25 interview questions

Top 25 Teacher
Interview Questions &
Answers [+Examples
from Pros]
Tom Gerencer
Career Writer
11/19/2018
Blog Job Interviews
Top 25 Teacher Inte...
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You’re about to see the top 25 teacher interview
questions and answers.
But first—
What’s that sound?
It’s your nerves. They’re screeching like nails
on a chalkboard.
You’ve got a teacher interview tomorrow.
They’ll grill you like a slab of questionable
lunchroom meat.
Don’t worry.
A little prep can turn your world around. You’ll
walk in cool and ready.
Of course you need to prove you’ve got the
skills.
But with a bit of thinking, you’ll have perfect
answers handy.
This guide will show you:
The 25 most common teacher
interview questions and answers.
Tips to ace a teaching job
interview, including how to
prepare.
How to answer interview
questions for teachers with
achievements that impress.
How to ask your own teaching
interview questions for hireability
bonus points.
Want to make sure nothing will slip your mind
at that big interview? Get our free checklist: 42
Things You Need to Do Before, During, and After
Your Big Interview. Stick to it, and you’ll turn
every interview into a job offer!
Can’t land an interview in the first place? Your
teaching resume might be to blame. Fix it with
the help of these guides:
Teacher Resume: Sample &
Writing Guide
Substitute Teacher Resume:
Sample & Writing Guide
Teaching Assistant Resume:
Sample & Writing Guide
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Looking for more interview questions for a
teacher? Here are the most common job
interview questions and answers:
Common Job Interview
Questions and Best Answers (20
Examples)
These teacher interview questions and answers
will make the interviewers ask you a question:
“When can you start?”
They cover popular high school interview
questions, special education teacher interview
questions, substitute or assistant teacher
interview questions, and more.
1. Why do you
want to be a
teacher?
“Why did you become a teacher?” is the most
common of all interview questions for teachers.
Administrators want to know you’re motivated
to work through inevitable frustrations. And
believe me, they’ve heard every generic answer
in the books.
“Because I want to help people” won’t work.
Find something specific that shows you’re
motivated like no other.
Example Answer
I had trouble reading as a child My
4th grade teacher, Mrs. Paulette,
introduced us to an amazing list of
short stories and books. She read to
us and worked with us on reading
comprehension. Her care switched
on an unquenchable thirst that led
me to read thousands of books on
topics as diverse as history, biology,
sociology, and nature. Mrs.
Paulette’s attention forever changed
my outlook on life. Since then, I’ve
known I wanted to do exactly what
she did—to give children tools to
last for their entire lives.
2. What is your
teaching
philosophy?
Teacher interview questions like this ask, “Are
you a good fit for our school?” It’s the teaching
equivalent of “ tell me about yourself.”
But—
Don’t answer elementary teacher interview
questions for an unstructured school with, “I
believe in structured learning.”
Take the time to learn the school’s philosophy
before the interview.
Example Answer
I believe in teaching to each
student’s passion. For instance, in
one kindergarten class, my students
had trouble with punctuation. I
observed that one student, Mary,
suddenly got excited about
apostrophes. I fueled her passion
with a big book on punctuation. Her
enthusiasm was contagious, and
soon the entire class was asking
bright and animated questions.
Whenever possible, I try to deliver
structured lessons in an unstructured
way like this.
That answer uses the S.T.A.R. approach to
teaching interview questions. It shows a
Situation, a Task, an Action, and a Result.
3. How much do
you want to
know about
your students
in order to be
most helpful to
them?
This is another of those interview questions for
teachers that depends on the school’s
philosophy.
One administrator might think it’s crucial to
know every detail. Another might say, “A
doctor doesn’t need to know her patient’s
favorite ice cream flavor.”
Be honest, but find common ground, as in this
teaching interview questions answer:
Example Answer
I need to know a student’s learning
styles, passions, and challenges.
