What was the first question for the teacher

25 Common Teacher Interview Questions—and How to Answer Them

Being a teacher is incredibly rewarding. After all, you get to shape how your students learn, grow, and see the world around them.

Of course, teachers have things they need to learn, too—like how to answer interview questions in a way that’ll nab you a job at that amazing school you’ve had your eye on.

You’ll still get asked the more general interview questions like “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” or “Why do you want this job?” But you’ll also face more specific queries about, say, working with students or designing a lesson plan.

To help you prepare, check out these common teacher interview questions—with advice on how to answer them and example answers. Plus, learn what skills and qualities hiring managers are looking for and get some bonus tips for nailing your next interview.

No matter the specific role or workplace, hiring managers look for common themes in qualified teaching applicants:

Keep these themes in mind as you prepare for your teaching interview and look for opportunities to communicate them whenever possible—especially in response to these common questions.

Need some tips for writing your teaching resume? Find a full guide here.

“You have to know who you are as an individual and as an educator, and you have to know what you can bring to the school,” says Calvin Brown, Senior Recruiter at Alignstaffing, an education staffing firm. This question gets to the heart of that passion and self-awareness.

How to answer

Rule #1: Don’t say, “Summer vacations!” But seriously—this one should be easy to answer. There’s probably something that made you want to get into education. Maybe you enjoy teaching your friends new things, are a facts wizard bursting with knowledge, or love connecting with children. Focus not just on what you like about teaching but also on what you can bring to the table.

For example, you might say: “I really admired my third grade teacher, Mrs. Kim, and even after I left her class I still returned to her for advice and guidance over the years. It’s that sense of warmth and acceptance she provided me that inspired me to become a teacher. I want to be that person others can lean on as they navigate the rough waters of growing up.”

Interviewers want to see that you really want to help students develop inside and outside school—not just push them toward some academic result. Basically, you care about people and their success, and you’ve thought about what that success looks like and how you’ll help students achieve it.

How to answer

You’ll want to be honest about your specific style and mindset when it comes to teaching. But also consider what this school’s philosophy is like, and try to emphasize where your values naturally overlap.

For example, you might talk about how you take a community approach to education, which means “knowing that you’re one piece of this person’s journey,” says Mary Findley, Senior Teacher Success Manager at Skillshare and a former Teach for America Core Member and elementary school teacher.

You could answer with: “I believe when students are challenged with realistic goals and given the support they need not to just get the answers right but to be able to use those lessons to solve future problems on their own, everyone comes out on top. I think that as a teacher, it’s my job to support my students through the lessons I give, but also through the various challenges they may face at school, and to partner with them as well as other support systems to help them feel motivated, comfortable, and happy in the classroom.”

Students don’t all learn or behave the same way, which may make it a challenge to have them all in one classroom at the same time. Difficulties with students can look like many different things, from falling grades to disrupting lessons. So interviewers want to know that you’re up to the task of helping students with the varied obstacles they may face.

How to answer

A good answer delves into figuring out the cause of a student’s behavior, as that’s often the most important step. “When students are disengaged, it’s either because the content’s too challenging, it’s too easy, or there could be some outside-of-school factors,” Findley says.

Your response should show that “you’re meeting the student where they’re at and building on their strengths,” Findley says. It should also emphasize that you’re “collaboratively discussing” solutions with the student rather than ordering them around.

If you have an example story to tell, that’s a great way to state your case. Just make sure your story is well structured to convey the message you want. Consider using the STAR method whenever you’re answering an interview question with a story—i.e., make sure you cover the Situation you found yourself in, the Task you needed to complete, the Action you took, and the Result your action had, in that order.

You could say: “For me, the first step would be to pull them aside and talk about the issue privately. My main questions would get at the root cause of this student’s behavior. Once I know that, I try to work with them to come up with a solution. I used this strategy in my last classroom, where I had a student who couldn’t seem to stay in his seat during lessons and I found out that sitting still too long made him feel confined and nervous. We talked about how his behavior affected the rest of the class, and we agreed that when he was feeling really anxious he could raise his hand and I’d let him take a lap around the classroom, but only when it was appropriate. I also decided to make some of my lessons more active and hands-on so that other students could benefit from getting out of their seats every once in a while.”

Interviewers want to see how you influence students to do what you need them to do. Findley adds that this is an especially important thing to vet for when hiring remote teachers, because motivating others over video requires a lot more creativity than when you’re teaching in person.

How to answer

Motivating your class is really about having a personalized approach, Findley says. You’ll want to show that you can engage a classroom, as well as take into consideration various students’ needs and drivers. Brown adds, “You have to know your students, you have to know their strong points [and] their weak points.” So make sure that your answer shows an individualized approach.

