Unlocking the Potential in Candidates: Key Interview Questions for School Leaders
It’s Spring (at least it felt like it on Monday here in St. Louis) which in the world of education also means hiring season! As a Principal, I remember having a knot in my stomach around this time of the school year as I anticipated having to fill the open positions at my school. Conducting interviews is one of the most important tasks a school leader has. The hiring decisions principals make impact everyone: faculty, students, and their families. I don’t think there are any school leaders out there who would say they excitedly welcome the hiring season but I began to view this time as an opportunity to strengthen the hiring process. And if anyone knows me well, they know that I enjoy making things better.
One of the key ways I strengthened my hiring process was by revising the interview questions. Having well-thought-out interview questions helps school leaders assess a candidate’s leadership skills, communication abilities, strategic thinking, and alignment with the school’s mission and values.
Here are some of the key interview questions I used along with why I love them:
Tell me about a favorite unit or lesson you taught. Why was it your favorite?
When I would ask this question, I almost immediately saw a smile spread across a candidate's face and their eyes light up. This one question quickly gave me a glimpse of the candidates’ sweet spots or what I like to call their “jam.” I learned about their teaching styles, what they’re passionate about, how they design their lessons, and what instructional methods they prefer. I also got a glimpse of what it’s like to be in their classroom. Overall, this question gave me valuable insight into the candidate’s teaching philosophy, creativity, enthusiasm, and self-reflection abilities.
What is a piece of constructive feedback you were given and how did you respond to it?
This question gave the candidate a chance to be vulnerable and honest about areas in their teaching that needed support. We all have areas to grow in and I was looking for teachers who were self-aware and knew their growth areas. A teacher who is open to constructive feedback is more likely to be able to grow and improve over time. The question helped me understand how the candidate responds to constructive criticism and whether they are willing to incorporate feedback into their practice. I also had a chance to discover if the candidate could analyze feedback and take appropriate action to improve their teaching practice. Effective teachers can adapt their approach based on feedback and continually improve their practice.
How would the racial, learning, and cultural diversity of our school [I shared specific numbers] impact your instructional planning and delivery?
Depending on the position I’m hiring for, I may follow up this question with a more specific one such as, “If you were teaching the Civil War to a group of 5th graders, how would the racial makeup of students impact your instruction?” In asking this question I’m specifically looking for two pieces of information. 1) How comfortable is the candidate talking about and acknowledging race and culture? 2) How does the candidate consider pertinent student information and adjust their teaching practices accordingly? Our schools need teachers in the classroom who are aware of their own cultural identity and can learn and build on the cultural norms of students. A teacher that is aware of the impact of diversity is more likely to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students. Overall this question gave me insights into the candidate’s awareness of diversity in the classroom, ability to differentiate instruction, cultural competency, and adaptability to meet the needs of all students.
What are the biggest issues impacting educators today and what steps have you taken to overcome these challenges?
Our schools need educators who are aware of the current trends and challenges in education and can adapt to the changing landscape. With that, this question allowed me to assess if the candidate can identify problems and take appropriate steps to address them. I aimed to develop a culture of professionals who worked to find a solution to problems using best practices and innovative strategies. This question gave me insight into this.
What are your top 3 values?
Okay, so this might be my favorite question. Asking someone about their values is extremely personal. It gave me a deep dive into what candidates prioritized, what guided their behavior and decision-making, and how they interact with those around them. One’s values rub off on everything they do, teaching included. For example, if a candidate values empathy, they may be more inclined to create a safe and inclusive classroom environment that supports students’ emotional well-being. These values also highly influence teachers’ decisions daily. It’ll impact how they spend their extra time in the classroom, what outside resources they seek out to use, the way they respond to a student who is struggling, and the high (or low) academic expectations they set for each student. This favorite question of mine gave me insight into the candidate’s alignment with the school’s values, personal beliefs, and priorities, fit within the team, and character.
