29 Instructional Coordinator Interview Questions

1.

As an instructional coordinator, you will often find yourself on the less popular side of an opinion. How do you deal with that?

Instructional Coordinators are leaders within the school and often have to make tough decisions, or side with leadership on tough decisions. This can be a challenging place to be, especially when you may have close relationships with staff members with a differing opinion. Focus your answer here on a commitment to building relationships, despite differences. As a leader within the building, focus on how you will seek to unify and connect the staff, even when difficult decisions need to be made. If you have an example to share, tell the interviewer a little bit about the issue, why teachers were upset about the resolution, and the steps you took to unify the staff.

Ryan's Answer

"When I know people are upset or disagree with me, I always acknowledge their opinion and hear them out. I ask them for their concerns and really get into why they don't agree with something. I always do my best to give them a thoughtful answer on the spot, but if I can't, I tell them that I'm going to look into the matter for them. When you are a leader, you really have to listen closely to people. This is how you earn their trust and the right to speak with them through conflict. If they see that they're being listened to, it makes it easier to swallow a hard pill when the time comes."

Anonymous Answer

"I will always acknowledge the opinions of the teachers first. I would ask them of the concerns and why they might disagree with something. I would do my best to answer thoughtfully, but If I can't, I will let them know that I would get back to them. It is very important to listen to them first. That's how you earn the right to speak to them."

Rachelle's Answer

Earning the right to be involved, and give an opinion, is a very good point. Your angle is humble but still confident. Nicely done.

Was this answer helpful? Yes or No

Thank you, your vote helps us display the best answers.

2.

How long were you a teacher before transitioning into an Instructional Coordinator?

Be direct and explain why you chose to branch off into the Instructional Coordinator role. Explain why it is a better fit for you than teaching was. Adjust your answer to suit the values and needs of the organization.

Ryan's Answer

"I was a teacher for 5 years. I left teaching to be an Instructional Coordinator as soon as I could because I really wanted to affect the broader educational system. Teaching kids is wonderfully impactful, but I could only impact 30 kids a year. I wanted to make a greater impact on the entire district, and I see this opportunity as a chance to do that."

3.

How do you usually determine which textbooks you will choose?

It is important to always consider the values of the school and the needs of your students. Make sure to demonstrate that you would be aligned with the school's principles and values, first and foremost. Provide a scenario for your interviewer to demonstrate your decision-making process using 'If/Then' language. You can also use this opportunity to explain that you are willing to do your research in order to meet the needs of students and foster curiosity.

Ryan's Answer

"First, I'd look at what standards students need to master in a specific content area and identify the weakest areas in my previous class. If I see that my students' social studies scores could be improved, then I would look into what the deficits were and see if another available textbook could better meet that need. I'd ask my colleagues for their opinions, and I'd also look to online communities for ideas. With those recommendations, I would take a look at each textbook and imagine myself teaching it. It has be accessible and engaging but also challenge my students."

Anonymous Answer

"First, I would analyze the data to get a better understanding of the students' strengths and areas in need of improvement. Next, I would research the best books that would address the needs of our students, while doing so I would also imagine myself as the teacher facilitating the lessons to ensure that I am making a choice that would benefit both teachers and students. Then I would solicit the opinions of the teachers by having them also review the textbooks to suggest feedback, as far as the textbook alignment with the needs of our students as well as if it's teacher and student-friendly."

Rachelle's Answer

Your multi-stage approach is wonderful! This answer shows that you are very mindful of your decisions as an instructional coordinator.

Was this answer helpful? Yes or No

Thank you, your vote helps us display the best answers.

4.

Why did you initially aspire to be an instructional coordinator?

This question provides an opportunity to show your passion for the role and why you think you're a good fit. Research the school's mission and values and illustrate how your values align with theirs. If there are negative reasons that compelled you to move away from being a teacher, focus instead on a positive reason that drew you towards being an instructional coordinator. Don't focus on the sinking ship, focus on the greener pastures.

Ryan's Answer

"Teaching was a wonderful experience and I learned a lot from it. Once I learned about the instructional coordinator position, I knew that that's what I wanted to do because of how much more of an impact I could make on broader decisions that affect the entire school community. I also enjoy building meaningful professional relationships and developing my expertise in order to best serve students and teachers. I look forward to overseeing instruction and helping teachers excel."

5.

Do you want to be in Education for your entire career? Tell me about your long term career goals.

