at Christian schools. He even came full circle on obtaining a doctorate, finishing in 2014—in Educational Leadership, this time—while in South Korea.

Hill is now in his third year at Rosslyn Academy, an ACSI-accredited school with 700 students from pre-K through 12th grade that represent 53 different countries. 

Hill is a big proponent of international teaching, especially for those who are both willing to make sacrifices but also would find joy in the process.

“When I came to Rosslyn Academy, I took a 70 percent pay cut. I had to reconcile that with knowing my kids are going to college in a few years,” Hill said. “Yet, as a family we are making a different investment here in Kenya. It is great for my kids to be in this environment. My wife and I had to reconcile the cost, but there’s great joy in it as well because we really feel like we are doing the Lord’s work.”

Hill encourages educators to try international teaching even if they are not in the typical demographics to go overseas: single people and recent retirees. Educators with kids may assume that they have missed their window, but Hill says otherwise.

“We hire a lot of families. They love it,” Hill said. “It is great for parents to give their kids an international perspective. It opens the possibility for those kids to understand that God can call them to anything.”

Hill initially went overseas while single but met his wife, who is also from the U.S., in South Korea. They married in 2006 and have two kids.

“We had kids while we were in Korea and we’re still doing this as a family,” Hill said. “God can call people from any life stage to go overseas.”

One of Hill’s biggest joys is helping prepare international students for their next stage in life with a biblical perspective. Especially at a school with students from 53 different countries who may feel detached from their home culture, that often means helping students understand their own identity.
Hill’s aim is to shift these students’ perspective.

"Especially in this larger global cultural moment, they say, ‘Now that I’m a third culture kid, how does that make me a victim?’” Hill said. “I like to turn that around on them and say, ‘What kind of unique position has God put you into? You are a bridge between cultures. How has God equipped you through this experience to minister and serve? What strategies can you use?'”

For those interested in learning more about international teaching, Hill recommends ACSI’s Career Center, which includes international positions.

Hill advises being aware of what international teaching can look like financially. Some schools pay a living wage, and some expect their teachers to raise their own support. 

Knowing the yearly rhythm of hiring can be helpful, too. Rosslyn Academy, for example, often hires staff in October for the following school year. November through February is the most active time, but it’s not out of the question to fill last-minute vacancies in the late spring or early summer.

Also, some countries award work permits to teachers right out of college, but not all. In Kenya, for example, teachers need two years of experience. Hill advises planning ahead, being aware of the rules, and reaching out to schools to make connections.

“We have a lot of contacts of people who are interested in working here, and it hasn’t worked out yet, but we stay in contact as they work towards that,” he said. “God works in mysterious ways, pulling people at different times.”

Hill is also supportive of PFO2Go, ACSI’s “Pre-Field Orientation” course for educators about to go overseas. Hill makes PFO2Go available to teachers they hire from outside Kenya, whether from America or elsewhere. 

“We tell them if they want to go through that program, it can really smooth out their transition,” he said.

To learn more about international school opportunities and how ACSI can help, please visit https://www.acsi.org/global/international-schools/vacancies.