Looking for a job. I currently teach part time at a community college. I see a full time position open at a local private K-12 boarding school. I have a master's in education so I know what the talking points are for public school....But no clue about what private schools are looking for! I mean, you can't really talk about how much you love common core (yes I actually love common core). The posting is fairly broad. Just talks about teaching skills, technology, the usual stuff. Any ideas?
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I work in private higher ed, but could say from my standpoint...research what the "mission" of the school is, and see how your background/activities might match up with whatever that is. If you have the education to make you attractive, matching up mission-wise would be the next thing to make you attractive
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Definitely find out more about how the school is unique with regards to their mission, structure, student care, and talk about how you can support that. My school was also interested to know how I could contribute further to non classroom activities like clubs etc.
Eta: this may already be the norm where you are but bringing a teaching portfolio to interviews is becoming more and more sought after here.
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definitely figure out how your strengths align with the mission of the school. I'd also recommend mentioning your interest in being part of the school's community- at a school like that, it is so much more than a 9-5 (or in your case 7-3) job, it's a whole way of life.
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I am thinking they would ask about your interaction with parents, building a positive classroom community, and collaboration with colleagues. Also be ready for questions on appropriate authentic assessment and how you reflect on data to improve instruction. I've never interviewed in private school but I have worked with them and know what is important in our public school. They might also ask where you are with Next Generation Science Standards.
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I've only had 1 private school interview, and it was different from my public school interviews. Knowing their mission and what they are known for at their school is key, and having some talking points about why those things are important to you/how your teaching philosophy fits their mission is good. But also, a lot of times private schools (obviously depends on the school and what kind of cachet the school has) really prefer teachers with degrees from Ivy League schools or "little ivys". I really wanted the job where I interviewed (one of the best private schools in NYC), an I thought the interview was great--it was more casual somehow than it typically is in a public school. In my 1 experience, they asked a lot more about me as a person and asked less about my teaching strategies/discipline strategies.
In the end I didn't get it--but they were nice enough to call and say the interview was great and they loved me, but they prefer a candidate who is bilingual in either French or Chinese (students take those languages k-8). And I did check the website laterand they ended up hiring a French guy who had previously worked in international IB school overseas in various places.
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@Mrs. Sketchbook: So what kinds of questions did they ask? Just curious.
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6 comments