A: From my own observations and conversations with teachers I think that a good relationship with a building principal needs to be based on trust and communication. I can certainly help in that regard by always keeping my principal informed. I know that the last thing any administrator needs or wants is a surprise. If I was inviting a guest speaker into my classroom, setting up a terrarium with a collection of snakes, or assigning a controversial book for my students to read, I would want to inform my principal. I’ve learned that keeping the principal in the loop, information-wise, is always a good idea. If I have a problem student or anticipate the storming of the office by an irate parent, I should let my principal know early on. A well-informed principal can assist me in working through a problem, particularly if she or he has information early in the process. That information sharing, I believe, is critical in establishing both trust and open lines of communication between me and my principal.
Your answer to this question is also an answer to the single-most important question of the entire interview (see post on the "Most Important Question"). Administrators want to hire people who will not create problems, but will make the principal’s job a little easier. You will note that a good response to this query is pro-active rather than reactive. Rather than describe the principal (which may or may not match the person interviewing you), explain what you will do to enhance a positive teacher/principal relationship. You’ll get more points that way.
INSIDER TIP: Some books recommend that you take notes during the interview. My conversations with principals reveal that it’s a bad idea simply because it’s difficult to write, listen, and develop a rapport - all at the same time. You are frequently distracted and often mis-focused. My advice: save the multi-tasking for another time. |
