Conquer Your Next Interview and Get Your Dream Teaching Job!
Don't let a mediocre performance on your next interview stand in your way. Prep yourself with everything you need to impress your interviewers, stand out from other applicants, and get the job!
The interview makes or breaks a teaching candidate's chances of getting the job.
Interviews are stressful, and they can be an absolute nightmare if you're unprepared. Likewise, the interview is your only chance to stand out from a crowded pool of applicants, to impress your interviewers, and to get the job.
Most teaching jobs have hundred of applicants (even during teacher shortages), and just a fraction of applicants get to the interview stage.
At that point, the applicant is typically asked a battery of challenging questions by an interview committee in order to determine who the final candidate will be. The process is almost always time consuming, stressful, and aggravating.
Most frustrating of all, the interview committee is rarely able to determine who the best teacher in the applicant pool is. In that moment, they can only determine who has the best answers to their questions.
If you're passionate about teaching, it's hard to imagine a more exasperating fate than losing out on your dream job simply because another applicant had better insight into the questions that were going to be asked.
Fortunately, you're about to bring your interview game to a whole new level.
50 Teacher Interview Questions by Jay Meadows is packed with exactly what you need: foundational knowledge about the interview process, a wide range of interview questions that you're likely to encounter, and model responses to help guide your thinking as you craft the best possible answers to these questions. This book eliminates all of the uncertainty that lies ahead of you in the hot seat.
For a limited time, get a special bonus with your book!
Here’s What You’ll Find Inside the Book
50 Teacher Interview Questions begins by equipping you with working knowledge of what you can expect to experience when you walk into a teaching interview. Thereafter, the book is divided into four sections to ensure that you're ready for everything the interview panel will throw your way. Best of all? Every question is paired with model responses and pro tips to help ensure that you'll be the best candidate for the job.
Model Responses
All fifty questions are paired with detailed model responses that provide an invaluable blueprint for crafting your own personalized and optimal answers.
Pro Tips
Every question is accompanied by multiple "pro tips," which are helpful nuggets of advice to help enhance your responses and to help you avoid pitfalls.
Administrator Approved
Every question, model response, and pro tip was either developed, reviewed, vetted, or refined by school administrators with an expertise in hiring personnel.
The Full Spectrum
The items included in this book purposefully selected to reflect the true range of question types that rigorous interviews are comprised of, including "scenarios."
What Educators Are Saying About
50 Teacher Interview Questions
Rose S.
Teacher
A Game Changer
"I was offered two interviews that didn't go well before I found your book, and I can honestly say that it was a game changer for me. I got another interview two weeks later, and accepted the job two weeks after that."
Helen S.
Teacher
A Job I Love
"So much gratitude for what you've given me. The confidence to leave a job I was so sick of and to set myself apart when interviewing for a job I love."
Jeremy J.
Administrator
Not What You Were Expecting
"Probably not what you were expecting to hear, but our administrative team literally uses your questions to interview for new positions. The model responses are basically our rubric."
How 50 Teacher Interview Questions is Organized
The book is divided into four parts. Here's exactly what you'll find as you turn its pages.
1
Part 1: Standard Questions
The first thirty-five questions in the book can be described as the most commonly asked teacher interview questions. You can expect to find questions (along with the corresponding model responses and pro tips) such as, "What inspired you to become a teacher?" and, "How do you create a positive and inclusive classroom environment?"
2
Part 2: Curveballs
The second section is comprised of ten "curveballs." These are questions that interviewers like to ask because they often trip up ill-prepared candidates, and are helpful for identifying the strongest potential teachers in an applicant pool. This section will help you showcase your expertise and better navigate gray-areas.
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Part 3: Scenarios
The final five questions are "scenarios," which serve a similar purpose to "curveballs," but with more detail and greater complexity. The scenarios presented in this section will help you to convey thoughtful responses in areas that are chosen specifically because they are ambiguous, challenging, and complicated.
