30 Situational Interview Questions for a Teacher
1. What is the biggest conflict you have had at work?
How to Answer
The big conflicts, during work, can stick with a person forever. But, an interviewer wants to see how you have overcome them. Talk about what you have learned and how you have grown from this not-so-fun experience.
1st Answer Example
"I had to break up a fight one day, at the last school I was at. The fight was brutal. The students were punching, swearing, screaming, and everything in-between. Getting in the middle to cool the students down was a chore to say it mildly. But, when all was said and done, I had respect from the administration, fellow teachers, and students, knowing that I would do anything to keep them safe."
2. What situation in teaching makes you feel the least comfortable?
How to Answer
There are things about teaching that people do not like. This can be one of the biggest challenges of the job. But, when you are honest about how you feel, your colleagues and administration can build you up. No school community wants you to feel alone.
1st Answer Example
"I feel the least comfortable with giving out detentions. I do not feel they are best way discipline students. I would love to be a part of the process by using more positive reinforcement. I believe this would change student discipline a lot."
3. What moment(s) made you want to become a teacher?
How to Answer
Becoming a teacher is not a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing. There are moments in one's life that bring out great inspiration. Share with your interviewer what got you to this place in life. Inspiration can help inspire others, so share your story with confidence.
1st Answer Example
"When I was in 5th grade, I had a wonderful teacher. Mr. Johnson helped me enjoy school for the very first time. He was kind to every student and disciplined in a kind fashion. This is the kind of teacher I want to be."
4. What way does not work for discipline?
How to Answer
Not all discipline methods are treated as equal. Share with the interviewer what way or ways you think are troublesome. Help give the administration an idea of how you would discipline and how you would not.
1st Answer Example
"Personally, I believe yelling is never a good discipline method. I have witnessed situations where teachers have escalated issues by yelling. So, I try to speak directly, yet calmly to discipline students, rather than the former."
5. What is your favorite grade level to teach and why?
How to Answer
Sometimes, there are multiple grade levels available to teach. The interviewer may ask you which one you prefer. Be open to teach any grade level, but speak to what you want, as well. This is your chance to give priority to something you want.
1st Answer Example
"I would certainly be willing to teach any grade level. But, if I had a choice, I really enjoy working with the freshmen. There is something about them coming right into high school that I love to be a part of. I feel like I am the kind of teacher who can help bridge the gap for them."
6. Which subject is not fun for you?
How to Answer
As it pertains to teaching, even teachers do not enjoy every single subject. But, any administration needs to do what they need to do in a pinch. If there is an open math position and you have an interest in math, even though you are not completely trained, they may need to place you there. Being a team-player and flexible will get you a lot of jobs in your lifetime.
1st Answer Example
"I enjoy most subjects. But, art has never been my thing. I have zero skill in the subject. I sure do love looking about art and talking about it. Still, there is no way I would be able to draw something that looks better than what a three-year-old could do."
7. As a student, what organizations and clubs were you connected with?
How to Answer
When you are able to share a part of yourself with the administration, they can start to catch vision for what you could be a part of with their community. Think back to when you were in school. Speak to what extra-curriculars you enjoyed and thrived in.
1st Answer Example
"When I was in school, I loved being a part of the Madrigal Choir. It was an eight-boy and eight-girl choir where we sang all ranges of music. Some of the best memories I had in school came from this choir, and I have many of the same friendships still today."
8. Would you like to advise or coach at this school?
How to Answer
An administration is always looking for candidates to step up to the plate to fill voids in any schedule. Even if you do not have the experience, it looks better if you are willing to be a team player. Most administrations will work hard to get you the certification and training you need.
1st Answer Example
"I would be willing to coach and advise at this school. Even though I do not have a lot of experience coaching sports or advising, I am willing to learn and plant myself in this community. This way, I can get to know the students in a different way."
