I still remember sitting on a rock by the sea, on the outskirts of Porto back in 2007, staring at the horizon and wondering what my next move would be. I was teaching abroad and thinking to myself: “Why isn’t there a platform, like Tripadvisor, but for international teachers to explore the world?” I had no idea that thought would eventually lead to Teacher Horizons.
When we launched Teacher Horizons in 2011, our mission was simple: to build a valuable community for international teachers. From day one, we’ve believed that international teaching isn’t just about finding a job in a new country. It’s about exploring the world, building connections, sharing experiences – and in doing so, continuing to learn and grow together.
And now, we’re taking that mission a step further with our new Community Networking platform.
Why community matters in international education
International teaching is exciting, rewarding, and adventurous – but it can also be lonely. Many of us have been there: standing in a crowded city and still feeling isolated.
That’s why community is essential. As teachers, we are naturally people people. We thrive on connection, collaboration, and conversation. And yet, until now, nobody has built a digital map of our international teaching community and how we’re all connected.
For many teachers and leaders, LinkedIn can often feel too big, generic and corporate.. What we need is a space just for us – where international teachers can find each other, build relationships, and learn from one another’s experiences.
Our “small world”
How many times have you bumped into a former colleague at a conference, seen a school leader move to a school you already know, or received a CV from someone you’d already worked with? We always hear the phrase “It’s a small world” – and in international teaching, that’s especially true, even though we span the globe. With roughly half a million international school teachers worldwide, it’s surprising how often we discover we’re just one handshake away from each other. But it’s hard to envisage this and often hear ‘wow – what a coincidence…’
Our new Community Networking platform makes those invisible connections visible. Imagine being able to:
Whether you’re moving to Bangkok and want to meet other Biology teachers, considering a school and wanting to chat with someone who’s worked there, or simply curious about who else is teaching nearby, you’ll now have a way to find and connect with your community.
What this means for us
For teachers, this is more than just a networking tool. It’s about turning an often disconnected experience into a connected one.
- Former colleagues: Reconnect and discover who they’re linked with
- Moving to a new city: Meet others who have already made it their home
- Remote teachers: Build relationships with others in your region, even if they work at different schools
- Community builders: Use it to spark WhatsApp groups, organise local meet-ups, and grow your circle
- Job hunting: Enable recruiters to reach out to you directly
It’s about making our “small world” feel a little closer, a little friendlier, and a lot more connected.
Looking ahead
At its heart, Teacher Horizons has always been about people – teachers supporting teachers. This new Community Networking platform is simply the next step in our shared journey.
We passionately believe that, in an increasingly disconnected world, human connection is more important than ever. And for international teachers, whether you’re just starting or a seasoned school leader, that connection isn’t just a ‘nice to have’. It’s what makes the international teaching community so special.
This is our chance to map our global community, one connection at a time.
We look forward to connecting with you!