Principal Interview Questions
______School
Saturday, June 16, 2001
Candidate
General Comments:1. The chair should greet the candidate in the appropriate room and escort them to the interview room (see interview schedule).
2. Once the candidate is settled, the chair will lead by giving a general introduction to the candidate and asking each team members to briefly introduce themselves and share their position (parent, teacher, etc.).
3. The chair will monitor the flow of the interview and keep time so that each candidate completes as many questions as possible.
Person
Asking
Question / Question
Category / Question
Trish / General / 1. Could you please tell us a little about yourself and anything that you feel is important for us to know about you as a candidate for the Pleasant Plains Middle School principalship?
Climate / 2. Schools tend to take on personalities of their own that are generally influenced by the leadership style of the building principal. Based on this, what would Pleasant Plains Middle School look like if you were named principal?
Leadership / 3. As the principal, a teacher approaches you with a request to take care of a personal need during the eighty-minute plan time. Would you:
a. Ask the teacher to look at the contract regarding the use of plan time for fulfilling personal needs.
b. Allow the teacher to go without question.
c. Allow the teacher to go but ask this person to put the request in writing.
d. Select to do something not in a, b, or c.
Please elaborate on your choice.
Personal Background – Information / 4. If you were offered this position, list your top five priorities for starting a new year with a new staff.
Leadership / 5. What do you think is your most outstanding contribution to your present school district?
Student Needs / 6. Please explain your philosophy on inclusion and what you believe to be the strength and weaknesses of an inclusive model.
Organizational Structure / 7. How do middle school practices differ from those of a junior high school?
Staff Development, Evaluation, Communication, & Relations / 8. Describe what you consider to be a good teacher and how do you make sure teachers are living up to your expectations?
Parent – Community Involvement / 9. Please describe the role you feel parents should play in the operation of the school and highlight how you will engage parents of high-risk students in the school process.
Communication / 10. As a new principal in a school, how would you go about building relationships of trust and collaboration with staff, parents, and students?
Site-Based Management – Shared Decision Making / 11. What is the role of support staff, specifically secretaries, custodians, and classroom aides in a middle school and how would you integrate support staff with the instructional team?
Student Needs / 12. What discipline standards or procedures have you found to be effective when dealing with students? Please be specific regarding students with IEP’s, at risk students, and gifted students.
Student Need / 13. If you were asked to implement an inclusive model, what factors do you feel are critical to consider?
Organizational Structure / 14. Middle schools are traditionally grouped into teams or communities of students and teachers. What are the advantages and disadvantages of such a grouping?
Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment / 15. Please describe current curriculum developments at the middle school level that you are excited about.
Site-Based Management – Shared Decision Making / 16. What role do you feel teachers should have in the development of the building budget?
Site-Based Management – Shared Decision Making / 17. Should students at the middle school level be involved in the governance of the school? If so, why? If not, why?
Trish / General / 18. Is there anything else we did not cover that you would like us to know about you as we consider you as a candidate for the Pleasant Plains Middle School principalship?
Trish / General / 19. Do you have any questions for us?
Pleasant Plains Middle School Principal Interview Questions Page 4 of 4