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Part 4: Questions To Ask
Perhaps the most underemphasized segment of any interview occurs near its end. Once the committee has finished asking you questions, it will offer one final prompt: "Do you have any questions for us?" This section of the book will ensure that you are equipped with the right questions to ask in order to deepen your knowledge of the position and stand out from the crowd.
Bonus
A few bonus goodies to help you level-up
When you get 50 Teacher Interview Questions today, you'll also get a few awesome bonuses to help you get the job, keep your sanity, and master your craft.
Audio Companion For Authentic Practice
While 50 Teacher Interview Questions might be all that you need to get the competitive advantage during the interview process, wouldn't it be nice if there were an easier way to practice (aside from enlisting family members to pretend they're school principals)?
The good news is, there is! You'll receive an audio companion that welcomes you to the interview and formally poses all fifty interview questions. That means you can sharpen your skills by practicing while you're in the car, going for a walk, or just about anywhere else.
Model Resume & Cover Letter
If you haven’t landed the interview yet, or if you’re just looking for ways to level-up your resume and cover letter, you’re in luck. When you purchase a digital copy of 50 Teacher Interview Questions now, you’ll get free resume and cover letter templates in fully editable Word format.
The resume template is formatted to be sleek and professional, and is pre-populated with headings and teaching-related action verbs to help you craft the strongest possible resume for your own application. Likewise, the cover letter is drafted to offer you helpful inspiration for making an impactful professional introduction.
Time Hacking For Teachers
The one thing that every teacher would agree they don't have enough of is time. That's why Jay Meadows wrote Time Hacking for Teachers -- published in 2016, and still wildly popular among educators that are looking for smarter ways to increase productivity and decrease stress.
You can find the Time Hacking for Teachers: The Ultimate Handbook for Increased Productivity and Endless Summer ebook on sale for $24.99, but for a limited time, you'll receive it for free when you purchase a digital copy of 50 Teacher Interview Questions.
About Jay Meadows
Jay Meadows is an accomplished educator and author with a wealth of experience in the field of education. He is a former high school English teacher and current school administrator with over a decade of experience in school leadership roles. In addition to his work in schools, Jay is a published author with a passion for helping teachers to find their paths and hone their craft. His writing explores a variety of topics, including instructional strategies, student engagement, productivity, and more. He has written for Edutopia, Cult of Pedagogy, and other notable education publications; his books include Flying By Friday: A Practical Guide to Distinguished Teaching, Time Hacking for Teachers: The Ultimate Handbook for Increased Productivity and Endless Summer, and 50 Teacher Interview Questions: Curveballs, Model Responses, and Pro Tips to Help You Nail the Interview and Get the job.
What educators are saying about Jay Meadows' work
An Invaluable Boost to Jumpstart Your Career
It turns out that 50 Teacher Interview Questions helps with a whole lot more than just reducing the time you have to spend job hunting and minimizing the stress associated with interviewing. Those benefits are the most obvious and perhaps the most invaluable, but also the least tangible. There's much more to it.
Most applicants don't realize how much money they're losing during their job search.
Every day that you aren't in the classroom is a day that you aren't contributing to your pension, your retirement fund, your position on the salary guide, your seniority in the district, and your tenure as a teacher. Compounded over years, these seemingly minor delays can add up to some very REAL shortcomings in the form of many thousands of dollars, and in the form of your long-term job security.
In those terms, a competitive advantage to jumpstart your career could easily be worth well over $10,000. Don't wait a second longer and get started now.
Just The Paperback
Just looking for a traditional paperback copy of the book? Piece of cake!
$
19.99
Digital Bundle
Same cost as the hardcopy, but so much more value!
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19.99
Sample Interview Questions, Model Responses, and Pro Tips From the Book
Model Response:
“Creating a positive and inclusive classroom environment is essential for student success and well-being. To achieve this, I focus on building strong relationships with my students and establishing clear expectations and rules. I also make an effort to create a welcoming and inclusive space by acknowledging and celebrating the diversity within my classroom. This includes recognizing and respecting different cultural backgrounds, learning preferences, needs, and abilities. I believe that when students feel valued and supported, they are more likely to engage with the material and be successful learners, so fostering a positive and inclusive classroom environment is always a priority for me. From day one, I work to create a safe and respectful environment where students feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and ideas, and where they are encouraged to be kind and supportive of one another.”
