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A New Guide: Interview Questions for Teachers of Every Grade & Subject

General Teacher Interview Questions

BACKGROUND QUESTIONS

1. Why did you become a teacher?

2. Are you a risk taker? (Give an example.)

3. Are you a positive and energetic person? (Give an example to back up your answer.)

4. Tell me about yourself.

5. Are you an empathetic person? Give an example.

6. How can you tell that a person is a good listener?

7. Are you an objective person? Give an example.

8. What motivates you?

9. What do you want to do with your life?

10. What was the most frustrating thing that happened to you as a student teacher?

11. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses (click here to read a possible response)?

12. What is the role of the principal? Does a conflict exist between your perception of a principal’s role and his/her role as your evaluator?

13. Describe your student teaching experience.

14. During your student teaching, were you ever involved with a situation at school involving racial tension? If so, how did you handle it?

15. What subjects have you taught?

16. Are you patient? Give an example.

17. Do you ever feel angry towards your students?

18. What is your educational philosophy? (click here to read a possible response, an excert from Road to Teaching)

19. If you could create the ideal school, what would it be like?

20. Do you like to be challenged? (Give an example to back up your answer.)

21. What do you like most/dislike most about teaching?

22. How do your life experiences prepare you for teaching?

23. What teams and/or clubs did you belong to as a student?

24. What activities would you coach or advise as a member of this staff?

25. Why did you choose to be a teacher? (Click here to read a possible response)

26. What do you like most about a teaching career?

27. Describe “professionalism.” What does it mean to you?

28. Why should you be hired for this position?

29. Tell us/me about your planning habits. If there a particular format that you use? Do you plan on a weekly basis?

30. Scheduling is tricky and difficult at times. How do you approach conflicts that arise in regard to scheduling with your colleagues?

31. State your educational philosophy. How do you incorporate it into your daily instruction?

32. What are the three most important characteristics of an effective educator/teacher?

33. Why do you feel you are qualified for the position for which you are applying?

34. How would you handle difficult parents?

35. What three words would your students use to describe you?

36. If a student comes into school with a bruise on their face that you did not notice the day before and that student comes up to you and says I need to tell you something but you have to promise not to tell anyone. What do you do? (Click here to read a possible response)

37. What does it mean to be a teacher?

38. What is the ideal relationship between a teacher and student?

39. What motivates you to achieve your goals to be successful?

40. How would you describe yourself as a team member?

41. How would others describe you as a team member?

42. Why are you leaving your current position? (Click here to read a possible response)

43. Why do you want to teach in this district? (Click here to read a possible response)

44. What are some characteristics that you would find favorable when dealing with administration?

45. What is a challenge that you feel you recently overcame (in your teaching career)? How did you search out resources to help you do so?

46. Describe an extraordinary teacher. (Click here to read a possible response, an excerpt from Road to Teaching) (Also read this example of an extraordinary teacher)

47. How do you manage stress? (Click here to read related posts)

48. Are you fluent in any language other than English?

49. What else would you like to share about yourself?

50. What experience have you had working with at-risk students?

51. How would you deal with an uncooperative colleague?

52. What would you expect your students to have gained after having you as a teacher?

53. How would you handle a parent that disagrees with your grading method or an assignment?

54. How do you keep parents informed of student progress?

55. How would you describe a gifted student?

56. Have you earned an honor or an award anytime in your life? If so, what was it?

57. What part of teaching do you look forward to most?

58. What part of teaching do you look forward to least?

59. What are your endorsements in?

60. How would contribute to building and improving staff morale?

61. How do you manage (cope with) stress?

62. Describe a motivating teacher.

63. Why should we hire you over other applicants?

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