interviewing strategy
- go on the offensive --
- you interview them --
- don't let them interview you +
+ ( because they'll find out you're only 22 have been sleeping for half that time )
there is nothing sacred about these questions.
They will stimulate better potential questions in your mind.
The important thing is that you TYPE OUT A LIST OF QUESTIONS ...
in categories of your choice ( to show the interviewer that you
have many functioning brain cells ).
the school district
- how many kids in the district -- what is the enrollment prognosis
- how many buildings - how many of each type of buildings: k-4; 5-6; 7-8
- when was last building constructed
- building autonomy - how much independence does each staff have
- take a city map to the interview -- have them point out the locations
of buildings -- take you on a "tour of the town"
- have you closed any buildings - temporary/permanent
- how were those closed buildings chosen
- what p-r system did you use to break the news to the parents that
you were closing their daughter's school
- how many teaches have been "riffed" - how were they chosen
- how many staff - what is the teacher/student ratio
- how many teachers have you hired in each of the last three years
- what type of staff turnover do you expect in the next three years
- what is the average age of the staff
- how much do you pay yearly for vandalism ( building/materials )
community
- when was your last tax proposal --- passed ... defeated
- tell me about your PTA; what other P-R programs do you have ?
- is there a band/sports boosters program - an academic boosters program
- what is the tax rate for the school district
- are there any racial problems -- minorities on the staff
- are there "citizen radical groups" trying to control the curriculum
- what is your best "p-r" gimmick
- when was the last time a coach was fired because of won-loss record
- is there a "sugar daddy industry" in town that is a major funder to
special causes of the district
- who are the major employers in this city
- what are the occupations of people on the school board
- how long are their terms in office
- are there any "thorns" on the school board - define "thorns"
kids
- what is the district's written philosophy of education statement
- how IGAP-test conscious is the district
- do you think that competency testing is just a fad
- what subjects are tested ... which aren't ( science ) ... who decided
- who makes the decisions on what tests ... Iowa .. or other skills test are used
- what type of report card system is used: elem/middle/senior high
- can i see a report card -- when were the last changes made
- is it possible for a child to fail ... even if parents object
- how many "pieces of data" do I need to substantiate a report card grade
- what are the special education opportunities for kids in the district
- do you spend as much on the gifted as the disabled kids - why not
- how many computers per grade are there -- available to all learners
- what is your computer curriculum look like: k-l2; anything unique ?
- david elkind ( hurried child / all grown up & no place to go ) say that
- kids are getting pushed too much,too soon; how do you see your program --
- what is your high school drop out rate
- knowing (for example) 26% of the kids drop out of school, how does
this influence curriculum planning
- how many kids aspire - attend - and actually graduate from college
- what are your discipline policies: keep after school; beating with a chain; death
- how much planning time do i have each day
- what is your high school pregnancy rate; drug problems; sadd chapter
- what do you do better than any other district in your total program
- what area of the curriculum would you like to improve
teachers
- are the teachers represented by some negotiation organization
- have you ever had a strike -- details, please ...
- when do negotiations begin -- are they usually finished by august
- what are the salary ranges ... can i see the salary scale
- what health care is provided: for me / the family; dental plan included
- how do you handle the retirement system - do we contribute all monies
- does the board make "our" contribution (aka 7% in Illinois)
- do you have tax sheltered options
- do you have a teacher aide program
- who decides which teacher get aides ( not to be confused with AIDS )
- do you have participants/student teachers from neighboring colleges
- how many faculty meetings per semester
programs
- are you hooked up to the Internet ?
- what plans do you have for technology in the years ahead ?
- how are texts chosen: when were the last adoptions for science; etc.
- what is the "latest" program to be added to the curriculum
- what had to be "dropped" when the above program was added
- how much money per year do you spend on textbooks; what is cost / child
- what is your total budget: how much is salaries / buildings / texts
- what specialists do you have ( art, music, p.e., etc.)
- how long is the school day -- who determines that: the state / local
- what is the district policy on field trips: leaving the building / city
- if you could make instant changes in the district, would more of them
be at the elementary; middle; high school level
12 / 5t / 95