Pro Tips:
- Emphasize the importance of building strong relationships with your students and establishing clear expectations and rules.
- Highlight strategies you use to create a welcoming and inclusive space, such as acknowledging and celebrating diversity.
- Share examples of how you have fostered a positive and inclusive classroom culture in the past. This can include specific lessons and classroom practices.
Model Response:
“Differentiating instruction for students with diverse learning needs is a key component of my teaching practice. I believe that all students deserve to be challenged and supported in a way that is tailored to their individual needs and abilities. To do this, I use a variety of strategies, such as tiered assignments, flexible grouping, and the use of technology to differentiate and personalize learning. For example, I have used tools like Google Classroom to create and distribute personalized assignments for students based on their individual needs, interests, and learning preferences. I have also used formative assessments to identify areas of need so that I can adjust my instruction accordingly. This might involve providing additional support or resources, modifying assignments or assessments, or offering alternative methods of demonstrating learning. The bottom line is that it is important to me to ensure that all of my students have the opportunity to reach their full potential and succeed, and differentiating instruction is essential for making that happen.”
Pro Tips:
- Share specific strategies you have used, such as tiered assignments, flexible grouping, or the use of technology to individualize or personalize instruction.
- Provide concrete examples of how you have used formative assessments to identify areas of need and how you have adjusted your instruction accordingly.
- Emphasize the importance of meeting the individual needs of all students and helping them reach their full potential.
Model Response:
“If I had a student who was consistently underperforming, I would consider approaching the situation in a few different ways. First, I would try to identify the root cause — the ‘why’ of that student’s underperformance. There could be a variety of factors at play, such as lack of motivation, difficulty with the material, or personal problems outside of school. By taking the time to understand the student's needs and challenges, I could better tailor my approach and offer the appropriate support.
One way I might address underperformance is by offering additional resources and support, such as through a multiple tiered systems of support system. I would also involve the student's parents or guardians, and refer the student to additional support services, such as their counselor, to take a ‘whole student’ approach. Working collaboratively with students and their families to identify the best strategies for improving performance is a powerful way forward.
Another approach I might take is trying to adjust my teaching style or approach to better meet the needs of the student. For example, if the student is struggling with a particular concept, I might try to present the material in a different way, or use different teaching methods or resources to help the student understand. By being flexible and willing to adapt my approach, I can better meet the needs of the student and help them succeed. Sometimes, simply seeing a teacher’s willingness to meet them where they’re at can be enough to motivate a student to put their best effort forward.
Overall, my goal would be to find a solution that works for the student and helps them achieve their full potential. I believe all students have the ability to learn and grow, and it is my responsibility as a teacher to provide the support and guidance they need to succeed.”
Pro Tips:
- Emphasize your commitment to supporting and helping all students succeed, regardless of their challenges or obstacles.
- Use a proactive, problem-solving approach rather than just issuing consequences or punishments. Consider the root causes of the student's underperformance and try to address those underlying issues.
- Explain how you would involve other stakeholders, such as the student's parents or guardians, or school resources like counseling or tutoring services, as needed to support the student and help them improve their performance.
- Avoid using blanket statements or generalizations, and instead provide specific examples of how you have handled similar challenges in the past. This will show that you well equipped to work with underperforming students and have a well-thought- out plan for addressing the issue.
A note from Jay.
It isn't easy out there. And the fact of the matter is, this is all a ploy; once you nail the interview, land the job, and get into the classroom, you'll realize that the interview was the easy part.
Jokes aside, it is an absolute honor knowing that I'm doing my part to help the next generation of diligent educators climb the ranks and begin their careers.
I have no doubt that you'll be able and ready to bring your best self to your next interview, armed with the knowledge and confidence to impress the room, get the job, and change the world for the better, one student at a time.