Take this sample answer: “Positive reinforcement is super important to keep a student motivated, so one thing I like to do is throw out rewards or bonuses when they perform especially well. This could be candy, or a star, or a sticker, or even just a compliment—whatever I can tell students enjoy receiving, and it’s different for everyone. I never want students to feel left out or favored, so I always try to be fair and consistent with everyone. But it’s those little moments of recognition I think that keep them happy and excited to learn.”

Part of being a teacher is working with parents and guardians—i.e., the people who influence how your students learn and behave in the classroom just as much as (if not more than) you do. Building trust with the adults in your students’ lives can often help you build stronger relationships with the students themselves and create some consistency between school and home.

How to answer

“I’m looking to see that a candidate will take every opportunity to interact with parents in person,” Brown says. “Ultimately, I’m looking for candidates that believe parent collaboration is key to a student’s success, and they will take the time to maintain an ongoing, open conversation.”

To show you take building relationships with family members seriously, you could say: “I think it’s really important to get to know the important family members in each student’s life. Which is why at the beginning of the school year I like to have individual meetings with each student’s family. I’ll also send out a survey to get a better understanding of the student’s home life, needs, and family dynamics. Then, throughout the year, I build on that foundation by touching base to share positive updates and small wins in addition to discussing any challenges the student might be facing academically or behaviorally.”

This question is about showing that you’re curious and believe in continuous learning—qualities that are important in a teacher as well as for a teacher to pass on to students. In other words, Findley says, the interviewer’s asking: “What are some personal interests? How are you developing yourself both within your professional career [and] personal development as well?”

How to answer

Hopefully, you’re doing something to help yourself grow—it doesn’t have to be extensive or even career-related! Maybe you’re reading a series of books about a topic, taking a class, or practicing a new skill. Use this activity to show that you have an “always learning” mindset and an appreciation for continuing to get better at something.

Here’s what that sounds like: “I used to speak Italian in college, so I’ve recently picked up Duolingo to try to reteach myself some of the basics. I’d love to continue to become more fluent so I can travel to Italy and talk with locals!”

Parents and students aren’t the only people you’ll be interacting with. You’ll frequently need to partner with aides, school staff, and other teachers to help students succeed, so your interviewer wants to know that you can work with just about anyone.

How to answer

Telling a story about a team situation where things didn’t go perfectly is a great way to show you can communicate and collaborate with others even when times are tough. “But don’t emphasize the conflict—emphasize how you got through the conflict to have something that was effective,” Swartz says. “Even if you’re not a teacher with experience, you can still highlight how you go about your work by giving past examples” from another context.

For example, you could reply: “In my last role as a project coordinator, I had to partner with our account managers to meet a really tight deadline set by a client. We were all a little frazzled because the project required a lot of revisions, but we put our heads together and divided the work, even staying late a couple days to make sure we finished on time. I definitely don’t think we could have accomplished it without working together, and I believe the same is true as a teacher working with other staff—you can’t go it alone if you’re going to successfully foster a learning environment that works for all students and supports them as individuals.”

Brown says that with either of these questions, the interviewer wants to hear: “When you come across things that are obstacles, how do you overcome them?” In other words, the interviewer wants to see that you can solve problems in an intentional way. Brown also emphasizes that accomplishments and challenges often come hand in hand. So answering this question shows “that drive for achievement” that interviewers want to see in teachers.

How to answer

Pick a story where you had to stretch yourself a bit, but ultimately got to a successful outcome. Remember to also talk about your problem solving process in addition to the results.

Maybe you could say: “When I was in retail, I dealt with one particularly difficult customer who wasn’t satisfied with their purchase. Most of my team was struggling to connect with them, but I was determined to set things right. So I was patient and took the time to really listen to their complaints without guessing what the problem was or assuming what the solution should be. That not only helped me understand the root of their issue, but helped them see I was going to work with them. In the end, we came up with a solution that seemed like a good compromise for the customer. They left the store in a lot better of a mood than when they entered, and turning someone’s day around felt truly great.”

You might spend hours preparing to teach a particular unit, “but then something will happen and it throws off your whole lesson plan,” Swartz says. So interviewers want to see that you can think on your feet and handle a conflict when it arises.

How to answer

Share a story that makes it clear you can stay calm, cool, and collected when a situation changes.

You could give the example: “When I was a camp counselor, I often had to keep campers entertained through rainy weather or a blip in the activities schedule. The first time it happened I didn’t really know how to handle the group, so I decided to put together a one-sheeter of activities and games and share it with the other counselors so we could refer to it in the future. I can confidently say no camper was disappointed with the change of schedule—they loved all the games, and the staff was relieved how smoothly things went after that first time.”

Receiving and implementing feedback well is important for your growth as an educator. “This is actually most critical for veteran teachers,” Swartz says. Since they’d be most likely to “communicate a level of, ‘I’ve already gotten this, I’ve already arrived, I don’t need any extra feedback.’”

