Questions To Ask A Principal During Your Interview

Starting your teaching career at a new school can be exciting- but also intimidating. A school’s culture can have such an impact on your teaching success and sense of self worth. When interviewing for a new teaching position, make sure you are questioning the principal on their values and educational philosophy as well- they set the tone for the whole school. Here are some questions to get you started. Add any you think I may have missed!

1. “What is it you expect to see from my position here?” As a music teacher this is helpful- it helps me know if the principal values extracurricular classes. I had one principal tell me he didn’t really know what he wanted, and didn’t really care what I did. At the time that sounded AMAZING! Freedom to teach and not be micromanaged! It turned out he really didn’t care about the music program and I was fighting to just be recognized. Use this question to gauge their support for your position, whatever it may be.
2. “How do you support students with habitual behavioral problems?” They always ask us what we are doing to manage the behaviors of students, how we build relationships with students, but how do they support that same student? I am NOT an advocate for removing students, but once in a while if normal management techniques are not working, it may become necessary to have the principal intervene. How does the principal support these students that have difficulties in the classroom setting? What tools and support are they giving teachers? Positively framing this question is key to getting great feedback.
3. “When you have had a teacher that has not met expectations, how do you approach the situation?” We really want to know how they deliver feedback, and how they think of us as teachers. Do they talk badly about the previous teacher? Or do they go into detail about how they try to understand and support the teacher?
4. “What do you do to make sure minority students feel safe and included?” This one is a huge indication of the principal’s character and the culture of the school. It may feel bold to ask this question, but so important to make sure that ALL students have a place where they are accepted and safe. We are here to teach children, and in doing so they deserve a space to express themselves for who they are without judgement and fear of being bullied.
5. “What is your policy on bullying, and how do you enforce it?” It is all about the students’ safety. Does your principal take bullying serious? Or do they think kids these days are just too soft and need to toughen up? Mental health? What’s that and who cares? Is this the attitude you are receiving from a prospective principal? Run.
6. “How do you feel about multi-lingual students speaking in a language other than English?” I have been in and out of education for 10 years, and I have encountered teachers and principals that think schools are an “English-only” zone. For real? Does this still happen? Unfortunately, yes. When it comes to academics, yes, it is widely accepted that everything should be done in English. However, casual conversations between students should not be held to the same standard. If students are speaking during non-instructional time, they should be allowed to speak any language they want. If they are collaborating on a project, let them speak their language. Just because we as teachers may not understand it, doesn’t mean they should be restricted from speaking it. Also, this helps to gauge what kind of ESL programs they have, and if they are successful.
7. “Do you value a student’s progress or achievement more?” Both are important, but I have always kept a growth mindset when it comes to teaching. Achieving standards are great, and incredibly important for keeping consistent educational goals across districts and grade levels, but they are not always achievable for all students. Progress shows the growth of the student and how much effort they have put in. For some students, this is a huge deal, and it should be celebrated too.