Interview Questions (Teacher)

1- What was your biggest challenge in your first year of teaching?

a. My biggest challenge was understanding classroom management. I was at a
charter school, and help was not offered unless you asked for it. Some classes had
as many as 45 students registered.
2- What is the thing that you are most proud of in your teaching career?
a. That I am still in contact with many of my students via social media. Former
students still seek me out to talk about the positive things going on in their lives.
3- If you were not teaching in a school, what would you be doing?
a. Probably an administrative assistant. I would be doing desk job type of work.
4- Do you feel like you have enough of an input into your lesson plans/curriculum?
a. Yes, At this point, I pretty much do the curriculum. I work directly with
administration and within a PLC to plan lessons and map curriculum.
5- Do you feel that working with intern teachers is good for:
a. You?- Yes. I have been teaching for 12 years. While I have a lot of content
knowledge, the interns help to introduce new techniques for classroom
management, differentiated instruction, and other things I can learn from students
still in school.
b. The Intern?- Yes. As a teacher, I wish I had more time in a classroom while I was
in school. I only had about 30 hours total in a classroom before I started student
teaching.
c. The School?- Yes, it helps to give the school exposure. We have hired several
teachers who were interns or student taught at the school.
6- Do you feel that students coming from a prep school environment are more likely to
succeed in college:
a. Socially: Yes & No, The kids will make friends within learning groups, but they
may be intimidated moving to a large school environment right way.
b. Academically: Yes, We have high standards of academic success and a large
workload to prepare the students for college. However, some students may
struggle with the interaction they get from professors as they are used to being
able to talk with us at any time (mostly).

Interview Questions: School Counsellor

1- What is the most challenging part of your day?
a. Trying to understand the rationale for certain actions. Some students have a
difficult time understanding the importance of doing things on time and getting
good grades. Since I am a teacher and a Counsellor, I am stretched thin. Students
feel that because some assignments can be turned in late in a classroom, that
college and scholarship applications can be handled in the same way.
2- Have you given a student advice that you have regretted?
a. No. However, I do regret that we are unable to give students information in a
timely manner because we are also teachers. We have a student that with his
grades, he would qualify for a partial academic scholarship, but wasnt told about
it until very late and had to apply during the last chance of the application.
3- What challenges do you have in dealing with:
a. English Language Learners: Dealing with the parents. Many students that are ELL
speak English pretty well. However, communicating with parents can be difficult.
If the meeting is not to discuss grades or discipline, we can generally have the
student translate for the parents. If the meeting is to discuss falling grades or
behavior issues, we have a Spanish speaker on staff.
b. Individualized Education Plans: Getting them to understand that their level of
support here is much different in College. Trying to move students off an I.E.P.
before they get to senior year. Students that are still on I.E.P. in Senior year
generally dont go to College due to fear of failure.
4- Why did you make the decision to become a counsellor?
a. It is something that I always wanted to do. It is a different level of interaction than
being a teacher. I like helping students realize that they have the grades and ability
to attend college. I am going back to school to obtain a Masters in counselling.

Interview Questions: Students

1- If you could change anything about your school (in an educational sense), what would
you change and why?

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a. Male Student (Senior Yr.)- I would like to have more group work. I feel like some
students need more help from their peers to be successful.
b. Female Student (Sophomore Yr.)- Textbooks. For classes like Math, it is very
difficult to use an e-textbook.
Do you feel that your teachers clearly communicate to you what is expected from you to
be successful in their classroom? Why/Why Not?
a. Male Student (Senior Yr.)- Yes, my teachers have distributed their syllabus and
also provide updates via the schools website (Galileo)
b. Female Student (Sophomore Yr.)- No, We are not talked to as individuals when it
comes to stuff like that. Teachers address the entire class and dont like to answer
questions about expectations.
What historical topic is the most interesting to you?
a. Male Student (Senior Yr.) World War II and Vietnam because I have family
members who fought in those wars.
b. Female Student (Sophomore Yr.) The Renaissance because of the Art.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
a. Male Student (Senior Yr.)- Forensic Sciences or be a nurse
b. Female Student (Sophomore Yr.)- I want to be an Architect.
Do you feel that your teachers do enough to help you to reach your goals?
a. Male Student (Senior Yr.) Yes. I recently went to a College Fair and was not
intimidated because everything I was exposed to there, I saw in a classroom here
at school.
b. Female Student (Sophomore Yr.)- Yes. (Didnt elaborate)
(Multiple Choice Questions)
i. Do you think you:
1. Are more productive working in Groups or Alone?
a. Male- In Groups
b. Female- In Groups
2. Learn better in hands on activities, reading or watching video?
a. Male-Hands on
b. Female- Hands on
3. Study more, less or the same as your peers?
a. Male- Same
b. Female- More
4. Are you motivated more by learning new material, praise, or
grades?
a. Male- Grades
b. Female- Knowledge
Multiple Choice Question:
a. Are you planning to attend College:
i. Immediately after Graduation
ii. Within 2 years of Graduation
iii. After Military services
iv. Eventually
v. Never

b. Male-Immediately
c. Female-Immediately