Founded in 2011, the Metropolitan School of Panama (the MET) offers a world-class academic program for students starting from Early Childhood through 12th grade. The MET is housed in the City of Knowledge, an area dedicated to leading educational and humanitarian organizations, with extraordinary views of the Panama Canal. The building offers teachers and students dedicated art studios, drama spaces, music classrooms, recording studios, science labs, and a makerspace. As an organization within the City of Knowledge, the school also has access to shared sports fields, a gym, a pool, and a theater. In August of 2020, however, the MET will open a purpose-built, state-of-the-art campus in Green Valley, the first eco city in Panama. The new building will be one of the most advanced educational facilities in the region. Moreover, the new Green Valley location is easily accessible to many locations in the Panama City.
Panama City is a dynamic, cosmopolitan city, home to top-notch restaurants, a contemporary art museum, a jazz festival, and a film festival. Within a short distance of the city, teachers can surf in the Pacific, fish in nearby lakes, or hike through rainforests. Panama’s location in Central America makes travel within the region easy, enabling teachers to explore both North and South America. Furthermore, its international airport is the hub of a major regional airline, offering direct connections to multiple cities in Europe.
The MET is the only International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum School in all of Central America, offering the Primary Years, Middle Years, and Diploma Programmes. Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the school integrates the rigors of the IB with the Panamanian curricula and also features a comprehensive arts program, competitive athletics, cutting-edge technology, and the promotion of values and civic responsibility.
With 850 students of 45 different nationalities and 120 faculty members, the MET is enriched by its diverse and multicultural community. The student population includes 17% from North America and 33% from Panama, and the teaching staff of 87 comprises 46 from Panama, 25 from North America, and one from the U.K.
As part of Nord Anglia Education (NAE), a global network of 56 schools, the MET can offer its teachers and students access to unique international experiences and extensive professional development in STEAM through partnerships with leading institutions, such as Juilliard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Through NAE, teachers at the MET may pursue a master’s program in International Education offered by King’s College London.
The MET is interested in hiring certified singles and couples. They will also consider exceptional newly-certified candidates as well as those certified in non-English speaking countries. Teachers need not hold their academic degree in the subject they will be teaching, and there is no age limit to obtain a work visa in Panama.
The benefits package includes a housing allowance and a full tuition benefit for up to two children, with the registration and technology fees—equaling 50% of the total—paid for by the teacher. Fully-covered local health insurance includes life insurance and dental. The MET provides faculty with on-going internal professional development opportunities. Additionally, IB workshop facilitators provide on-site training every other year. There are local employment opportunities for non-teaching partners. The overall compensation package allows for some savings.
The Metropolitan School of Panama’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.
