MockQuestions

Assistant Principal Mock Interview

Question 25 of 40 for our Assistant Principal Mock Interview

Assistant Principal was updated by on December 28th, 2022. Learn more here.

Question 25 of 40

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 directly impacting the students or teachers. Examples may include curriculum changes after budget cuts or changing the start and end times 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.

Next Question

How to Answer: When have you made a difficult decision in regards to education? What were the risks of your decision? What was the final impact?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Assistant Principal job interview.

  • 25. When have you made a difficult decision in regards to education? What were the risks of your decision? What was the final impact?

      What You Need to Know

      The interviewer wants to determine your level of experience with making complex decisions. The best answer to this question will involve something directly impacting the students or teachers. Examples may include curriculum changes after budget cuts or changing the start and end times 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.

      Written by Rachelle Enns

      Entry Level Example

      "I have had to regularly make difficult decisions, along with my principal. 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 challenging to talk to the parents about our concerns regarding their children."

      Written by Rachelle Enns

      Answer Example

      "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."

      Written by Rachelle Enns

      Experienced Example

      "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."

      Written by Rachelle Enns

      Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback

      Anonymous Answer

      "I made the decision not to change a grade for a football player-even though I was told to do so. He had 51% in my English class, and the administration wanted him to have a 79.5%. It was a large Catholic High School. They fired me!"

      Lauren's Feedback

      Since you are comfortable sharing this example, add more context to your response so the interviewer gets to know who you are. You want to be a standout candidate, so adding more information with your example could be helpful.
      "I have once confronted by a very difficult predicament. I was instructed to change a grade for an athlete. There were a multitude of risks for me, the student, and the school depending on how I decided to deal with the issue. Ultimately, I could not go against my integrity, and therefore did not change the grade. As a result, I was terminated from that school. That experience taught me many lessons. I stand firm my values, and know that I made the right decision. I lead by example, and will not alter my integrity personally or professionally."
      Show More Answers