How to answer

Consider a time when you got feedback that was tough to take but ultimately made you better at your job. Talk through how you received it (hopefully with an open mind!) as well as how you made the change.

For example: “At my last school, one of the teachers on my team shared with me that students had been talking about how lost they were after a recent math lesson. They were complaining that I went way too fast. It was rough to get this criticism because I’d thought this class was happy with my teaching style and learning a lot. But I knew I had to take it to heart. So for all my classes—not just the one that complained—I implemented a color-coded card system. Each student received red, yellow, and green cards, and I got in the habit of stopping every few minutes to ask for cards. Students would hold up red cards for me to slow down, yellow if everything was going well, or green if I could speed up. I’d adjust accordingly and over time, I noticed more and more yellow cards as I discovered the best pace for each class. This also had the added benefit of me seeing who was holding up a lot of red cards so I could offer them extra assistance or attention outside of the lesson.”

Depending on the subject matter and classroom you’re signing up for, this question can really vary in how it’s delivered. But “Being able to correctly show a mastery of [course] content versus just the knowledge of the content” is key, Swartz says. Do you *really* understand the material you’re teaching inside and out?

How to answer

You need to show you can “reverse engineer” the problem, Swartz explains. You’ll want to explain your process for identifying the issue and then your approach for resolving the misunderstanding or difficulty that your students are having in mastering the material.

Take this example question Swartz gives: “What are some of the common misconceptions students might have when solving the problem 31.8 + 0.45? How would you address these?”

A good response might be: “One common problem is that students won’t line everything up by the place value or decimal. They may line the five up right below the eight and therefore get the wrong answer. I would teach them to line the decimals up and then put zeros as place holders so they don’t get confused. I would also encourage them to draw a line from each addend all the way down to their sum to make sure all the decimals are in line. I always remind students to read carefully and double check their work to avoid common mistakes like this.”

The interviewer isn’t just looking for a quality lesson that’s accurate and engaging. They also want to know how you think about planning lessons. “A lot of it’s going to be about debriefing your process, like what went well. and then what are things that you can work on,” Findley says.

How to answer

This question requires a bit more preparation on your part than a typical interview question. If you have an example lesson from a previous role, that’s great. If not, consider whipping up a quick lesson plan you might like to give. Talk through what it’ll look like from start to finish, why exactly you decided to take that approach, and allow the interviewer to ask questions about your process.

If you’re leaning on a past experience, also highlight the parts of the lesson you would change based on how it went—which will demonstrate your ability to adapt and grow as you teach.

While this might seem like the easiest interview question in the book, it’s one you should actively prepare for with thoughtful questions targeted at the specific interviewer and role.

How to answer

“Don’t just ask, when can I expect to hear something?” Swartz says. If you do have a question about next steps, make it your last one after you’ve posed others. Until that point, “Ask some serious questions about that school. That’s your opportunity to interview them as much as they’re interviewing you, and they are going to respect that,” Swartz says. “Any question that [candidates] ask where I can see that they’ve done their research about the position is a great question to me.”

Here are a few suggestions to get the ball rolling, but be sure to come up with your own *specific* questions about the school and role:

In addition to the questions above, you might get queries like these:

Most importantly, “Be confident in what you already know and your experiences prior,” Brown says. Be yourself—or rather, your professional self—and you’re sure to land the right teaching job for you.

Regina Borsellino also contributed writing, reporting, and/or advice to this article.

21 English Teacher Interview Questions & Answers

Pass YOUR interview at the first attempt!

Here’s the FULL LIST of ENGLISH TEACHER INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS :

“Thank you for inviting me to be interviewed for this position today. I have a great passion for the English language, and in particular, imparting my knowledge onto others through effective teaching methods. Apart from having many years’ experience teaching a variety of classes, the skills and qualities I possess that will make me a competent English teacher include, excellent spoken and written skills, confidence in my subject, patience, clear diction and also the ability to think laterally to get my subject across to everyone, regardless of their age, background or their level of ability. If you hire me as your English teacher, I can ensure you that you will be getting someone who is professional, self-motivated, highly-organized, and purely focused on teaching the curriculum that is set by the school.”

“The first thing I did when I saw this position advertised, was to spend some time carrying out research into what you are like as a school, the standards you set and also the mission you have in regard to teaching. It quickly became apparent that you not only have high standards, but that you also have a genuine desire to help your pupils and students develop the necessary skills and qualifications to succeed in life. As we all know, teaching the English language is very important, and it is one of those subjects that underpins the foundations for success in other subjects. On that basis, there comes a huge amount of responsibility with the position of English teacher, and I only want to teach at a school where I will be supported to maintain the highest standards achievable. Once I had finished my research, I was very excited to submit my application and I feel strongly you will be impressed with my teaching abilities, professionalism, and strong work ethics if you hire me as your English teacher.”