Staff turnover is always a concern in schools and the Instructional Coordinator position, specifically, should be someone who is trusted and has established strong relationships with teachers in the building. It is hard for Instructional Coordinators to have much influence and impact when there is a new person in the position each year or few years. The interviewer is concerned with finding a long-term fit for this role. Your objective here is to remove any doubts that your career trajectory will lead you away from the education field. Be sure to communicate your commitment to the role, without making any promises you know you can't keep.

Ryan's Answer

"I've always wanted to be in education. I was a teacher for five years, so I really know the field quite well. I'm looking for ways to grow professionally. I'd like to be an instructional coordinator for 3-5 years, so I can develop good relationships with school staff and prove myself. From there, I plan on seeing what opportunities exist at a higher level in school leadership. Eventually, I may even consider opening a charter school."

6.

How do you continuously strive to improve the teaching abilities of your team?

This question provides an opportunity to demonstrate how you build relationships with your team of teachers in order to support and encourage them professionally. Show that you care about the teachers on your team, but also that you are willing to challenge them to grow as educators. Discuss the process you use to get to know teachers, identify weak spots and areas of strength, hold teachers accountable, and truly help them develop.

Ryan's Answer

"It is important to me to build rapport and trust with the teachers on my team. I value getting to know them on a personal level, along with hearing about their professional goals. I have weekly check-ins with my team, as well as monthly and quarterly meetings, where we talk about short-term and medium-term objectives and concerns that they might have. I'm very big on giving feedback as immediately as I can and following up to see if they're implementing it. I ask them to come up with positives from the new implementations and see if there are any negatives. This is the continual feedback system that I use to improve the team."

7.

What drives you to do your best every day?

Prior to the interview, research the school's mission and values and consider how your teaching philosophy and personal values line up with it. This is an excellent opportunity to reveal more about your character, your life experiences, and your passion. Share an anecdote that highlights a personal value that is aligned with the school's mission. Be creative about bridging the gap between the school's mission and the motivation for your performance. Your answer to this questions may be just what the interviewer remembers most about your interaction.

Ryan's Answer

"I really like that your school strives for agency. I think that at-risk students can only thrive if everyone takes agency and ownership of the experience. The parent, the teacher, and the student all need to understand that they have power in their own hands. And that's what drives me to do my best every single day: I know that students depend on their teachers and see them as a role model. I have made a personal commitment to excellence in all areas of my life because I know the consequences that can have on those around me who are watching, most importantly, the students I serve and see everyday."

8.

How closely do you adhere to National curriculum standards?

Prior to your interview, you should have a good understanding of national and state requirements for the grade level you will be closely working with, as well as the framework of standards the school subscribes to. Provide a straightforward answer and demonstrate your understanding of the importance of adherence to professional standards.

Ryan's Answer

"I fully meet the standards and earned my license to teach Social Studies for grades 7-12. I am very familiar with and feel comfortable teaching the Common Core State Standards, as required by your school."

9.

How do you continue to educate yourself?

Instructional Coordinators need to always be on the look out for new research, advanced technology, best practices, and improved resources and programs. In order to best serve students and their families, an Instructional Coordinator must remain current and well read in popular topics and issues in education. Share a few publications that you subscribe to and/or any other resources that keep you up-to-date in the world of education, and share your commitment to be a lifelong learner.

Ryan's Answer

"I always strive to improve. Even though I have my Master's, I'm not done learning. I keep up with the latest techniques on Educator Today, and I subscribe to a daily 'Tip of the Day' email for educators. I look for ways to apply these tips on a daily basis, and at the end of the day, I reflect and see what went well and what didn't. Then, I think of ways to improve and also to reinforce what I'm doing well."

Anonymous Answer

"I always strive to improve. Even though I have my doctorate, I am not done learning. I keep up with the latest techniques and research by reading research journals on ASCD."

Rachelle's Answer

Great answer! I like how you made mention of your higher education while also expressing that you are eager to continue your learning.

Was this answer helpful? Yes or No

Thank you, your vote helps us display the best answers.

10.

What is your favorite form of interactive learning?

Provide your favorite form of interactive learning and explain why by using brief points that relate to the school's mission and values. Share how this form of interactive learning has boosted engagement and supported students in their learning and development.

Ryan's Answer

"I love using Minecraft to teach because it really energizes and engages the students. I've found that I can teach certain topics through playing the game, and students absolutely love it. I know that this school believes in leveraging technology to improve students' experiences, and Minecraft has a lot of systems to facilitate that learning. For example..."

11.

How do you stay up to date on new technologies to better enhance student learning?

