Career Services

Sample Teacher Interview Questions

The following are some sample interview questions for teachers.  This is just a small sample of the type of questions you may be asked during your interview.  Practice these with another person, on tape or call for an appointment for a mock interview.  The more you feel comfortable answering these types of questions, the better you will do during your interview. 

1. Tell me about yourself.  (make sure you have practiced an answer to this question.  The answer should be no longer than 15-25 seconds long.  Don't give them any information about yourself that could be used as discrimination.
2. Why do you want to teach?
3. Would you like to be involved in any extra curricular activities.  What kind?
4. Where would you like to be in five years? (Your answer to this question should be in regard to your teaching career)
5. What was the best part of your clinical practice (or student teaching)?
6. What was the hardest part of your clinical practice (or student teaching)?  Make sure that the answer to this question does not emphasize any shortcomings on your part.  If you state "my classroom management"; make sure that you add into the answer how you have corrected this problem and learned from it.
7. Tell me about your classroom management plans.  Have a couple of examples ready.
8. What are some qualities of an excellent teacher?  Which ones do you have?
9. How would you use parents who want to volunteer in your classroom?
10. How would you handle a student who continually acted up in class?
11. Why should our district hire you?
12. If you have your ideal classroom, what would it look like?
13. What are the essential elements of an effective instruction lesson?
14. How do you handle a bully?
15. What are the elements of an ideally managed and disciplined class?
16. How do you assess your students in your class?
17. List some teaching strategies, describe them and tell your experiences with them.
18. How familiar are you with any of the different gifted models?
19. How do you plan to improve the reading skills (or math skills) of your students who are below grade level?
20. Describe your experiences of working with a diverse student body?
21. How do you plan on keeping the parents informed of their student's progress?
22. A parent comes to you and says, "My child is bored and you don't seem to challenge her.  What are you doing to do to make school and your class program meaningful?
23. What are the rules of your classroom?  How do you plan on enforcing them?
24. Do you have any questions?  School Districts will normally ask you this at the end of the interview. It is best to have a question that will show your interest in working at the school district and how you can be the best teacher.  Don't ask questions regarding salary, benefits, etc.; ask questions about programs available for your students, workshops to enhance your teaching skills, extra-curricular activities you would like to do.