Question for Teachers

[nmoore14]

Hi everyone! Recently I applied for a position as a preschool teacher with a school system in NC. I have an interview coming up soon and I am super nervous about the interview process Can anyone give me some tips on what the principal might ask? How long did it take to for them to offer a position? Any advice would be helpful!

 

[*NikkiBell*]

Hi nmoore!

I am a fifth grade teacher and can honestly say that it's hard to tell what might asked or how long it'll take to get a call back. This varies greatly from area to area, district to district. I would assume that you are going to be asked about your philosophy of early elementary education. You might be asked about learning styles, the role of parents, etc. Depending on what is going on in the district, you could get a call back very soon or several weeks or months later. Either way, keep your chin up and stay positive!

 

[nmoore14]

Thanks so much for the tip NikkiBell. I hope I get the position. But I also am at a crossroads. I accepted another position the same day I was offered an interview with the school system. My plan is to work with this other job until it is time to start working with the school. The other job is frustrated because they feel that I should not have talked to anyone else, but I need a job with benefits. I am so confused. I feel awful for taking the other job now, but I do not know if I will get the job with the school system. Sorry to go on about my problems, but I just needed to get this off my mind.

 

[WorldWacky]

It may sound callous, but you have to think about what is right for you. If your employer had to down size you due to the bottom line, they would. Don't feel guilty about taking a job now to pay the bills while still looking for the position that you really want. Ten years ago, my husband accepted his first teaching position for a school district over the phone and an hour later was called by a much nicer, better paying district for an interview. I begged him to go on that interview. He still hadn't signed anything, but he wouldn't do it. He felt like once he gave his word he couldn't go back on it. He only taught in that district for one year. The students were very difficult to say the least... death threats, damaging the band equipment, completely unruly and the principal didn't really back the teachers up. He had to attend court...twice as a witness to violence in the hallways. He even landed in the hospital for an aggravated ulcer! In the end, he got a wonderful job on Long Island in the school district that he grew up in, but I still tease him about that first year and how we would probably still be in VA if he had just listened to me!

 

[nmoore14]

Thanks for the wonderful advice WorldWacky. I have reached the same conclusion that you suggested. I have to do what is right for ME. I hope that the agency I was going to work for understands this. If they don't, oh well, I need to make sure that I am secure and stable.

Thanks NikkiBell and WorldWacky. You have both offered great advice! Thanks for cheering me up!!

 

[Jeff & Stacy in NYC]

It may sound callous, but you have to think about what is right for you. If your employer had to down size you due to the bottom line, they would. Don't feel guilty about taking a job now to pay the bills while still looking for the position that you really want. Ten years ago, my husband accepted his first teaching position for a school district over the phone and an hour later was called by a much nicer, better paying district for an interview. I begged him to go on that interview. He still hadn't signed anything, but he wouldn't do it. He felt like once he gave his word he couldn't go back on it. He only taught in that district for one year. The students were very difficult to say the least... death threats, damaging the band equipment, completely unruly and the principal didn't really back the teachers up. He had to attend court...twice as a witness to violence in the hallways. He even landed in the hospital for an aggravated ulcer! In the end, he got a wonderful job on Long Island in the school district that he grew up in, but I still tease him about that first year and how we would probably still be in VA if he had just listened to me!

Hi Nicholle! We met on last summer's ABD Backstage Magic. I also think you should do what's best for you! World Wacky is totally right about that school not minding letting you go if they have budget problems. You have to be where you feel comfortable. Teaching is a big enough challenge without the additional stress of being unhappy with your district or building. Also, benefits are huge! You have to be able to take care of yourself, and healthcare is so expensive. Don't feel too bad about leaving the first job, especially if they don't offer benefits.

We wish you lots of luck!!

 

[vwlfan]

Good luck on your interview! But generally speaking luck won't get you the job. Start with

1. Being prepared. Know the school district as best you can; their priorities, their mission; what their specific goals for the preschool program are.

2. Match their needs to your skills. Be able to answer questions that show how your skills or experiences are best suited to their needs. For example, if they have a particular reading philosophy, show how you know how to implement it.

3. Show how you are thoroughly familiar with the needs of pre school children.

4. Show how you would handle the sensibilities, the values, and the needs of parents. Parents of pre-schoolers are typically hypersensitive about their child's needs. You need to be able to show how you can hear these and how you can alleviate any concerns they may have.

4. Show how you both want to and can collaborate with your teacher colleagues. Nowadays teamwork skills are increasingly important.

4. Show how you can manage a pre-school classroom. If you have a portfolio, bring it but don't show the whole thing unless you are asked! Instead refer to it if the principal's question can be answered in part by your showing her a particular section. Since pre-school classrooms should reflect practices for that age group, classroom management of little ones is particularly important.

5. As a former elementary principal, assistant superintendent, and now professor of education, I am often disappointed in candidates' interviews when they cannot show how they mean to EVALUATE individual children's social and academic progress. I am not talking re the infernal testing programs that all schools systems suffer under specifically. I am talking about your ability to demonstrate how you can assess these in EACH child and how you as profesional can adjust to each child's needs. If you can see their report card system, if they have one, you should get a good indication of what and how they do this.

6. Be prepared to confidently express your own teacher values and those you hold dear to you as a person (they should be one and the same). Typically they will ask, "Why do want to be a teacher here?" That question will give you the opportunity to enthusiastically express this.

7. If you are technologically proficient and if the school system has a technology system to use in the classroom, be prepared to show how you can make technology work in your lessons.

8. At interview's end, hopefully she will ask you if you have any questions. I always respect when the candidate asks a question about some aspect of the school's program. For example, if there is a Character Education initiative, ask about how new teachers are helped and supported to learn how to make this work.

9. Sometimes a question will come from left field like "What is the last book you have read?" If a question comes that you have trouble answering, take a breath and honestly answer it always coming back to your child-centered and nurturing teaching philosophies.

That's all the advice I can think of this morning. Feel free to private message me if you have any other questions.

Good luck!

 

[nmoore14]

Thanks for the great advice vwlfan. I think I feel more confident after taking some time to think about what they might potentially ask me.

 

[hapandpam]

Last year I was on an interview committee, and I believe the previous poster's suggestions are excellent. Be aware that questions may come up about social networking, ie- How do you feel about accepting friend requests from parents?

Another thing I would do is be very aware of what I was wearing. We had a woman interview wearing silly bands and another candidate had sunglasses on top of her head. Although these types of things shouldn't, and did not, prevent a well qualified person from getting a job, they do not look professional and with all the competition, it is important to make a positive impression.

Good luck.