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Teaching interview questions

Tips for answering interview questions

Structuring your responses to interview questions using the STAR method will ensure you’re getting your point across:

Keep your answers concise. Describe your maximum achievement in the minimum time, and be sure to finish on a positive note so your interviewers are left with a strong overall impression of you.

Personalise your answers. Do your research on the school and visit if you possibly can. Talk to anyone you know who works, trains or studies there, and find out what you can online about their curriculum, academics, recent Ofsted report, catchment area and specialisms.

Mention at least some of your findings in your answers to show your genuine enthusiasm in them as a school or organisation. This will help your answers stand out.

Ask someone you know to give you a mock interview as practice, such as a friend, tutor, teacher or careers adviser.

Why do you want to be a teacher?

You need to demonstrate that teaching is your first choice, not a plan B. Talk about your motivation and emphasise your passion for teaching. Provide good examples from your time in school and the specific teaching elements that you find satisfying. Avoid broad responses such as ‘I have always wanted to be a teacher’.

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Why do you want to work in our school?

Often one of the first questions in most teaching interviews, preparation is vital to successfully answer this question. Think about why you would be a good fit to work or study in the school you’re interviewing at. Talk about why you’re interested in their school specifically, mentioning what you know about its ethos, values, demographics, educational goals and objectives, initiatives, or extracurricular activities.

How will you manage challenges at work?

What experience do you have in schools?

Look beforehand at the experience the school is asking for and emphasise where you have it. Your interview is where you can give more evidence to support your CV and application. Draw on your past experience of working or observing in a school. Describe the school and reflect on what you learned, as well as what most interested or surprised you. Experience in other settings and with different age ranges than those you’re applying to teach in, such as nurseries, youth clubs or play schemes, is also relevant.

What are the core skills and qualities that pupils look for in teachers?

Match the skills you have with those you know the school are looking for, as outlined in the job description or person specification. Sought after key skills in teaching interviews include:

It’s not enough to simply say you have the skills, you will need to provide examples of when you’ve successfully demonstrated them.

What qualities do you have which would make you an effective teacher?

Focus on what you’ll bring to their school and how your skills will benefit them.

Safeguarding and equal opportunities

In any teaching interview there is a question about safeguarding, which may take the form of any of the following:

You’re also likely to be asked a question about equal opportunities, such as:

How would you evaluate [the lesson you just taught] and what you would do differently next time?

Acknowledge that you probably don’t know the pupils very well. By asking if you can have a seating plan or list of the pupils’ names before the lesson, you’ll impress your assessors. Consider the progress of individuals in the lesson, remember some of their names if you can and give the panel some suggestions of what your follow-up lesson would be.

If I walked into your classroom during an outstanding lesson, what would I see and hear?

Give a full list, as your interviewer may have a checklist to see how much you mention. Demonstrate your passion for high-quality teaching but limit your response time to two minutes.

Tell us about a behaviour management strategy you have used to help engage an individual learner or group.

You could talk about how you’ve successfully handled a disruptive pupil or student. Give an example of a situation where a strategy you used has been effective in the classroom. Talk about the effective behaviour management strategies you’ve come across or heard about.

Give an example of when you have improved teaching and learning in the classroom and how you knew you had been successful.

Think of evidence before the interview so you are prepared with clear examples of success. Consider taking a few examples of your work, maybe feedback from others or data around student improvement. Don’t be shy when talking about where you have improved teaching and learning, as this is something your interviewers really want to know about.

Can you give an example of when a pupil refused to cooperate in class?

This is likely to entail some follow up questions:

Your interviewers want to get a sense of you as a teaching professional. This could be where you mention good working relationships with parents and carers, school policies, working together as a staff team or your behaviour management strategies. Be prepared with a good example of where you have made a difference and any successful results.

Why should we appoint you?/What would we be missing out on by not appointing you?

A related question is ‘what are you bringing to the role of a teacher?’

Don’t be modest in putting across your strong points during the interview. You might start with, ‘As you can see from my application…’ and then lead into a quick rundown of your qualifications and relevant experience. If you haven’t already, present your strengths and how you’ll utilise them to enhance the quality of teaching in their school.

What are some of the current issues in education?

Be ready with a few specific examples of topics you have heard about recently. Consider how they impact teaching and learning, always using examples from your experience where you can. You could refer to a discussion in the staff room, a news report or something you have heard about in your training. Often this may be something that is putting pressure on teachers at the moment. Keep up to date with at least one issue that relates to your subject or age group.

Finally, is there anything you’d like to ask us?

Prepare a couple of questions to ask at the end of the interview. Some of the best types of questions focus on processes in the school, such as:

With some advance planning, preparing and practicing of your answers, you’ll be able to handle yourself confidently. Think clearly and leave the interview knowing you’ve told them all they need to know.