9. What is your preparation like involving standardized assessments?
How to Answer
Standardized assessments show where students stand in a variety of subjects. As a teacher, interviewers want to see how you prepare for the process. Share tips, tools, and tricks that you have used over the years to get students to learn, sometimes without them even knowing about it.
1st Answer Example
"There was a time where I had to get my students ready for the math section of the ACT. We worked through a variety of problems that got harder and harder in nature. Ultimately, we played a game, involving teams, to spice up the learning. The students loved it and many asked for us to play it more."
10. Describe your experience involving IEPs.
How to Answer
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are a purposeful way to help students that need more assistance. Speak about how your have used IEPs before. This way, the interviewer can understand how much you know and what you still need to grasp about backing up the student.
1st Answer Example
"I have not had a lot of experience with IEPs. But, the one student I taught, who had an IEP, needed tests taken orally. Of course, I could not do this during class-time. Instead, we agreed on times before or after school. This way, the student was still able to be successful in my class."
11. How do you increase participation in the classroom?
How to Answer
Not every student will love every class. But, it is a teacher's job to try to get them to participate in what is going on. Talk with the interviewer about techniques you have used over the years.
1st Answer Example
"I always do a check for understanding portion to begin classes. I focus on points that were learned in the previous classes. This way, I either call on students, have them complete some kind of assessment, or work in groups to accomplish a goal. In turn, I get students participating the best way I know how."
12. What is your approach in connecting with parents?
How to Answer
Connecting parents is a valuable way to keep students on task. Also, when teachers are proactive with parents, less conversation usually comes back to the administration. Speak to what your way of communication looks like to keep parents up-to-date.
1st Answer Example
"Parent Teacher Conferences are a great way to connect with parents. But, to me, this is not enough. I am always willing to call, email, and schedule meetings with parents to communicate positive and challenging things about students."
13. How do you support keeping the school a safe-learning atmosphere?
How to Answer
Safety is the number one responsibility of any teacher. By sharing how you keep students safe, the interviewer will know that you care about the subject, as much as they do. Consider evidence of how you have done this over the years.
1st Answer Example
"Safety has always been something I want to be diligent about. So, I have a policy within my classroom where people treat each other with respect. Rude talk is never acceptable in my class. Students who do not follow this will have consequences for their actions."
14. Share a time you did not see eye-to-eye with school leadership? What was your response?
How to Answer
School leadership can vary from a principal to an athletic director to the Dean of Students. Wherever you have had tension, share it with the interviewer, and explain how the confrontation resolved itself. Healthy habits in communication is what the interviewer is looking for here.
1st Answer Example
"The Dean of Students and I had some tension, last year. I was frustrated by the fact he was taking students out of my class constantly to tell them about detentions, requirements, etc. I went directly to him and shared the tension I was filling, and if we could try something else than interrupting my class. We came to an agreement that he could come in on Mondays to talk through things with any student he liked. But, that was the only day to limit interruptions. This ended up being good for all parties invovled."
15. How would you describe our school during your first visit?
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to see what you notice when you step in the halls of their establishment. Be honest about the positives that you see. This way, they will better understand what you care about, as they consider you for the position.
1st Answer Example
"As I walked into your school today, I was greeted by friendly students and staff. It was such a nice welcome from your community. I also noticed the positive quotes littering the hallways. I love that students see positivity wherever they roam."
16. What was a time you failed and how did you handle it?
How to Answer
The interviewer wants to get an idea of something that everyone faces in their lives: failure. Speak openly and honestly about the challenges of the experience and what you learned in the process. This kind of answer will give the interviewer hope that you are malleable and ready to grow.
1st Answer Example
"During my first year of teaching, I had a major fail. I could not handle a class the first day of school. I was downhearted and hopeless. But, that night, I told myself that I was going to push through, grow as a teacher, and do my very best. This mindset has helped me along."
17. Recall a time you explained something to a frustrated student or parent. How did the process go and what was the response like?
How to Answer
How you communicate during a stress situation can really diffuse things. No matter if you are speaking to a frustrated student or teacher, it is important for the educator to be calm and cool. Talk about how your navigated the conversation to a more positive place.
