Search Associates welcomes St. Paul American School Hanoi (SPAS), established in 2011. The school is located within the Splendora housing community, an upscale residential area approximately eight kilometers west of the city center. SPAS sits on 15 acres of land and has four main buildings, a separate cafeteria and gym, three soccer fields, and the only full baseball field in Hanoi. Residents and teachers can easily access the city’s downtown by contracted taxis or an hourly shuttle bus service.
Currently enrolled are 460 K–12 students, 25% from Vietnam and 10% from North America and the U.K. The student population represents nearly 30 nations. Forty of the 45 teaching staff members are from North America while two are from Vietnam. Fully accredited by AdvancEd, SPAS uses an inquiry-based learning approach. In addition to taking courses in core subjects, students choose from a range of electives, such as foreign languages, health, physical education, and technology. Upper level students may take Advanced Placement (AP) courses, such as Biology, Chemistry, Calculus, Statistics, and Computer Science. The school’s website states that as of the 2018-19 school year, even more AP options will be available, to ensure that all students can choose the AP courses “most aligned with their passions and interests.” SPAS has been approved by the College Board to be a testing center in Hanoi, not only for AP exams, but also for the ACT and SAT exams.
While teachers are encouraged to organize field trips that make the world an extension of the classroom, the SPAS extra-curricular program Beyond! ensures that all students regularly participate in activities after school in order to grow socially, physically, and emotionally. For an hour a day, four days a week, students take part in activities such as robotics, fencing, tennis, arts & crafts, taekwondo, coding, yoga and dancing, and more. Student-led clubs include Model UN, Student Council, and St. Paul Broadcasting Channel. SPAS students compete in a wide range of tournaments and competitions throughout Hanoi as members of the Hanoi Activities Conference (HAC).
SPAS is interested in hiring both singles and teaching couples. The school will also consider outstanding newly-certified teachers, experienced teachers who lack certification, and those certified in non-English speaking countries. Teachers need not hold an academic degree in the subject they will be teaching, and work visas will be issued up to the age of 65.
SPAS provides a monthly housing allowance and annual airfare for one trip home. Tuition is free for all dependents, though teachers are responsible for uniform, lunch, and bus fees. School-wide professional development is offered at the beginning of the year and then twice throughout the year, in addition to other optional sessions. Local health insurance, including emergency evacuation, is fully covered. The low cost of living in Vietnam allows for great savings or the opportunity for a family of four to live on one salary.
To gain access to St. Paul American School Hanoi’s full profile on the Search Associates database, including a list of all open positions, candidates can apply for membership by clicking here. Candidates already registered can easily access the school profile directly through their dashboards.
Please note: The information presented about this school was valid on the date published. This information may change, and the most up-to-date information can be found on the school profile.
