| There is no question that the competition for | | | | come up with the right questions. |
| teaching jobs is extremely tough. I have sat | | | | |
| on teacher interview committees where we had | | | | Here are 10 questions you should ask during |
| narrowed it down to four people for the open | | | | your next teacher interview: |
| teaching position and it broke my heart that | | | | |
| I had to tell three of them they did not get | | | | 1. How many classes would I be teaching? |
| the job despite being excellent teachers. | | | | |
| | | | 2. How many "preps" does this position |
| If you are getting calls for interviews, but | | | | require? (Remember, you may only be teaching |
| you are not able to seal the deal and secure | | | | 5 classes, but if you have four different |
| yourself a teaching position, you need to | | | | "preps" for four different subjects you may |
| look at every aspect of the interview...you | | | | be in trouble) |
| need to do every little thing to separate | | | | |
| yourself from the intense competition. | | | | 3. Would I have my own classroom? (Having |
| | | | to teach in different classrooms can make |
| There are many things teachers should do | | | | teaching much more difficult) |
| during the interview, but one of the most | | | | |
| overlooked is asking questions of the | | | | 4. Do you have a teacher mentor program? |
| interview committee. | | | | (A teacher mentor program can be a new |
| | | | teacher's saving grace, but veteran teachers |
| I am always shocked at how many candidates | | | | can benefit from them as well) |
| simply do not do this...or don't put as much | | | | |
| emphasis on it as need be. By asking | | | | 5. Will I have opportunities for |
| questions you are accomplishing two main | | | | professional development? (You want to give |
| goals. One, you are determining if this is | | | | the impression that you plan to grow |
| actually the right teaching job for you, and | | | | professionally) |
| two, you come off and giving the appearance | | | | |
| of confidence...don't underestimate this. | | | | 6. What type of access would I have to |
| | | | technology? (Grade book software, email, |
| Also, by asking the correct questions at the | | | | united streaming, etc.) |
| correct time YOU begin to take over and | | | | |
| control the job interview. The interview | | | | 7. What duties are required of the |
| then becomes more of a two-way conversation | | | | position? (Lunch, hallway etc.) |
| between colleagues on the same level than it | | | | |
| does a one-way interview in which the | | | | 8. What type of extracurricular activities |
| candidate is simply fielding questions from | | | | can I get involved with? |
| superiors. | | | | |
| | | | 9. How much planning time do teachers |
| I have always said that the best interviews | | | | have? (Don't ask this question first...it |
| are the ones that don't "seem" like | | | | will come across as planning time is your |
| interviews...they felt natural...they felt | | | | most important question. However, planning |
| more like conversations. | | | | time is important and different schools will |
| | | | have different amounts of time allotted for |
| However, what questions you ask are also | | | | teacher planning so you should make sure you |
| important. You don't just want to ask | | | | know before you accept any teaching job) |
| questions for the sake of asking | | | | |
| questions...you want to ask the right | | | | 10. What is the school policy on inclusion? |
| questions. And, by asking the right questions | | | | |
| during your teacher interview you will | | | | Again, by asking questions during your |
| separate yourself from the other candidates | | | | interview you will establish an air of |
| applying for the same teaching job. | | | | confidence about you. However, more |
| | | | importantly, you will determine if the school |
| Unfortunately, many people just can't seem to | | | | is truly a good match for YOU. |