1st Answer Example
"I had a student two years ago who was not happy with her grade on a test. She communicated to me, through yelling, that the test was unfair and that they hated me as a teacher. So, I pulled the student aside, and we talked about the class, what was frustrating, and how I could help her along. I kept a calm demeanor. I don't know if the student ever liked me, but we were able to come to an understanding of what I needed from her and what she needed from me. I just wanted her to be successful, no matter what she thought of me."
18. Tell about a time you set a goal and you completed it.
How to Answer
Goal setting should be a habit for all teachers. An interviewer wants to see if you are always looking to improve your profession. Give an example where you had one in mind and what things were like after you had achieved it.
1st Answer Example
"I had a goal to increase my professional development to become a better teacher. So, I signed up for a summer class to grow in teaching essay writing. I spent two weeks diving into differenct concepts, and I came out with a certification."
19. Share about a difficult colleague you have worked with. What was the experience like?
How to Answer
Another part of teaching is interacting with your peers. Some colleagues can be hard to deal with, but you are still expected to be professional. Speak to what stood out to you in this situation and how you kept pushing the positive.
1st Answer Example
"There was a teacher once who I was neighbors with. She was frustrated with our hallway during the pandemic because teachers were not helping to navigate one-way hallways to help keep the school open. She called us out in a faculty meeting once, which was quite embarrassing. I wanted to protect myself, but I waited to cool-down. Then, I went over to her after the meeting, and expressed the situation that I was not in my classroom much because of COVID protocol and had to navigate different classrooms around campus. She appreciated my honesty, and I tried more and more to be in the hallways, when I had class next to her. I am glad we had a talk one-on-one, instead of an outburst in front of everyone."
20. Speak to a time you had a disagreement with your boss. How was the situation handled in the end?
How to Answer
Not everyone sees eye-to-eye in every situation. The same can be said with an employee and their boss. An interviewer wants to understand how you overcome a challenge like this. Explain how you are upfront with your boss when things like this arise.
1st Answer Example
"I had a time, with a boss years ago, where there was a frustrating conversation. I thought one way about how to handle school protocol compared to what the administration was doing. My boss heard me, while we kept the conversation calm and to the point. Ultimately, the protocol did not change. But, I still respected my boss because they were willing to have a heart-to-heart with me."
21. What do you do when you are on a time-crunch waiting for someone else to finish their part of the task?
How to Answer
Time-crunches are a part of any teacher's life. But, when you are waiting on someone else for a joint project, it can be frustrating when they do not complete their end of the bargain. How you react next is what the interviewer wants to understand. Share honestly how you navigate these kinds of rough waters.
1st Answer Example
"I had a situation, a few years back, where I had to work on accreditation tasks for the school I was at. We were placed with a few teachers to handle the tasks. One teacher, in particular, was supposed to have their stuff in by the end of the day. As we rolled up on the end of the day, I reached out to ask how things were going. The teacher had run out of time and was not able to complete the task. I knew I had two options: allow the situation to unfold with the teacher getting in trouble or doing the work for them. I knew the administration wanted it done, but I did not feel it was fair for me to get put in that situation. Ultimately, I let the situation play out and when the work was not completed, I reached out to the adminstation to complete the missing work. They certainly were thankful that I stepped up to the plate."
22. What are the steps you take to make a difficult decision?
How to Answer
When handling a difficult decision, there needs to be a step-by-step process involved. Dealing with a challenging situation can be frustrating. But, when you have the right protocol in mind, success will come, even in the hardest of times.
1st Answer Example
"As I make a difficult decision, I always think about the steps to follow. Usually, my first inclination is a good one. But, I always have had safeguards in mind. So, no matter the decision, I talk with another teacher about what they think should be done. Then, I go to a school counselor, as well, for feedback. If need be, the adminstartion joins in, depending on the situation."
