Typical Interviewing and Applicant Questions

Typical Interviewing Questions

• When did you become interested in a career in teaching?
• Tell me about your educational background.
• Describe your most rewarding teaching experience.
• If I walked into your classroom what would I see? learning centers, variety of experiences
• How would you handle a child who is constantly disrupting the class?
• How would you manage behavior in your classroom?
• How would you motivate your students? (Name three different ways)
• What are the strengths you bring to teaching?
• How would you establish communication with parents?
• How would you provide writing experiences for your students?
• In your classroom, if there is a child who never completes his or her assignments, what would you do?
• What is your philosophy of education?
• How do you provide for individual differences within your classroom?
• What techniques do you use to reward students?
• What kind of relationship do you want with your students?
• Discuss outcome-based education and site-based management.

Typical Applicant Questions

• What is your district's philosophy?
• How do you evaluate teachers?
• Are extracurricular assignments available for teachers interested and qualified in after school activities?
• Does your district offer incentives for professional development days during the school year?
• What reading series do you use in upper grades?
• In the past few years what has been the average faculty turnover rate?
• Is there a budget established for supplies which need to be purchased during the school year?
• Are there opportunities for team teaching or team planning?