Why do you want to work for our school district?

I respect Snowy Peaks High’s belief in teaching to the whole child. Your focus on academics,
character, community, and nature fit perfectly with my own philosophy. It’s easier to teach well-
rounded students. The best lesson plan in the world can’t help a child who’s struggling in all
other areas of life.

How can you help our school/students?

I’ve talked to several of your teachers and heard about their challenges with classroom
management. My own classroom management skills are highly developed. I’ve taken 18
continuing education credits in class management from the University of Phoenix’s online
program. I was commended at my last school after fully engaging a class with over 25%
disruptive students. I used a mix of nonverbal cues, transition cues, timeouts, and several other
kernel-based strategies. I believe I can be just as effective here.

What do you find most frustrating about teaching?

I get very frustrated with bright kids who become overconfident and don’t apply themselves.
There’s nothing sadder or more common than wasted potential. At my last position, I worked
with several children who weren’t trying. I implemented a research-based program to
incorporate student ideas into the lesson plan. The addition of their thoughts created more
complete engagement. Test scores went up 15% in just two months.

Why should we hire you to teach here?

I’m well aware of your new technology initiative. We were tasked with the same challenge at my
last school. Thanks to my strong tech background, I was able to add online quizzes easily. The
students loved them, and they cut administrative processing by 25%.

How would you get your classroom ready for the first day of school?
I want my classroom to be welcoming and nurturing. I also make the ground rules obvious. A
welcome sign and labeled desks help students feel at home from day one. Engaging posters
and other visual aids help create a sense of excitement. Beyond fun, a large list of rules and
consequences at the front of the room helps the class start on the right foot.
 What is your educational background? (Or I see you went to [insert
school name here]. What was the most rewarding part of attending that
university?)
 What are you currently reading for enjoyment?
 What do you want to be doing in five years?
 List five adjectives that describe yourself.
 What is one of your weaknesses, and how are you working to improve it?
 What interests do you pursue outside of the classroom?
 To what teams and/or clubs did you belong as a student?
 What activities might you coach or advise as a member of the teaching
staff?
 When did you decide to become a teacher, and why did you choose this
field?
 Why do you want to teach at the ____ level?
 What personal strengths do you find especially helpful in your teaching?
 What is your favorite subject to teach? Why?
 What is your least favorite subject, and how do you overcome your
indifference toward it to teach it well?
 What do you like most about teaching as a career?
 What is your least favorite aspect of teaching?
 What is your philosophy of education?
 What role do standards play in your classroom?
 Describe your teaching style.
 How do you organize your classroom?
 How do you structure your time to manage all of the duties associated
with teaching?
 What is the greatest success you have had in teaching?
 What do you think is the greatest challenge facing students today?
 What is the most difficult aspect of teaching today?
 What are the qualities of an excellent teacher?
 Describe the “worst” lesson you have taught. What did you learn from it?
 What is your approach to classroom management?
 What role have parents played in your classroom?
 How do you motivate your students to become active learners in your
classroom? (Or: How do you encourage class participation?)
 Tell us about a troubling student you have taught and how you helped
him or her.
 Describe your best professional development experience.
 Describe your ideal lesson.
 Describe your planning process for a major project or unit.
 Explain your experience with [insert teaching strategy here].
 What plans do you have for the integration of technology in your own
classroom?
 What experience have you had with team-teaching? What is your opinion
of it?
 How have and will you address your students’ different learning styles?
 How do the assignments you give offer students the opportunity to
express their creativity and individuality?
 How do you modify your teaching to reach students who are struggling to
perform at grade level?
 How do you provide support for students with exceptional ability?
 What would you tell your incoming class in a “back-to-school” letter at the
start of a new school year?
 How would you deal with a student who regularly missed school or your
class?
 If most of the students in your class failed an assignment, test, or
project, how would you respond?
 What would your students say they had learned after spending a year in
your class? (Or: What do you want students to remember about your
class?)
 How would you establish and maintain good communication with the
parents of your students?
 What steps would you follow to deal with a student who displays
consistent behavioral problems in your classroom?
 Under what circumstances would you refer a child to the administrator’s
office?
 What could a visitor to your class expect to see?
 What do you hope to learn from your mentor?
 How would you take advantage of resources within the community to
enhance your teaching?
 Why should you be hired for this position?