A Very Challenging Interview Question!

          Here's a question that stumps a lot of teacher candidates.  On the surface, it looks quite easy.  But, there's a lot of implications hidden in this query.  Prepare yourself for this one and you can score some major points in any interview.  In fact, most candidates won't do the necessary research and try to fake their way through a response.  Do your homework and you'll put yourself WAY AHEAD of the pack.

     What do you know about this school?

     A:   According to the school’s web page you have achieved AYP in each of the past five years.  Your reading scores are up and your math scores are making some significant improvements.  That says to me that your teachers are sincerely committed to integrating some instructional changes to the reading and math curricula.  Along with the two extra days of in-service training recently approved by the school board this underscores a sincere commitment to the needs of students.  I’ve talked with several teachers and to a person they are all impressed, and all supportive of, the new schedule.  This schedule makes additional time available for literacy instruction – something which is showing up in the improvement of test scores.  Some of the parents have even remarked on a new sense of energy in the school – certainly something to be proud of.



          This is a frequent question in any interview.  Simply put, the interviewer wants to know if you’ve done your homework.  What do you know about the school other than how many teachers work there and the color of the hallways?  Make sure you take the time to pour over school board minutes, the school’s web site, and any printed newsletters or brochures.  Talk with people in the school – teachers, maintenance staff, bus drivers, and learn as much as you can about the climate and philosophy.  Chat with parents and community members in the supermarket, hardware store, or gas station.  Learn anything you can and plan to share that knowledge in the interview.

In addition, you can always get extra points if you research the school’s recent test scores and frame some sort of positive comment around those scores.  For example, “I see that you’ve made an 8% improvement in your reading scores over last year.  You must be very proud.”  Or, “I note that your recent math scores have held firm over the last three years.  I’d like to contribute my enthusiasm and expertise in teaching math in helping to improve those results.”