Candidate Questions for West Senior Asst. Principal Vacancy March 2014

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1. Please give a situation where you have been a Manager, a Leader and a Boss. Rank them in importance / Leader – someone with a vision, can make tough decisions
Manager - details/tasks/gets the job done Boss – double-edged question – looking for someone who will work with staff/not authoritative
2. We have a “No Electronic Device” policy. A teacher witnesses a student using an electronic device in the classroom. The student refuses to hand the device over to the teacher. When it is brought to you, the student denies the situation. How do you go about handling this from here? / Support the teacher.
Require the student to surrender the device plus appropriate consequence given.
3. A decision has been made to suspend a student for a 2nd offense of using racial slurs and jokes in class. A phone call is made home to the parents/guardian. The parent does not agree with the decision and says it’s because they talk like that at home and at work. How would you resolve this conflict? / It might be acceptable at home but it is not acceptable at school.
4. There are black/white and gray areas in the rules. Give me an example of a situation that is black & white and one in which it may be gray. / Black & white – in a fight, same discipline for both if they exchange physical contact. Gray – alternative kids, special ed kids (ex. ADHD off meds for 2 weeks – mom informs school – so can you work with him)
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5. Talk about a time you had to make a decision that wasn’t popular
6. The Alternative Learning Program is housed at West Senior. Each student population has different rules/consequences. How do you explain this to students who have received different consequences? / Already familiar with this policy and the concept of ALP; able to diffuse the situation
7. How would you prepare yourself for the culture/community at West Senior? / No suggested response provided
8. I. What is your knowledge of the Common Core Standards and the changes to Social Studies and Science standards?
II. How will the Common Core and other changes to secondary education impact teaching and learning?
/ I.  6 shifts in Math and ELA, new SS framework, Next Generation standards in Science
II.  Money, Professional Development, new assessments, APPR, SLOs, text complexity, growth scores
Questions / Ideal Answers / Notes Regarding the Candidate’s
Answer to the Question
9. What have you learned from your most influential administrators? Please identify at least one positive and one negative characteristic, practice, theory. / Positive – confident, decisive, fair, firm, consistent, supportive of faculty, strong communicator, problem solver, willing to ‘walk the walk’, good leader
Negative – authoritarian, micromanager, no side deals, doesn’t play favorites
10. The theory of thirds suggests that in any situation 1/3 of the population will comply, a second third can be influenced by the first to do so as well, but the last third has to be persuaded. If 1/3 of the faculty was refusing to enforce a school policy, how would you handle it?
If 1/3 of the student body was not following a school policy (e.g. cellphone use during the school day), how would you handle it? / Lead by example
Support teachers who are trying to enforce the school policy
11. What is your opinion regarding the role of the teacher evaluation? / To be supportive, coaching the teacher for improvement; non-punitive
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12. How do you convey the message to all students, parents and employees that you are approachable? / Build a relationship, be visible, be a listener, be compassionate, caring & understanding. Be willing to spend extra time. Have open door policy
13. As an assistant high school principal, how visible do you need to be and where would we find you?
What is the last school event you attended? What is the last community event you attended?
/ Very visible – in cafeteria, in the hall, here before and after school, walking through TAB room not around it, at school events, at community events
14. How would you envision a typical work day from start to end? What, where & how would you conduct yourself? / Greet kids at doors, walk around school, sweep halls, discipline, communicate with parents, attend lunches, be in hall between classes
15. The culture at West Senior is very activity orientated. How do you balance your personal and professional life? / No suggested response provided
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16. How would you encourage your teachers to take on leadership roles to get involved? / No suggested response provided