25 Most Common Teacher Interview Questions & Answers in 2022

You’ve got a job interview tomorrow. And you’re terrified of the teacher interview questions they could come up with. You need to walk in cool and ready, and prove you’ve got the skills.

Don’t worry. A little prep can turn the world around! You’re about to see the top 25 teacher interview questions and answers, so that you can have the perfect responses handy.

This guide will show you:

Can’t land an interview in the first place? Your teaching resume might be to blame. Fix it with the help of these guides:

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Looking for more interview questions for a teacher? Here are the most common job interview questions and answers:

25 Most Common Teacher Interview Questions [1–10]

These teacher interview questions and answers will make the interviewers ask you a question:

“When can you start?”

They cover popular high school interview questions, special education teacher interview questions, substitute or assistant teacher interview questions, and more.

Why do you want to be a teacher?

“Why did you become a teacher?” is the most common of all interview questions for teachers.

Administrators want to know you’re motivated to work through inevitable frustrations. And believe me, they’ve heard every generic answer in the books.

“Because I want to help people” won’t work. Find something specific that shows you’re motivated like no other.

Example Answer

I had trouble reading as a child My 4th grade teacher, Mrs. Paulette, introduced us to an amazing list of short stories and books. She read to us and worked with us on reading comprehension. Her care switched on an unquenchable thirst that led me to read thousands of books on topics as diverse as history, biology, sociology, and nature. Mrs. Paulette’s attention forever changed my outlook on life. Since then, I’ve known I wanted to do exactly what she did—to give children tools to last for their entire lives.

What is your teaching philosophy?

Teacher interview questions like this ask, “Are you a good fit for our school?” It’s the teaching equivalent of “tell me about yourself.”

Don’t answer elementary teacher interview questions for an unstructured school with, “I believe in structured learning.”

Take the time to learn the school’s philosophy before the interview.

Example Answer

I believe in teaching to each student’s passion. For instance, in one kindergarten class, my students had trouble with punctuation. I observed that one student, Mary, suddenly got excited about apostrophes. I fueled her passion with a big book on punctuation. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and soon the entire class was asking bright and animated questions. Whenever possible, I try to deliver structured lessons in an unstructured way like this.

That answer uses the S.T.A.R. approach to teaching interview questions. It shows a Situation, a Task, an Action, and a Result.

How much do you want to know about your students in order to be most helpful to them?

This is another of those interview questions for teachers that depends on the school’s philosophy.

One administrator might think it’s crucial to know every detail. Another might say, “A doctor doesn’t need to know her patient’s favorite ice cream flavor.”

Be honest, but find common ground, as in this teaching interview questions answer:

Example Answer

I need to know a student’s learning styles, passions, and challenges. One difficult student, Tim, was disruptive in class. I joined him on the playground on and off. It turned out he was being bullied after school by his brother’s friends. I spoke with Tim’s parents, and they had no idea. Tim became my star student, and as a result, my whole class got quieter and easier to teach.

How to Prepare for a Teaching Interview:

Why do you want to work for our school district?

Administrators want to know if you really want this job.

So—find things you love about the school.

Talk to teachers who work there. Check out the school’s website, mission statement, and “About Us” page.

Finally, take some time to think of how you fit.

Example Answer

I respect Snowy Peaks High’s belief in teaching to the whole child. Your focus on academics, character, community, and nature fit perfectly with my own philosophy. It’s easier to teach well-rounded students. The best lesson plan in the world can’t help a child who’s struggling in all other areas of life.

How can you help our school/students?

Teacher interview questions like this don’t have to make you blink.

Remember:

Take the time to learn the school’s needs first.

The example below is for a school with a high percentage of disruptive students.

Example Answer

I’ve talked to several of your teachers and heard about their challenges with classroom management. My own classroom management skills are highly developed. I’ve taken 18 continuing education credits in class management from the University of Phoenix’s online program. I was commended at my last school after fully engaging a class with over 25% disruptive students. I used a mix of nonverbal cues, transition cues, timeouts, and several other kernel-based strategies. I believe I can be just as effective here.

What do you find most frustrating about teaching?

Teaching interview questions like this attempt to see if you are easily discouraged.

So—your answer has to show your inner strength.

Example Answer

I get very frustrated with bright kids who become overconfident and don’t apply themselves. There’s nothing sadder or more common than wasted potential. At my last position, I worked with several children who weren’t trying. I implemented a research-based program to incorporate student ideas into the lesson plan. The addition of their thoughts created more complete engagement. Test scores went up 15% in just two months.

Pro Tip: Teaching is frustrating. Many common interview questions for teachers focus on that pain. Don’t minimize it. Instead, explain your skills at working through it.

Why should we hire you to teach here?

This is the teacher interview questions equivalent of the old standby, “Why should we hire you?”

The example answer below is for a school that wants technology in the curriculum.

