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