First-year teacher Stacy began this conversation when she asked for
some help in preparing for job interviews:
Over the past few months I have mentioned on the listserv that I am a first
year teacher who is quite unhappy with her school. I began applying to new
schools, including several private schools.
On Tuesday I will be going to an interview at a private preparatory school
here in NJ. Right now I am wondering what kind of questions I should ask
the school director to make sure this is the kind of school where I want
to work.
Thanks,
Stacy
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Private school teacher and department head Bill Ivey wrote:
When I was interviewing last year, I judged the school I was at less by
asking questions and more by direct observation. At different schools, I
got to:
Sit in the lobby waiting for my interviewer to come. Hey, believe it or
not, this can tell you a lot! As kids pass by, you can see how they interact
with each other, and with adults. Is there mutual respect? Is there evidence
of some deeper level of caring? Do people seem lively, engaged, excited?
Observe a class. Look at the style of the teacher, the styles of the kids,
and how it all fits together. Notice, too, the reactions of your interviewer,
if s/he has accompanied you.
Teach a sample class. This experience is largely what convinced me to come
to my current school (set in the context of my lobby observations). The
kids were respectful yet honest and direct, curious and involved in their
learning, friendly and supportive of each other. What more could I ask for?
Note the kinds of questions my interviewers asked, and their reactions to
my questions. When I described in almost alchemical terms the magic that
made the rock band at my previous school work so well, and my interviewer
smiled and nodded, I knew they approved of a student-centered, experiential
approach.
One more thing, independent schools often have all-school meetings. These
reveal a great deal about the true character of the school. See if you can
attend one!
An interview serves at least three purposes. You are selling yourself, they
are selling their school, and both of you are trying to figure out how good
the fit is. I'd recommend keeping this in mind throughout your time on campus.
The whole time I've been writing this, I've been trying to come up with
the questions I asked while on my interviews. I'm now realizing they were
mostly based on my observations, and ran along the lines of "I saw
this thing which makes me think your students are blah, blah, blah. Do you
agree?" So getting back to your original question, that's the best
advice I can give.
Take care,
Bill Ivey
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Chris Toy wrote:
Hi Stacy,
Think about three or four things that are really important to you in a working
environment then form questions whose answers will reflect whether those
things will exist at the school you are considering.
For example, if you feel being part of an interdisciplinary, looping team
is a must, ask them if these kinds of practices are currently happening,
and if not, whether the staff and administration are open to having these
things happen.
Good luck and hope that helps a little!
-Chris
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
John Norton posted this info:
This article at Education World will be of interest to listserv members
looking for new (including first) positions.
"From the Principal Files: Principals Offer Advice to Job Seekers"
http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin222.shtml
Have a plan, a portfolio, and a good attitude! That's just some of the advice Education World's Principal Files principals have for soon-to-be college grads looking for their first teaching positions. Any educator who is involved in a job search will benefit from this advice from the people who are doing the hiring! Also see the sidebar on "Behavior-Based Interview Questions." One sample: "Tell me about a time when you were really disappointed in your performance."
Describe a typical lesson plan and/or one of your favorite teaching ideas.
What draws you to this particular school?
What are the most important things you would want to teach these kids?
What could you contribute outside the classroom, and how would kids benefit from this?
Who were some of the teachers who influenced you, and how have their examples affected your teaching? (used more often with rookie teachers with little or no experience)
Ellen Berg Diary #34 - At the Hiring Fair
http://www.middleweb.com/msdiaries01/MSDiaryEllenB34.html
1. Describe your ideal project or unit.
2. If you had a student in your class who was struggling academically, what interventions would you make?
3. If you discovered several of your students are having a difficult time reading the materials you assign in class, what actions would you take?
4. Why do you want to teach at the middle school level?
5. If most of the students in your classroom fail a project or other assessment, what would you do?
Subject: teachers interviewing teachers
I have also had several opportunities to participate in the interviewing process for new teachers and administrators. This is my retirement year, and I have been participating in the interviewing process for the hiring of my replacement.
I am one of two network resource teachers at my middle school. During discussions with my partner and my principal, we realized that we would not find a person with the varied high levels of skills and strengths that I possess. We decided to focus on the people skills, attitudes, and track record for meeting new challenges. We quickly eliminated people who only had technical skills. Working with other teachers demand different kinds of skills and attitudes. A classroom teacher brings understanding and a power to suggestions that mere technical expertise doesn't provide. Potential replacements needed that bond with the rest of the staff.
The final factor was not about where the replacement would be after 6 months on the job (both would be at about the same level), but how well the individual worked with a partner in problem solving and the vision of how to facilitate change within the gestalt of the school community.
Sandra S. Watson, Ph. D.
Network Resource Teacher
Francis Hammond Middle School
Alexandria, VA
What is your favorite movie? This always gets an interesting conversation going.
How many languages do you speak and when did you learn them? This helps turn the conversation to the linguistic challenges of our students.
How do you see the relationship between technology/computers and the internet and education? A good way to find out if someone uses different modalities to teach concepts.
Why do you think students are struggling with reading? A must for discussing the importance of literacy and how it reaches across all content areas.
What is the greatest success you have had in teaching? It helps to find out if someone is student centered or teacher centered.
How will you address the different learning styles of your students? (this one covers part of the same territory as Ellen's 2, 3 & 5)
Many feel that middle school students are more challenging than any other age group. Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
Describe your planning process for a major unit.
What makes you particularly suited to teaching in middle school?
What do you like about middle school students?
List five adjectives that summarize your strengths.
What do you think are the attributes of the perfect lesson?
What are you reading now?
What informs your practice* (I usually have to explain that to get at the research based knowledge on which they depend in designing instruction)
What do you want to be doing five years from now?
How have/would you integrate technology into instruction?
What should be happening with and for teachers in your ideal school?
Of what accomplishment in education are you most proud?
If you were one of the interviewers from last year, would you remember my name?
If you did, would you give me another chance to prove myself?
I have updated my application and resume, naturally, and written a new cover letter. The totally weird part, though, and this is what threw me so much at last year's interview is that the principal and the other two interviewers hadn't seen any of my paperwork. They simply had my name from the personnel office as being qualified for the position. Is it a common occurrence that you never even see the application file?
What would your students say they learned after a year in your class? I always ask one of our student interviewers to address this question to the candidate.
Do you have any questions of the committee?