8 Teacher Interview Questions and Answers

Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review
our list of top Teacher interview questions and answers.

Why did you become a teacher?

Why do you want to work at this school?

What kinds of qualities do students look for in teachers?

What personality traits do teachers need to be successful?

How do you approach discipline and what role does it play in learning?

How do you interact with parents?

How have state, local, or common core standards affected your lesson
planning process?

What do you think of technology in the classroom and how have you
integrated it into your lessons?

They cover popular high school interview questions, special education teacher
interview questions, substitute or assistant teacher interview questions, and more.

1. Why do you want to be a teacher?

“Why did you become a teacher?” is the most common of all interview questions
for teachers.

Administrators want to know you’re motivated to work through inevitable

frustrations. And believe me, they’ve heard every generic answer in the books.

“Because I want to help people” won’t work. Find something specific that shows
you’re motivated like no other.

Example Answer
 I had trouble reading as a child My 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Paulette, introduced
us to an amazing list of short stories and books. She read to us and worked with us
on reading comprehension. Her care switched on an unquenchable thirst that led
me to read thousands of books on topics as diverse as history, biology, sociology,
and nature. Mrs. Paulette’s attention forever changed my outlook on life. Since
then, I’ve known I wanted to do exactly what she did—to give children tools to last
for their entire lives.

2. What is your teaching philosophy?

Teacher interview questions like this ask, “Are you a good fit for our school?” It’s
the teaching equivalent of “tell me about yourself.”

But—

Don’t answer elementary teacher interview questions for an unstructured school

with, “I believe in structured learning.”

Take the time to learn the school’s philosophy before the interview.

Example Answer

I believe in teaching to each student’s passion. For instance, in one kindergarten

class, my students had trouble with punctuation. I observed that one student, Mary,
suddenly got excited about apostrophes. I fueled her passion with a big book on
punctuation. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and soon the entire class was asking
bright and animated questions. Whenever possible, I try to deliver structured
lessons in an unstructured way like this.

That answer uses the S.T.A.R. approach to teaching interview questions. It shows a
Situation, a Task, an Action, and a Result.

3. How much do you want to know about your students in order to be most helpful to
them?

This is another of those interview questions for teachers that depends on the
school’s philosophy.

One administrator might think it’s crucial to know every detail. Another might say,
“A doctor doesn’t need to know her patient’s favorite ice cream flavor.”
 Be honest, but find common ground, as in this teaching interview questions
answer:

Example Answer

I need to know a student’s learning styles, passions, and challenges. One difficult
student, Tim, was disruptive in class. I joined him on the playground on and off. It
turned out he was being bullied after school by his brother’s friends. I spoke with
Tim’s parents, and they had no idea. Tim became my star student, and as a result,
my whole class got quieter and easier to teach.
.

4. Why do you want to work for our school district?

Administrators want to know if you really want this job.

So—find things you love about the school.

Talk to teachers who work there. Check out the school’s website, mission
statement, and “About Us” page.

Finally, take some time to think of how you fit.

Example Answer

I respect Snowy Peaks High’s belief in teaching to the whole child. Your focus on
academics, character, community, and nature fit perfectly with my own philosophy.
It’s easier to teach well-rounded students. The best lesson plan in the world can’t
help a child who’s struggling in all other areas of life.

5. How can you help our school/students?

Teacher interview questions like this don’t have to make you blink.

Remember:

Take the time to learn the school’s needs first.

The example below is for a school with a high percentage of disruptive students.
 Example Answer

I’ve talked to several of your teachers and heard about their challenges with
classroom management. My own classroom management skills are highly
developed. I’ve taken 18 continuing education credits in class management from
the University of Phoenix’s online program. I was commended at my last school
after fully engaging a class with over 25% disruptive students. I used a mix of
nonverbal cues, transition cues, timeouts, and several other kernel-based
strategies. I believe I can be just as effective here.

6. What do you find most frustrating about teaching?

Teaching interview questions like this attempt to see if you are easily discouraged.

So—your answer has to show your inner strength.

Example Answer

I get very frustrated with bright kids who become overconfident and don’t apply
themselves. There’s nothing sadder or more common than wasted potential. At my
last position, I worked with several children who weren’t trying. I implemented a
research-based program to incorporate student ideas into the lesson plan. The
addition of their thoughts created more complete engagement. Test scores went up
15% in just two months.

Pro Tip: Teaching is frustrating. Many common interview questions for teachers
focus on that pain. Don’t minimize it. Instead, explain your skills at working
through it.

7. Why should we hire you to teach here?

This is the teacher interview questions equivalent of the old standby, “Why should
we hire you?”

The example answer below is for a school that wants technology in the curriculum.

Example Answer
 I’m well aware of your new technology initiative. We were tasked with the same
challenge at my last school. Thanks to my strong tech background, I was able to
add online quizzes easily. The students loved them, and they cut administrative
processing by 25%.

8. How would you get your classroom ready for the first day of school?

This and similar teacher interview questions look at your preparedness.

First steps create a first impression. Your plan for first steps says a lot about your
teaching skills.

Example Answer

I want my classroom to be welcoming and nurturing. I also make the ground rules
obvious. A welcome sign and labeled desks help students feel at home from day
one. Engaging posters and other visual aids help create a sense of excitement.
Beyond fun, a large list of rules and consequences at the front of the room helps
the class start on the right foot.

9. Why do we teach (science, math, French, etc.) in school?

Why does your subject matter to you?

If you say, “So they can get good jobs,” you’ll flunk common interview questions
for teachers like this.

Think why you care about the subject at a gut level.

Example Answer

I’ve always believed our future depends on regular people using science in day-to-
day decisions. Science is at the core of a sense of wonder for our natural world.
That wonder can drive students to improve their learning skills. It can take them
places they never thought they’d go.
 10.How do you evaluate your students?

Common teacher interview questions like this examine how you measure your
performance.

As usual, avoid generic answers. Cite an accomplishment and how it helped your
students.

Example Answer

I evaluate students with formal and informal methods, including quizzes and tests.
I also grade in-class activities like reports, recitations, desk work, and group
activities. One student, Terry, showed a strong grasp of concepts during in-class
activities, but performed poorly during testing. Through working closely with him,
I uncovered an undiagnosed vision problem. Terry got corrective lenses and his
test scores rose to match his in-class comprehension.
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