Example Answer

I’m well aware of your new technology initiative. We were tasked with the same challenge at my last school. Thanks to my strong tech background, I was able to add online quizzes easily. The students loved them, and they cut administrative processing by 25%.

How would you get your classroom ready for the first day of school?

This and similar teacher interview questions look at your preparedness.

First steps create a first impression. Your plan for first steps says a lot about your teaching skills.

Example Answer

I want my classroom to be welcoming and nurturing. I also make the ground rules obvious. A welcome sign and labeled desks help students feel at home from day one. Engaging posters and other visual aids help create a sense of excitement. Beyond fun, a large list of rules and consequences at the front of the room helps the class start on the right foot.

Why do we teach (science, math, French, etc.) in school?

Why does your subject matter to you?

If you say, “So they can get good jobs,” you’ll flunk common interview questions for teachers like this.

Think why you care about the subject at a gut level.

Example Answer

I’ve always believed our future depends on regular people using science in day-to-day decisions. Science is at the core of a sense of wonder for our natural world. That wonder can drive students to improve their learning skills. It can take them places they never thought they’d go.

How do you evaluate your students?

Common teacher interview questions like this examine how you measure your performance.

As usual, avoid generic answers. Cite an accomplishment and how it helped your students.

Example Answer

I evaluate students with formal and informal methods, including quizzes and tests. I also grade in-class activities like reports, recitations, desk work, and group activities. One student, Terry, showed a strong grasp of concepts during in-class activities, but performed poorly during testing. Through working closely with him, I uncovered an undiagnosed vision problem. Terry got corrective lenses and his test scores rose to match his in-class comprehension.

Beware. Teaching interview questions like the above may look for whether you use assessments vs tests.

15 Less Common Teacher Interview Questions [11–25]

The next 15 interview questions for teachers aren’t on the A-list.

As one of my teachers used to say, prepare for them anyway because they may be on the test.

You never know which teaching job interview question you might face. More prep = less chance of a flub.

Those are the top 25 teacher interview questions and answers. Want one more question to rule them all? That’s coming in a second.

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The Most Important Interview Question for Teachers

Here’s the ultimate teacher interview question:

“Do you have questions for me?”

Why’s that earthshaking?

So, do a little head-scratching in advance.

Which of the reverse-teaching interview questions below fit the job opening best?

Which ones show you as the strongest candidate?

Questions to Ask in a Teacher Interview

Any of those questions to ask in a teaching interview will show you know your way around a lesson plan.

That’s it for our list of 25+ common interview questions for teachers. Want more reverse-teacher interview questions? See our guide: 65+ Best Questions to Ask in an Interview & Land Top Jobs

Teacher Interview Tips

Bad dream:

You walk into the teaching interview. You sit. You’re sweating buckets.

They start asking questions. You umm and ahh.

Suddenly you realize you’re in your underwear.

Sound familiar?

Before we wrap up the top 25 teacher interview questions and answers, let’s take one minute to prepare.

The teacher interview tips below will jack your confidence up to the ceiling tiles.

Teaching Interview Tips

What to Bring to a Teaching Interview:

Top 25 Teacher Interview Questions And Answers

By Mike Simpson

UPDATED 5/21/2022

Being a teacher can be one of the most rewarding jobs on the planet…but even with teaching vacancies rising and the number of opportunities increasing, getting those first jobs teaching can be a nerve-wracking experience. Fortunately, nailing that interview for your dream job doesn’t have to be a challenge. By reviewing teach interview questions and answers, you can study and practice your way to success.

Luckily, we’ve pulled together some easy tips for you to keep in mind while prepping for your teaching interview. Plus, we’ve gathered up some of the most common teacher interview questions, along with some example answers.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s dig in!

Top 6 Tips For Answering Teacher Interview Questions

1. Get personal.

Teacher interview questions are meant to find out more about you as both an educator and a person. Make sure when you answer the questions that you’re giving actual personal answers and canned responses. Highlight your skills, background, and experience, and how you apply it all to situations you might encounter.

2. Get specific.

This relates directly to the behavioral questions and how you should answer them. Use examples from your own past and skills to illustrate exactly how you have done things in the past.

Also, make sure to embrace both the STAR Method and the Tailoring Method. That way, your answers are compelling and relevant.

3. Get coordinated.

Make sure you draw attention to specific skills you have that are directly listed in the job description. Before you head into the interview, review the desired qualifications in the job description and match those up to your skills. Use that as a guideline for building your answers.

4. Get educated.

As we mentioned above, research is essential. Look into the school you’re applying to and the school district. Do you know anyone working there already? Do you have friends who have children who are students at the school?

Any and all information you get ahead of time will not only help you determine what sort of environment is at the school but if you want to actually work there or not. Plus, coming in with knowledge about the academics, curriculum, sports, and school programs shows initiative.

5. Get cozy.

Be prepared for a possible panel interview. Education interviews are often conducted by multiple individuals and may include the principal, teachers, parents, and members of the administrative staff.

