Ten Frequently Asked Interview Questions for Teachers

As a teacher for the last fifteen years, I have been asked on multiple occasions to serve on interview committees. At first, I simply went with the program, following the preset guide questions and allowing the more experienced staff to take the lead on any "creative" ideas.

However, as time moved by and I got a touch more seasoned in the process, I began designing questions that reflected a little more of what I wanted to see in potential future colleagues. Yet, within this pursuit, I found out something simple but profound: you still have to ask the basics before getting too edgy.

So, with this in mind, here are ten questions I find have been asked at nearly every interview I have ever been in. Make sure you consider each, as they seem obvious, but the answers are actually telling. Miss these and you'll probably have another interview…with another district.

1. Why do you want to be a teacher? You must have a thoughtful answer for this that reflects who you are as an educator. Owning a personal philosophy is the foundation for whatever you do.

2. What is your greatest weakness? Every candidate knows the strengths they own, but looking deeply into your weaknesses shows character and humility.

3. How do you manage discipline issues? No matter how smart you are and how well you can express content, if you cannot manage the classroom environment, you'll never reach the kids.

4. What makes a great lesson? Don't merely recite the pieces of a lesson template. Talk about infusing inspiration and passion also. Teachers who are great understand structure, but they live by making kids love being there.

5. How would you integrate technology? This is not the place to say that you'll have them word process papers. In a day and age that calls for incredible integration of technology to prepare students for the 21 ^st century, you have to share intimate details about how you'll go about this. Try learning about what the school has in place already so you'll have a solid point of reference.

6. How would your students describe you? This shows that you are aware of what the "clients" see, not just what you think or hope they see. Honest reflection is critical to a teacher's success, and interview committees want to see people who have an undying desire to improve.

7. What steps would you take to foster parental involvement? Communication with parents is immensely critical, so know how you will keep those lines open and how you plan on making them a part of the process.

8. How do you know if students are learning what you are teaching? Data collection and analysis are current buzz words for a reason. Knowing how to assess learning on a daily basis is what lets a teacher gauge improvement. Always know when to re-teach material.

9. How would you address multicultural issues? Balancing a diverse classroom and making the students aware of the value of the people around them is a large part of character education.

10. What do you want your students to become? Developing a vision for what you want young people to become is one of the most important steps a teacher takes. Without a vision, you have no legitimate direction.