Recruiting Strategic Plan Interview
For this field experience interviewed Dr. Vanessa Canty, the principal of Lemira Elementary School in Sumter, South Carolina. Her response to each question is summarized below.
1. What criteria do you use in making hiring decisions?
The district provides interview packets to all principals. The packet includes interview questions and a scoring rubric. Criteria are directly linked to South Carolina’s evaluation method, ADEPT 4.0.
2. Have you shifted teachers to other grade level positions? Why or why not?
Yes. This year several teachers have been moved to a new grade level. Reasons for these shifts include:
• Leadership needed in another grade level
• Grade level make up
• Teacher request
• Position cuts
• Student population
3. Who sits on your interview committees? Do you use the same interview team for all positions? Why or why not?
Our current interview committee consists of the principal and/or the assistant principal, the curriculum coach, the reading coach, and the teacher of the year. This interview committee is used in most interviews, but with schedule conflicts and/or special circumstances other individuals are invited to assist in the interview process. For example, if I were hiring a new SPED teacher I would invite the lead SPED teacher to assist with the interview. I believe that the staff here are professionals and I trust their opinion and instincts.
. Are there positions you would try to fill prior to others? Why or why not?
Yes. In difficult situations I would press for positions that impact the most students to be filled first. For example, I would press to have a certified teacher position filled before a teacher assistant. I am not saying one is more important or more needed than the other. However, nothing can replace the classroom teacher. This is a decision that I have had to make as principal and it is not easy. In my situation, we hired a certified kindergarten teacher and used a long term substitute in the assistant position. In the district we are facing real budget cuts and we have to be creative to ensure that our students receive what they need.
5. What are some example interview questions you use? Do you include any performance and behavioral focused questions? Why or why not?
Our interview committee used the district given interview questions. Often times the committee asks clarification questions based on the candidate’s response. Interview questions include:
• What do you feel your strength is as teacher?
• What is your biggest weakness?
• Describe your most successful lesson.
• What does the use of technology look like in your classroom?
• Describe your management plan.
6. What legalities do you take into account when going through the hiring process?