In some instances, there are education committees set up specifically to interview and screen potential teachers.

6. Get honest!

Above all else, always be honest during your interview. Lying your way into a position only hurts you in the long run.

In fact we we wanted to let you know that we created an amazing free cheat sheet that will give you word-for-word answers for some of the toughest interview questions you are going to face in your upcoming interview. After all, hiring managers will often ask you more generalized interview questions!

Click below to get your free PDF now:

Get Our Job Interview Questions & Answers Cheat Sheet!

10 Common Teacher Interview Questions With Great Example Answers

Now that we’ve gone over these tips, let’s take a look at the ten most common interview questions for teachers. We’ve listed them below and included a brief explanation of each one. Think of them as a study guide to help guide your own answers…but remember…no copying! Make them your own!

1. Why do you want to be a teacher?

This is probably the most often asked teacher question. You want to give an answer that is heartfelt, genuine, and really illustrates why you chose this field. Take time before your interview to really reflect on why you’re doing what you’re doing. Draw from specific examples. Make your response thoughtful, authentic, and honest.

EXAMPLE ANSWER:

When I was in third grade, I struggled a lot with reading, which affected my grades and caused me to fall behind. My teacher, Miss Emily, sat me down one day and talked to me about what was going on. I told her how hard it was for me to read, and we discovered together I was having vision problems. She moved me to a desk that was closer to the front and met with my parents to discuss options. Because of her, my parents took me to a doctor, and my astigmatism was diagnosed. Miss Emily reignited my love of learning at that moment. I want to be that teacher…the one who takes the time to really discover why students are struggling and give another child like me an opportunity to learn to love learning again.

2. Why do you want to teach at this school?

This question is another common teaching interview question. Use this opportunity to provide specific reasons why you’re interested in the school by drawing on the information you gathered during your research.

EXAMPLE ANSWER:

I’ve spent a lot of time researching schools within this district, and I’m very impressed with what you offer here. Between an award-winning teaching staff and a district that is very involved, your school has a teacher-to-student ratio that I think really allows for personalized education. Smaller classroom sizes, like the ones you maintain here, make it possible for me to give each child the one-on-one attention they deserve. On top of that, your after-school science program is exciting to me, and I would hope, should I get hired here, that I might be able to become involved in that as well.

3. What can you bring to our school that makes you unique?

This question is pretty straightforward. Talk about activities you’ve participated in or passions you have that can easily translate into teachable moments and classroom activities that fall outside the usual curriculum that is currently being enacted.

EXAMPLE ANSWER:

I love science and exploring the natural world beyond the borders of the classroom. For that reason, I started an after-school explorer’s club at my last school. We would go on nature hikes, visit museums, and invite local scientists and biologists to come speak to us about what they’re working on and their research. The response was overwhelming, and I have students who still come up to me years later and tell me how much they loved our club and how it helped inspire them to pursue careers in the sciences. I would be very interested in continuing the legacy of the explorer’s club here.

4. What frustrates you the most in a classroom?

This question allows your interviewers to get to know what it takes to ruffle your feathers and how you’ll behave when faced with that situation. Find a scenario that is fairly common for all teachers, and then explain how you’ve dealt with that frustration.

EXAMPLE ANSWER:

I have to admit, I get frustrated by the kids who think they’re too cool for school and who float through their day doing as little as possible. The same sentiment applies to teachers who play into that attitude. Rather than turn that frustration into anger or simply ignoring the issue and waiting for a slacker to drift through a year in my class, I turn that frustration into a challenge for both the student and myself. Most of the time, their attitude is a way for them to protect themselves, something they developed to manage the challenges they’re facing outside of school. Sometimes all they need is to know someone else believes in them. By giving them a little extra attention and encouragement, I’ve seen some of the ‘coolest kids’ turn into students who are focused, driven, and ready to turn themselves around.

5. What is your teaching philosophy?

Everyone will have a unique answer to this question as everyone’s experiences with education, and own personal history will determine how they’ve shaped their own philosophy. Take time before you get into the interview to really focus on what your philosophy is and how you apply it every day.

EXAMPLE ANSWER:

I believe that the best learning opportunities are the ones that the students come up with themselves. For that reason, I spend every lunch hour on the playground with my students and make myself available for them to ask me “playground pop quiz” questions. These questions have ranged from everything from “how is the ice cream we had at lunch made” to exploring the lifecycle of the mosquitos we found in a piece of playground equipment. I love challenging the students to try to stump me, and as a result, they go out of their way to explore the environment around them, making learning fun and exciting.

6. What do you learn about your students to ensure you’re the best help?

This question is tricky because every interview may have a different perspective about how much you need to know. Since that’s the case, it’s best to find an answer that will resonate logically, even if the interviewer has a different perspective on the matter.