One difficult student, Tim, was
disruptive in class. I joined him on
the playground on and off. It turned
out he was being bullied after school
by his brother’s friends. I spoke with
Tim’s parents, and they had no idea.
Tim became my star student, and as
a result, my whole class got quieter
and easier to teach.
How to Prepare for a Teaching Interview:
Research the school online and
talk to teachers. Learn their
challenges.
Brainstorm times you’ve solved
problems like theirs.
Practice sample teacher
interview questions. Write up
your answers and drill with 3x5
cards. When possible, describe
a problem you once faced, an
action you took, and a positive
result for your school or student
(s).
Gather materials like a lesson
plan, Praxis scores, and
transcripts. Include images as
proof of your accomplishments.
4. Why do you
want to work
for our school
district?
Administrators want to know if you really want
this job.
So—find things you love about the school.
Talk to teachers who work there. Check out the
school’s website, mission statement, and
“About Us” page.
Finally, take some time to think of how you fit.
Example Answer
I respect Snowy Peaks High’s belief
in teaching to the whole child. Your
focus on academics, character,
community, and nature fit perfectly
with my own philosophy. It’s easier
to teach well-rounded students. The
best lesson plan in the world can’t
help a child who’s struggling in all
other areas of life.
5. How can you
help our
school/
students?
Teacher interview questions like this don’t have
to make you blink.
Remember:
Take the time to learn the school’s needs first.
The example below is for a school with a high
percentage of disruptive students.
Example Answer
I’ve talked to several of your
teachers and heard about their
challenges with classroom
management. My own classroom
management skills are highly
developed. I’ve taken 18 continuing
education credits in class
management from the University of
Phoenix’s online program. I was
commended at my last school after
fully engaging a class with over 25%
disruptive students. I used a mix of
nonverbal cues, transition cues,
timeouts, and several other kernel-
based strategies. I believe I can be
just as effective here.
6. What do you
find most
frustrating
about
teaching?
Teaching interview questions like this attempt
to see if you are easily discouraged.
So—your answer has to show your inner
strength.
Example Answer
I get very frustrated with bright kids
who become overconfident and don’t
apply themselves. There’s nothing
sadder or more common than
wasted potential. At my last
position, I worked with several
children who weren’t trying. I
implemented a research-based
program to incorporate student ideas
into the lesson plan. The addition of
their thoughts created more
complete engagement. Test scores
went up 15% in just two months.
Pro Tip: Teaching is frustrating. Many
common interview questions for
teachers focus on that pain. Don’t
minimize it. Instead, explain your skills
at working through it.
7. Why should we
hire you to
teach here?
This is the teacher interview questions
equivalent of the old standby, “ Why should we
hire you? ”
The example answer below is for a school that
wants technology in the curriculum.
Example Answer
I’m well aware of your new
technology initiative. We were tasked
with the same challenge at my last
school. Thanks to my strong tech
background, I was able to add online
quizzes easily. The students loved
them, and they cut administrative
processing by 25%.
8. How would
you get your
classroom
ready for the
first day of
school?
This and similar teacher interview questions
look at your preparedness.
First steps create a first impression. Your plan
for first steps says a lot about your teaching
skills.
Example Answer
I want my classroom to be
welcoming and nurturing. I also
make the ground rules obvious. A
welcome sign and labeled desks help
students feel at home from day one.
Engaging posters and other visual
aids help create a sense of
excitement. Beyond fun, a large list
of rules and consequences at the
front of the room helps the class
start on the right foot.
9. Why do we
teach (science,
math, French,
etc.) in
school?
Why does your subject matter to you?
If you say, “So they can get good jobs,” you’ll
flunk common interview questions for teachers
like this.
Think why you care about the subject at a gut
level.
Example Answer
I’ve always believed our future
depends on regular people using
science in day-to-day decisions.
Science is at the core of a sense of
wonder for our natural world. That
wonder can drive students to
improve their learning skills. It can
take them places they never thought
they’d go.
Paula Bean
H.S. Teacher