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Criterion-Based Hiring:Interview Skills Support

for Teachers

A Joint PTU-PPSD Presentation

April 27-29, 2010

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Presentation Goals

• Provide information for additional resource support

• Ensure that teachers are prepared to interview effectively

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Criterion-Based Hiring

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What is “Criterion-Based Hiring”?Criterion-Based hiring is the practice of filling

vacancies through a competitive, interview-based process, that includes:

• The active on-line advertising of school-specific vacancies throughout the system

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• An expanded application process

Criterion-Based Hiring

• The use of school-based hiring teams empowered to make their own hiring recommendations

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An expanded application process: Teacher domains and competencies

• Applicants for teaching positions will be ranked on PPSD’s five teacher domains of effective teaching and PPSD’s five teacher competencies

• The resume and essay are the core of a candidate’s written application

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Five Teacher Domains

• Teachers know their subjects and teach them successfully

• Teachers create culturally and developmentally-appropriate lessons

• Teachers behave professionally as classroom managers, colleagues, and educational leaders for a diverse pool of learners

• Teachers utilize assessment data to guide instruction and plan for the future

• Teachers communicate well and are knowledgeable about and committed to the extended school community

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Five Teacher Competencies

• Content Knowledge and Pedagogy: Expertise and success in teaching subject

• Achievement: Shows a trend of excellence and concrete results in endeavors

• Critical Thinking: Analyzes situations thoroughly and generates effective strategies

• Communication Skills: Demonstrates effective written and oral skills

• Professional Engagement: Respectful of and sensitive to norms of interaction in different situations

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Preparing for an Interview

• Most people are nervous during an interview: Anticipate it and prepare for it

(i.e., bring a notebook and take notes on the questions)

• Remember that you want to sell yourself• Answer questions honestly since you don’t want

to mislead the interviewers• Dress to impress!• Be positive and don’t forget to smile

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Preparing for an interview- cont’d

• Do your homework- If chosen for an interview, learn about the school, its specific programs and its student achievement data

• Be prepared to ask questions – Remember that the school has to sell itself to you as well!

• Arrive early: Promptness is always well looked upon by principals and hiring teams

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Preparing your own questions

What is your vision for the school?

Please describe the climate of your school for staff, students, and parents.

What are the demographics of this school?

What is your teacher turn-over rate?

How are parents included in this school?

What are some ways parents support teachers here?

Do your teachers work well together?

How do your grade levels/departments support each other?

What are your expectations of teachers in this school?

What are some of your major challenges in this school?

What are some of the strengths of this school?-Source: www.inspiringteachers.com

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Meeting the interview team

• Use a firm handshake and look the interviewer(s) in the eye during initial greeting.

• Dress professionally.• Ensure that any handouts you provide to the interview

team are free of coffee stains and/or smudges• Listen to the question! You don’t want to ramble on and

on and give the impression that you are a poor listener or not knowledgeable about something.

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Interview Schedule

• Upon arrival a candidate will first complete a 30 minute proctored writing sample

• Next the 15 minute model lesson will be conducted

• After a short break there will be a 30 minute question and answer session to be completed with the interview team

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Proctored Writing Sample

• The proctored writing sample provides candidates an opportunity to show their writing skills in a limited time (30 minutes) without reference materials or aides such as dictionaries and spell check.

• A candidate will be given a prompt and will enter their response on an internet-enabled computer in a comfortable, quiet workspace.

• A special software program will limit the candidate to exactly 30 minutes (countdown will be shown onscreen) and will attach the writing sample to the candidate’s profile in PATS.

• A candidate may only complete the proctored writing sample once in a hiring season, not at each interview.

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Additional Information

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Resume Writing

• Sample Resume handout• Any format is acceptable, providing it shows the

candidate's education and clearly delineates professional progression detailing responsibilities and achievements for each position. 

• The résumé should show not only what position a candidate held at any point in time but what was expected and what was achieved while in that position.

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Resume Writing

• Candidates are encouraged to emphasize and explain instances where they have undertaken significant responsibilities and challenges, highlighting any measurable successes that present evidence of the five PPSD teacher competencies. 

• While candidates are not required to limit the length of their resumes, they are encouraged to seek a balance between exposition and brevity.

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Essay Writing Tips

• First and foremost, read the prompt carefully• Consider creating an outline to help organize

your essay focusing on an introduction, the body of the essay, and a conclusion

• Organize your essay in a logical and thoughtful manner

• Be careful to avoid mistakes in grammar and spelling

• Be sure to express your ideas clearly• Be sure to proof-read for mechanical errors and

that all requirements have been fulfilled

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Essay Writing Tips: Content

• While writing keep in mind the 5 domains of effective teaching as well as the 5 teaching competencies

• Candidates should answer the prompts clearly and completely

• Candidates should demonstrate their skills and achievements with particular attention to the 5 domains of effective teaching and the 5 teaching competencies

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Recommended Resources

AFT Tools for Teachers: Teaching as a Career

http://www.aft.org/yourwork/tools4teachers/

Interview Attire: Career Services at Virginia Tech gives specifics for interview attire for both men and women

http://www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/interview/TEACHER.htm

How to interview for jobs (2010)

http://www.certificatestreet.com/blog/2010/03/25/how-to-interview-for-jobs-tips-for-teachers/

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Recommended Resources –cont’d

How to prepare for an ESL Job Interview: Article by Susan Lafond (2010)

http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/33829

Principals share their secrets: How to impress in an interview. Article by Lisa Feder-Feitel

http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4141

How to give a great interview: Teacher tell all. Article by Lisa Feder-Feitel

http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4139

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Recommended Resources –cont’d

The teacher interview!

http://www.teachingheart.net/teacherinterview.html

Interviewing Tips:

http://www.inspiringteachers.com/classroom_resources/tips/getting_a_job/interviewing_tips.html

Resume Writing Resource:

http://resumes-for-teachers.com/teacher-resume-examples.htm

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HR and PTU Staff

PPSD HR Staff• Gail Hareld• Dennis Sidoti• Brenda Marquis• Joyce O’Connor• Tomas Ramirez, Ph.D.

PTU Staff• Maura Galvao• Phil DeCecco• Ed Neil• Paul Vorro

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