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You’re about to see the top 25 teacher interview questions and answers.
But first—
What’s that sound?
It’s your nerves. They’re screeching like nails on a chalkboard.
You’ve got a teacher interview tomorrow.
They’ll grill you like a slab of questionable lunchroom meat.
Don’t worry.
A little prep can turn your world around. You’ll walk in cool and ready.
Of course you need to prove you’ve got the skills.
But with a bit of thinking, you’ll have perfect answers handy.
This guide will show you:
Want to make sure nothing will slip your mind at that big interview? Get our free checklist: 42 Things You Need to Do Before, During, and After Your Big Interview. Stick to it, and you’ll turn every interview into a job offer!
Can’t land an interview in the first place? Your teaching resume might be to blame. Fix it with the help of these guides:
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Looking for more interview questions for a teacher? Here are the most common job interview questions and answers:
1
These teacher interview questions and answers will make the interviewers ask you a question:
“When can you start?”
They cover popular high school interview questions, special education teacher interview questions, substitute or assistant teacher interview questions, and more.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
How to Prepare for a Teaching Interview:
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.
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.
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.
Teaching interview questions like this attempt to see if you are easily discouraged.
So—your answer has to show your inner strength.
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.
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.
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%.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Beware. Teaching interview questions like the above may look for whether you use assessments vs tests.
2
The next 15 interview questions for teachers aren’t on the A-list.
As one of my teachers used to say, prepare for them anyway because they may be on the test.
You never know which teaching job interview question you might face. More prep = less chance of a flub.
Those are the top 25 teacher interview questions and answers. Want one more question to rule them all? That’s coming in a second.
3
Here’s the ultimate teacher interview question:
“Do you have questions for me?”
Why’s that earthshaking?
So, do a little head-scratching in advance.
Which of the reverse-teaching interview questions below fit the job opening best?
Which ones show you as the strongest candidate?
Any of those questions to ask in a teaching interview will show you know your way around a lesson plan.
That’s it for our list of 25+ common interview questions for teachers. Want more reverse-teacher interview questions? See our guide: 65+ Best Questions to Ask in an Interview & Land Top Jobs
4
Bad dream:
You walk into the teaching interview. You sit. You’re sweating buckets.
They start asking questions. You umm and ahh.
Suddenly you realize you’re in your underwear.
Sound familiar?
Before we wrap up the top 25 teacher interview questions and answers, let’s take one minute to prepare.
The teacher interview tips below will jack your confidence up to the ceiling tiles.
What to Bring to a Teaching Interview:
In a teaching interview, you may face situational interview questions. Those usually start with “Tell me about a time...” Need help prepping? See our guide: 20 Situational Interview Questions and Answers to Nail Your Interview
Want more interview tips for teachers and other jobs? See our guide: 50+ Successful Interview Tips, Advice & Guidelines
Here’s a recap of common teacher interview questions and answers:
Do you have questions on how to answer interview questions for teachers? Not sure how to describe your past experience? Give us a shout in the comments! Let's get you hired now.
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