Superintendent Mock Interview
Master 40 Superintendent interview questions covering budget oversight, compliance, and stakeholder management.
Question 12 of 40
If you were the successful candidate, tell me the first thing you would do to make an impact on our school board.
Example Answer
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Community Answers
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
"If I were hired, I would plan to make an impact on the school board and leadership team by meeting with them immediately to discuss the short and long-term vision for the schools. I believe when all board members feel heard and valued, we can work together to make positive changes that benefit our students and community. To accomplish this, I would schedule regular meetings and encourage board members to share their thoughts and ideas. Additionally, I would work to ensure that all board decisions are transparent and accessible to the public. By fostering a culture of collaboration and transparency, I believe we can make a real impact on our school board. Successful change is much easier to achieve when everyone is working towards a clear goal."
Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.
The interviewer asks you what you would do to impact the school board because they are interested in seeing your priorities if offered the job. They want to hear that you would get to know the school board members and staff to build relationships and understand their goals and challenges. They also want to see that you would work to identify areas for improvement and collaborate with everyone to come up with solutions. If the interviewer mentioned something in the interview that they are looking to improve, describing how you would tackle that issue would be great to mention in your response.
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Anonymous Answer
I want to set up some informal meetings, preferably around mealtimes, where we can eat and share ideas about your vision and goals going forward. I want to know your preferred method for communicating. I also want to know if there are any sacred cows to avoid and when our first official training is scheduled. I am eager to get started and cannot wait to see the great impact of us working together.
Rachelle's Feedback
Your suggestion of setting up meetings around mealtimes is excellent! This idea highlights your 'community' approach nicely. Overall, your method shows respect and spotlights the fact that you will not go in 'guns blazing' but rather with a gentler communicative approach.
Anonymous Answer
I would meet with the board and ask about the board's vision and goals and listen to what was said. I would then develop a plan of action to include stakeholder input, update the plan, and infuse checks to monitor progress and effectiveness.
Rachelle's Feedback
Well done! Your answer is straightforward, and you show that you would take immediate action, without giving away too much of your intellectual property (wait until you're hired) :)
Anonymous Answer
I would meet with each one of you individually and ask what I could do better to help make your time serving our district the best it can be.
Rachelle's Feedback
Nice start! By taking this thoughtful approach, you show the intention of impacting the board/the division vs. focusing solely on your needs.
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