Describe any habits you've developed to keep current on technology in education. This could include teacher-facing and/or student-facing software or tech aimed at supporting learners in their education. Share about professional development opportunities you like to take advantage of or any education publications/blogs you subscribe to. Be sure to provide an example that demonstrates you are able to navigate resources and always have the best interest of teachers, students, and their families in mind.

Ryan's Answer

"I'm always reading technology magazines like Wired and Popular Science. Whenever I see something new and interesting, I think about how I might be able to use it in a lesson and how it could benefit students. For example, when iPads first came out, I read about how the App Store would be open to any developers who wanted to create and offer an app. So, I kept an eye on the educational software section. It is important to get new technology into the hands of students to stimulate learning, and so they become comfortable navigating new programs and devices."

12.

As an instructional coordinator, how do you keep yourself motivated and enthusiastic, even when you are met with resistance?

A key thing to mention in response to this question is that you're resilient and always remain positive. Instructional Coordinators needs to have thick skin and keep one thing in mind: doing right by students. You may also want to mention how you will go about taking care of yourself outside of work. The more concrete your examples, the better. This is an opportunity to show your thinking process and interpersonal skills. Share an example of a time you turned a negative into a positive, and end on a positive note.

Ryan's Answer

"I really believe in the school's mission, and I'm really empathetic. When tension is high, I remind myself of how exceptional both the teachers and the school leadership are; they both care about the students so much that they have a personal stake in the way things are done. That puts a smile on my face. And every morning, I remind myself that education is a dynamic field; it is constantly changing as our world advances. I'm really lucky to be part of such a dynamic field that keeps me intellectually engaged. When times are tough, I ground myself in gratitude and practice self-care to make sure I am always operating at my best at work."

13.

When you were a teacher, what was your favorite subject to teach? What grades?

Provide an honest and thoughtful answer that shows off your professional experience and your passion for working with students. Try to connect your passion for teaching your favorite subject and grade level to your work as an Instructional Coordinator.

Ryan's Answer

"I really loved teaching English to sixth graders. In sixth grade, students are no longer in elementary school; they want to mature and contribute in different ways, and a lot of them are excited to have that extra responsibility. They start to question authority more, which makes things more challenging and interesting, which I like. As an instructional coordinator, I know I can provide a lot of wisdom, best practices, and lessons learned throughout my years in the classroom."

14.

If a school is performing poorly in a certain subject, what are your immediate action steps?

If you have the experience, share about a specific time you encountered this problem. Share a high-level description of the problem and the specific action steps you took to resolve it. Include how you identified the problem, how you decided on an action plan, and how you shared the action plan with staff and got them on board. Make sure your answer spans the short term first. If appropriate or necessary, zoom out a little bit and talk about your strategies to improve on a medium-to-long term timeline.

If you don't have the experience here, explain how you would go about tackling an issue like this. Consider what kind of intervention you would implement, what resources you would look into, how you could leverage your staff for ideas and support, and how you would ensure your solution was improving student outcomes.

Ryan's Answer

"I would bring it to the attention of the teachers and ask them if there have been any particular pain points that they're experiencing in the teaching and learning of that subject area. I would then ask them if there's anything they can immediately identify that we could be doing better or if there are resources that they need but don't yet have. Brainstorming alongside the teachers could help to identify some immediate adjustments to improve the situation.
From there, we would talk about deeper issues, such as problems with infrastructure and the administrative system, and collaborate to come up with a better path forward. I would also audit the new strategies to ensure that they were working to improve student outcomes."

15.

How have you helped teachers understand new technologies for the classroom?

If you have experience successfully introducing new technology to teachers for use in their classrooms, share your experience and highlight how teachers felt because of your training and guidance. The main point is to paint a clear picture for the interviewer as to how you successfully engage teachers and support them in their work. Walk the interviewer through what you did (or would do), how you supported (or would support) teachers throughout their learning, and how teachers left (or would leave) the training feeling.

Ryan's Answer

"I ask the principal if I can take up some time on professional development day for a seminar to teach the teachers about a new technology. I gather all the teachers on that day and give them an overview of the technology. For instance, it might be a new eLearning platform. I'll show them a quick tour of the features and give examples of how they might use them in class. Then, I'll have the teachers interact with the platform for 5-10 minutes, and then host a Q&A session. I would welcome their feedback and make myself available to them, should they have any more questions or need support. I would want teachers to leave the training feel well-equipped and supported in using the new platform to their advantage."

16.