Since this will be your
first teaching job, how do you know you’ll like the career path?
A: I’ve
spent a lot of time in classrooms – during my field experiences requirements,
student teaching experience, and volunteer work at the elementary school in my
hometown. I talked to several teachers
here and throughout the district and asked them what they enjoy most about the
Wide Open Spaces School District and they all said they especially like the
camaraderie and support system in place for teachers. I get a real sense that there is a spirit of
cooperation and dedication here that is important in the education of children,
but equally so in maintaining high morale and a vision for the future. I believe I can thrive in this type of
atmosphere and am confident that my philosophy and that of the school will be a
long-term match.
Let the interviewer know that
you have gone above and beyond in your teacher preparation program – that
you’ve seen teaching from many different angles. In addition, allow the interviewer an
opportunity to see how your philosophy and that of the school are mutually
compatible – that you are just not excited about teaching, but that you are especially
excited about teaching in this particular school. Allow your enthusiasm and energy to come to
the fore; demonstrate your passion through tone of voice, body language, and
animation. Since this will undoubtedly
be one of the final questions you’ll be asked, make sure you put a large exclamation
point on your response.
