Interview Questions from Both Sides of the Desk

The following questions are representative of those that you are likely to encounter in your teaching interviews.  Use these to practice and you will be prepared to communicate your teaching skills.

1.  Why do you want to teach?
2.  What is your philosophy of education?
3.  With what kind of student do you most (least) like to work?
4.  Describe your teaching style.
5.  How would you establish open lines of communication with parents?
6.  What do you plan to be doing in five years?  What are your career goals?
7.  Describe your student teaching experiences.
8.  What was the biggest problem for you in student teaching?  How did you resolve it?
9.  What three words would your students use to describe you as a teacher?
10. What grade level do you prefer?  Why?
11. How would you use teacher aides and parent volunteers?  What do you see specifically as the parents’ role?
12. Are parent/teacher conferences important?  Why or why not?
13. Why do you want to work in our district?  What do you know about our school district?
14. Why should our school district hire you?
15. Describe an ideal classroom.
16. How do you relate with minority students in the classroom?
17. A student is consistently late to your class.  How do you handle the situation?
18. What would you do, or how would you treat a student who refused to do the work you assigned?
19. How would you handle a student who continually “acted up” in your class?
20. How and when do you discipline a student?
21. How should a student’s educational achievement and progress be measured?
22. You know that a staff member has been talking behind your back about what he or she sees as your ineffective teaching methods.  What would you do?
23. What do expect from your supervisor?
24. How would your students describe you?
25. What was the most challenging situation as a teacher (or a college student) and how did you resolve it?

Candidates must ask questions, too.  If you are serious about teaching in the district where you are interviewing, there are many questions you will want answered before you accept an offer.  Your interviewer will cover some of your questions, but by asking pertinent questions you will show that you understand fundamental issues related to teaching.  The following questions should give you a good start.

1.  What is the teacher/student ratio in your district?
2.  Tell me about the mentoring program (if any) you have for new teachers.
3.  How many classes a day will I be expected to teach?
4.  Tell me about the students who attend this school.
5.  What textbooks does the district use?
6.  How do o teachers participate in curriculum review and change in your school?
7.  What support staff members are available to help students and teachers?
8.  How does the teaching staff feel about new teachers?
9.  Do parents support the school?  Does the community?
10. Do your schools use teacher aides and parents volunteers?  How?
11. Does the administration encourage field trips?  What is the district’s philosophy/approach to out-of-the-classroom learning experiences?