I have spent almost two decades in the field of education, with a large chunk of that time being in PreK-12. What I have discovered is that teacher quality has the most significant impact on the academic performance of students. I am a believer that every child no matter their race or socio-economic status should have the right to be educated by a quality teacher. If we can’t make this a reality, then we are setting a lot of students up to fail.

My belief is shared by teachers everywhere, but despite this, many principals have a difficult time hiring quality educators to teach in their classrooms. In many regions of the United States, it is equivalent to finding a needle in a haystack. How can you be sure that you are hiring a quality teacher, every time, without fail? The key is asking the right questions during the interview process. Let’s look at 33 interview questions that will help you find quality teachers.

Personal Characteristics, Topics and Background Information

1. Why did you choose to become an educator?
2. What are your hobbies and interests?
3. How to do you plan to continue your professional growth?
4. Tell me about a recent research article you read that pertained to the field of education.
5. What contributions can you add to our school community?
6. What current trends in K-12 education please you? Displease you?
7. Tell me about the four people who have most influenced your educational career.
8. Tell us about a golden teaching moment?
9. What is your philosophy education?

Teacher Relationships With Students

1. A student doesn’t understand your assignment. What would you do?
2. How would you ensure that all your students will be academically successful?
3. What is your process for differentiating instruction for your students?
4. What strategies or methods do you use to assess your student’s performance?
5. How would your students describe you?

Teacher Relationships With Colleagues

1. What type of educators do you like working with?
2. What attributes do you possess that would improve our teaching staff?
3. Who is responsible for schoolwide discipline?
4. What expectations do you have of school administrators?
5. What is your process for collaborating with colleagues?

Teacher Relationships With Parents

1. In your opinion, what is the most effective way to communicate with parents?
2. Describe a couple of scenarios that would require you to contact a student’s parents.
3. What community activities do you plan to be a part of?

Instructional Techniques

1. What experiences have you had in a school setting, especially during student teaching, (or former position), that has prepared you to assume a position at our school?
2. How do you integrate edtech in your work as an educator?
3. How do you keep students on task during collaborative activities?
4. What are your strengths as a person, and how do you incorporate them in your teaching?
5. Talk to us about your instructional style and how you accommodate the learning preferences of your students.
6. Describe any education projects or programs that you have helped develop.

Classroom Management

1. Discuss, in detail, your classroom management style.
2. What are your behavioral expectations for your students?
3. Matthias is an energetic fourth-grader. He is always moving around in your classroom, and although his behavior is only mildly disruptive, it is a distraction. He is a particularly disruptive when he is out of your view. How would you handle the situation?

Content Area Expertise

1. Describe your familiarity with the (insert your state) content standards in your subject area?
2. If you had the opportunity to teach one grade level or content area, what would you choose?

Well, that’s it for my list. Let me know how it goes. Whether you are a school/company looking for the perfect employee or an educator looking to advance your career, P-20 Education Careers is the site for you.