My Day in the Principal's Office

I had the opportunity to conduct a mock interview with Greenwood Middle High School, Michelle Dubiack. Ms. Dubiach has been the principle at Greenwood for four years now, and taught at science at Greenwood and West Perry and was a science supervisor at Cumberland Valley. I had such a pleasant interview experience with Ms. Dubiach, and have gained invaluable experience for real life teaching and interviewing. 

What Questions I was Asked

The first question was pretty standard question, tell me about yourself. This question is pretty standard in an interview. This can be an easier question to start off with, however, even with this question you can be left wondering if you're even if you are a real person. It's a good practice to have some of your thoughts collected on what is most important for you to share about yourself.

I was asked about classroom management and the ways that I utilize technology and engage students with my teaching. Interestingly, I was asked about how I lesson plan, and what are the elements of a typical lesson plan for me. 

How Prepared was I?

I felt decently prepared for the questions, as they were pretty standard questions of what would be expected of an interview. Ms. Dubiach was very kind and I didn't feel as much pressure as I would expect to in an actual interview. I definitely feel as though I should capture my thoughts and rehearse what my responses are in advance a little more.

What Questions I  Asked the Administrator

My first question is to ask what the school is what is the thing you are most proud of your school? This questions will typically provide valuable insight into what an administrator values in a school. I then asked what opportunities there are for professional development in your school district to get a feel for how much I will grow as an educator. Ms. Dubiach offered that I should also ask about what support system is in place for new and beginning teachers.

What Impressed me the Most and Least

I was most impressed by how down to earth and helpful Ms. Dubiach was with me. She didn't make me feel stressed or nervous, and really took the time to invest in the interview and give me great feedback. My least favorite thing, or perhaps what I wish I had was some time to look over my resume and cover letter with her for feedback.

Areas for Improvement

I feel like I need to create a list of questions I would expect to answer and come up with answers to them with help from those around me so that I am better prepared and more confident to answer.