23. Describe a time when you had a lot of work to do. How did you handle the situation?
How to Answer
There comes a time, for any teacher, when work starts to pile up. The interviewer wants to get a sense of how you handle things under pressure. Speak about a time when you achieved greatness working a lot.
1st Answer Example
"At the end of my last quarter last year, I had a lot of essays to grade. It was a struggle to get them in on-time, but I did it. This meant that I brought essays home to grade, stayed late, and went into work early. I know when I have something due, I am going to get it in when asked because that is the expectation."
24. Share about a difficult student you have worked with. What was the experience like?
How to Answer
Difficult students are a part of the teaching job description. But, what is more important is how you, as the teacher, sets the tone for the situation. Even though the student may bring about trouble, doing your best to change the situation into a positive should be the focus.
1st Answer Example
"A few years ago, I had a student that plagiarized on an essay. This was not the first time either. The first time, I gave the student a second chance, but warned him of his actions. The second time, he got an automatic zero and detention. We talked after and had a heart-to-heart. He shared that he wanted to be a businessman in the future. We talked about tangible ways to make this happen, and our relationship improved because of the intentionality."
25. Tell about a problem you witnessed and how you worked through it.
How to Answer
Problems can crop up at anytime. An interviewer wants to see how you handle these kinds of situations. Ultimately, by seeing your true colors, this will give them a better cue on if they should hire you or not.
1st Answer Example
"In my last my job, there were two boys fighting in the hallway. I started by separating the two, and we walked to the principal's office. I assisted the principal in getting to the bottom of situation. Ultimately, voices were heard, punishments were handed out, and a bright future for both boys ensued because of the protocols that were followed."
26. What are you most proud of in your career?
How to Answer
There are a lot of things to be proud of as a teacher. But, the interviewer wants you to nail down something that is memorable and worthwhile. Share something that shows your humility, but your value at the end of the day.
1st Answer Example
"I am most proud of helping a student at the first school I taught. He was a boy with some learning disabilities. We got together after school everyday to make sure that he was up-to-date on his work. The day he graduated was a proud day for him and me."
27. Describe a time when you made a quality impression on someone.
How to Answer
Having a good first impression is what any administration wants from their teachers, whether it involves meeting students or parents. In an interview setting, how you interact with the interviewer will give them an idea of how you do in other similar situations. Be confident and genuine with your answer.
1st Answer Example
"At the last school I worked at, I had an interaction with parents of a new student. They really appreciated how I greeted them, as they entered the room, and the ease it was to talk with me. This is how I want to be with my students, parents, staff, colleagues, and administration."
28. Speak about a high-pressure experience. What got you through?
How to Answer
Everyone goes through stress in a workplace. The key is how you handle it. An interviewer wants to see your true colors in a situation like this. So, give the full story and how you overcame it.
1st Answer Example
"A high-pressure experience I had to work through was learning how to teach Yearbook. The administration needed help, so I offered. It was an uphill battle to make things work, at first. But, the more time I put in, the more value I received coming out. This was valuable to me and my students."
29. How would you handle being asked to start a task that you have no experience in?
How to Answer
There are some times where a teacher steps up to the plate, even though they do not know what they are doing. An interviewer is looking for this determination no matter what. A quality administration can resource any teacher that is willing. So, be willing, and you will have a better chance of getting the job.
1st Answer Example
"I would be willing to start something I have no experience in. Whether it be an advisor, coach, or handling a project, I am open to working hard and getting the necessary training needed. This way, I can work to be more and more effective in my craft, no matter what the task is."
30. Share a time when you worked with someone who you didn't work well with.
How to Answer
There comes a time in any profession where you work with someone and things don't jive. Any interviewer knows this. But, what they want to hear is how you overcame the situation in a positive manner.
1st Answer Example
"In the last school I was working at, there was a teacher that was very different than me. We were put together on an accreditation project, and it was quite stressful. However, I worked to grasp their working style. By the end, we were able to complete what was expected. It was not easy, but I made it through."