What makes you passionate about being an assist... Assistant Principal Interview

1. What makes you passionate about being an assistant principal? The interviewer wants to know that you will be engaged and passionate about your role as assistant principal. The best answer to this question is to share your heart with the interviewer. Be a real person, and candidly describe the impact schools have had on you, who impacted your decision to become an assistant principal, and how you feel like you are bettering the upcoming generations through your work in this capacity. Example #1: "I had an amazing principal in elementary school. I remember I was struggling with transitioning to a new school and she let me spend my breaks hanging out in her room, drawing and chatting. She cared about me. I probably wouldn't have made it through that year so successfully without her help." Example #2: "In high school, our assistant principal worked closely with the student council to organize prom and school carnival events. I enjoyed working with him and saw how well he shared his responsibilities with the principal." Example #3: "Being an impactful leader drives my passion for being an effective assistant principal. Making a difference in the lives of students in this community, and giving them a foundational for learning, are two things that make it all worthwhile!" 2. What do you like about your present job? Share the commonalities that your current job have with the assistant principal position you are seeking. Talking about people interaction is a great place to start as well as the variety in your day. Highlighting your desire to problem solve and develop innovative solutions is a nice touch. And, discussing your passion for helping people is a great way to wrap things up! Example #1: "I like that my present job gives me the opportunity to express my passion. I work with a group of similarly-minded teachers who put a lot of effort into their teaching and genuinely care about their students." Example #2: "What is not to like! I enjoy making the difference in the lives of children in this community. Everyday, I get to work towards this goal through my work as a teacher, peer advisor, and liaison for families throughout this local community." Example #3: "My present job has a lot of variety. I get to teach students, talk to parents, and work with teachers. It's a great way to hone the people skills necessary to deal with different types of people." 3. When have you made a difficult decision, in regards to education? What were the risks of your decision? What was the final impact? The interviewer wants to determine your level of experience with making complex decisions. The best answer to this question will involve something that directly impacts the students or teachers. Examples may include curriculum changes after budget cuts or changing the start and end time of the school day. Telling the interviewer that you recognize how your decision will impact the lives of the students or teachers is a great idea. Example #1: "The school I worked for was making budget cuts and I, along with the principal and board, had to decide which of two teachers to lay off. This choice was tough as they were professionally capable and I had good personal relationships with them. I made a pros and cons list, talked to their students and their students' parents, and discussed options with each of them extensively before making a decision. In the end, I wrote a stellar recommendation for the teacher we let go, and he got into an amazing school. I think it's essential to go the extra mile when making difficult decisions like this." Example #2: "I have had to make difficult decisions, along with my principal, on a regular basis. The most challenging situations are surrounding students displaying behavioral issues. Often we need to make recommendations for these kids to be put into other programs. It is a challenge to talk to the parents about our concerns regarding their children." Example #3: "We recently had to evaluate our educational offerings at the school, and for budgetary reasons, make necessary cuts to maintain for the upcoming school year. Valuing the aspects of math, science, history, language and the arts, we had some difficult decisions to make. My team and I worked together to combine the arts program and create a hybrid language program as an offering for student electives. We were able to meet budgetary requirements without compromising the integrity of a complete education - and it is something we are very proud of." 4. What would you change about yourself to make you a better assistant principal? This question holds two purposes. First, the interviewer wants to see that you understand everyone holds the room for improvement. Second, this item provides insight into who you are as a person. Pick a quality that is not essential to your success in the role. We all have something to improve on, so don't be afraid to tell the interviewer what you would change. Example #1: "I would make myself a super-speed reader to breeze through my emails quicker each day which would allow me to have more time to spend interacting with my students and teachers." Example #2: "I would become more mindful of getting to know the students and teachers on a personal level. I tend to dive into work so deep that I could better remind myself that some play at work is alright, too." Example #3: "I would facilitate more harmony between the teachers. We see each other for many hours in a day, but maybe we don't even know the most basic things about each other. I'd organize get-togethers, parties, or even workshops to get teachers more involved in each others' lives. These efforts would create a stronger workplace support system." 5. What improvements in the classroom have you made with teachers in the past? The interviewer wants to see your resourcefulness and your creativity. Think about a single improvement you have made in the classroom with teachers. Explain the problem using positive language without demeaning any students, teachers, or parents. Delve into how you interacted with the teacher. Talk about how you delegated the work to staff members as well as what specific pieces of the puzzle you handled yourself. Finally, wrap it up by highlighting the positive outcome you achieved and the impact it had on helping the school achieve success. Example #1: "This year my primary focus was on adding more technology to the classroom. This generation needs to become accustomed to working on laptops, smart boards, and using board-approved applications." Example #2: "I have recently worked with teachers to improve the classroom evaluation process. We have streamlined it and found a way to engage students in the process." Example #3: "I introduced a communication application to our teachers, parents, and student body this year. It's called ClassDojo, and it allows for posting, messaging, and easy communication between all parties. Parents now have real-time insights into what we are doing in the classroom on a daily basis." 6. Tell me about your ability to handle stress and work under pressure. Employers are looking for individuals who can perform under stress and pressure. For instance, tell the interviewer you remain calm, professional and productive under stress and when faced with numerous deadlines. Are you someone who can handle stress on the job? How do you manage the stressful times? Talk to the interviewer about your ability to control pressure in the workplace. Example #1: "I handle stress very well, and when you call my references, they will attest to this fact. When I am under pressure on the job, I focus on the task at hand and make sure not to get distracted. Staying on deadline is very helpful, and I will delegate when necessary to alleviate some stress." Example #2: "I thrive under pressure and stress serves as a motivation for me to perform to the best of my abilities." Example #3: "Stress is part of any demanding job, and I embrace it to the fullest. I take good care of myself and prioritize my workload to maintain a healthy balance in my stress levels."

Assistant Principal Interview Questions

What makes you passionate about being an assistant principal?

Assistant Principal Interview Questions

What makes you passionate about being an assistant principal?