How to Answer: What is the most difficult situation you have had to face? How did you tackle it?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Assistant Principal job interview.
32. What is the most difficult situation you have had to face? How did you tackle it?
What You Need to Know
The best responses to this question are examples of situations that stretched your heartstrings or ones that challenged your traditional way of thinking. Think of those cases that affected your emotions or made the wheels of your brain spin!
Written by Rachelle Enns
Entry Level Example
"Recently, I had to intervene in an occurrence of inappropriate behavior by a small group of students. The intent was to help the students modify such behaviors and build successful interpersonal skills. I met with the students one-on-one to coach them through the situation, then we brought their families into the process. We have held weekly follow-up sessions to continue coaching the behaviors. It is going well!"
Written by Rachelle Enns
Answer Example
"One of the most difficult situations I've ever faced was when the wife of one of our senior teachers passed away. He taught biology, and we had to find a couple of different substitute teachers for his year of sabbatical. The students had a tough time that year, and we had to give them extra encouragement."
Written by Rachelle Enns
Experienced Example
"Last year, some students were involved in drug use. We collected evidence over several months to see who was responsible. We contacted parents, arranged meetings to talk to students individually, and finally decided to expel a few students. Expulsion is a tedious and difficult process."
Written by Rachelle Enns
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