Tell me about a time when you failed to meet an objective.
Use this questions as an opportunity to share about a time you missed the mark but also what you learned from the experience. It is best to end on a positive note with a lesson learned. Describe the experience you had and take responsibility for what went wrong, without blaming anyone. Then, describe what you learned and the steps you took to improve your performance.
"I was tasked with increasing standardized test scores for math by 25%. I worked hard all year and was able to increase scores by 19%. I looked back on the year and took stock of the things that I could've done better. I asked teachers for feedback, and I asked the principal for feedback as well. I even sent a survey to students' parents. I took all that information and identified areas of improvement, like better supporting parents in helping students get ready for the test. Then, I made a plan to improve on each area and invited school leadership to give me feedback and suggestions."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I was asked to increase student reading achievement on the second quarterly benchmark by 25%. I worked very hard by adjusting my lessons and teaching practices. I was able to increase it by 20%. I looked back on the previous quarters and took stock on the things that I could do better. I participated in additional teacher groups, online and in my school, to elicit effect feedback on different lesson ideas and resources. With all of the acquired information, I was able to identify areas of improvement and construct a plan to improve.
Rachelle's Feedback
A 20% increase is an achievement you should be very proud of! You do a great job showing the interviewer that you are very analytical in your approach and able to leverage data when making improvements.
Anonymous Answer
This school year, my plan was to offer whole group professional learning during our monthly faculty meetings since we did not have a common planning period for any content area or any of the grade levels this school year. I didn't meet this objective because in reality, the faculty meetings had to be used for other purposes and they were also virtual; which made connecting feel a little distant for all of us. In previous years, we have had mini-PL during in-person faculty meetings and they went very well when done in person.
Cindy's Feedback
Good. Your answer shows a "big picture" understanding of the situation. I would recommend adding more about what you learned or how you grew from not meeting your objectives.
Unlock all 29 Instructional Coordinator questions
Unlock expert responses that demonstrate your curriculum leadership and instructional expertise.
Get Started