EXAMPLE ANSWER:

Generally, I want to make sure I spend time getting to know each student’s learning style. With that, I can ensure that I use the right range of strategies during core lessons and that I can adjust my approach during one-on-one sessions when the need arises. Beyond that, I also try to learn at least one key interest that each student has, even if it isn’t related to my subject. That way, I can incorporate details that align with those interests on occasion. For example, I can talk about a bakery in math problems with students who love sweets or squeeze information about bugs into practice reading passages for kids who adore science. Overall, it’s an approach that I find particularly useful for engagement, so I use it regularly.

7. If you had to describe your teaching style in one word, what would it be and why?

With this, you need to balance brevity and thoroughness. It’s critical to focus on the “one word” aspect, as launching into a list makes it seem like you didn’t understand the question. Additionally, you want to back up with every word you choose.

EXAMPLE ANSWER:

If I had to describe my teaching style in one word, I’d have to pick “agile.” No two students are alike, so I know the value of keeping on my toes and pivoting my approach to ensure every child gets an exceptional experience. For example, I’ve taught science classes where some students were visual learning, and others were more tactile. So, I adjusted my strategy to incorporate both, bringing in colorful models that students could view, manipulate, and even take apart. It connected with both types of students, making the lesson more impactful.

8. If you could make one change to a school environment, what would it be and why?

Here, the interviewer is trying to gauge what you view as shortcomings in the broader system. It can be tricky to answer, especially as some responses may seem judgmental. Since that’s the case, it’s best to stick with a somewhat neutral topic, all while ensuring what’s best for students stays at the heart.

EXAMPLE ANSWER:

If I had the power to make one change, I would make school lunches free for all students. That removes the stigma that comes with being a student from a lower-income family, as no one has to worry about whether they can pay or if they’re on a free meal program or not. Since that’s the case, students who may feel uncomfortable being singled out for being on a free meal program – potentially to the point that they may opt to skip meals instead of getting that attention – don’t have any concerns.

9. How have you integrated technology into the classroom in your past roles?

Today’s students are increasingly tech-savvy, even at a young age. Since that’s the case, many interviewers want to know how you’ve integrated technology into the classroom experience in the past.

EXAMPLE ANSWER:

At my last school, we were fortunate enough to have access to tablets in the classroom. Along with using them for certain heads-down experiences, I took advantage of the tablets’ capabilities to revamp my approach to engagement. I integrated live polls into many lesson plans, allowing students to participate even during lectures. For example, I’d present a hypothesis relating to the subject and ask students what they think was true based on the four available answers. Then, we’d review the responses and engage in discussions before moving forward. It was a fun way to promote broader involvement, all thanks to the live polling features in the tablets.

10. How do you handle a parent that blames you for a child’s poor performance?

If a child isn’t excelling in school, some parents automatically blame the teachers. Since those conversations can get heated, the interviewer wants to ensure you’ll approach them in a professional manner.

EXAMPLE ANSWER:

If a parent feels I’m responsible for a child’s poor performance, my main goal is to remain calm and professional during the conversation. I strive to maintain a fact-based approach. After ensuring they feel heard, I concentrate more on working with them to find a solution than anything else. It’s not about placing blame; it’s about developing a plan that’ll help their student thrive. By maintaining that mentality, I find that most parents will pivot, allowing us to dive into the challenges the student is facing and how we can help them together.

15 More Common Teaching Interview Questions

Do You Have Any Questions For Me?

Questions to Ask at the End of a Teacher Interview

If you’ve ever been to a job interview, you know that after you spend time answering interview questions for teachers, you will usually be asked if you have any questions of your own.

This is the gold mine question and one that serves two distinct purposes. It gives you an opportunity to get information you might not have been able to gather during your research period while also allowing you one more chance to demonstrate you are the perfect candidate by having a pre-prepared list of questions you’d like answered.

Good questions to ask include:

Putting It All Together

So, there you have it, tips, tricks, and a study guide stuffed full of teacher interview questions and answers for you to go over and use for practice. Make use of all of the information above.

And as always…good luck!

P.S. Now that you’ve got a good feel for the teacher interview questions you are going to be asked, don’t forget that there are hundreds of non-teacher interview questions that you could be asked in your interview! Thankfully we’ve outlined the most common questions AND given you word-for-word answers in our free PDF below:

FREE : Job Interview Questions & Answers PDF Cheat Sheet!

Here’s what you’re getting:

Click Here To Get The Job Interview Questions & Answers Cheat Sheet

Co-Founder and CEO of TheInterviewGuys.com. Mike is a job interview and career expert and the head writer at TheInterviewGuys.com.

His advice and insights have been shared and featured by publications such as Forbes, Entrepreneur, CNBC and more as well as educational institutions such as the University of Michigan, Penn State, Northeastern and others.

Learn more about The Interview Guys on our About Us page.