Interview Format
The interview is one of the most important aspects of the process because it gives the board the opportunity to get acquainted with the candidate and to assess his/her strengths, weaknesses, confidence, personality, openness, honesty, vitality, commitment, communicative skills, and knowledge of the overall operation of a school district. Because of the importance of the interview, the need for consistency and to assure that the important topics are covered, it is important to adopt an interview format that contains the topics that the board wants to cover.
Following is a list of suggested topics that the board might want to consider in its interview format.
A. Introductions
1. Chair introduces the candidate
2. Each member introduces himself/herself and
tells a little about himself/herself including length of time served
on the board
B. Biographical and Self-assessment
1. Would you tell us about yourself,
discuss your background, your future plans and your reasons for wanting to
be superintendent of this district?
2. What
do you consider to be your greatest administrative strengths?
3. What do you consider to be your greatest
administrative weaknesses?
C. Board Relations
1. It is widely accepted that policy making
is a function of the board and administration of the school is a function
of the superintendent.
How
do you perceive your role in policy making?
How do you perceive the
board’s role in administering the schools?
2.
Explain what you think the personal relationship should be between you and
the board and what you would do to make it work.
3. What would your reaction be if the board
opposed something which you thought was educationally sound?
4. What would your reaction be if the board
proposed something you thought was educationally unsound?
5. When a board member gets a complaint about
the schools, what should he or she do? What is your role?
6. How do you propose to keep the board
informed on such issues as:
a. Finances
b.
Legislature
c.
Curriculum, program
d. Personnel
e.
Student activities
f.
Facilities (needs, maintenance)
g. What is happening
in the district in general
7. What process
would you follow in developing the board meeting agenda?
8. How would you expect board members to
conduct themselves at board meetings?
9. How
do you think you should be evaluated and by whom?
10. How do you think the board should be evaluated and by whom?
D. Finance
1. Describe the
process you would follow in developing a district budget.
2. Outline the steps that should be employed
in conducting a successful bond or mill levy election.
3. If budget cuts should become necessary,
how would you suggest it be accomplished?
4.
How would you ensure that sound management of the business office is
maintained?
E. Curriculum
1.
What committees do you feel should exist on a district-wide basis?
2. What do you consider to be the important
elements in initiating an innovative program?
3. What current movements in education do you feel have merit and
warrant special attention?
4. Would you
elaborate on some of these movements?
5. What
do you consider a good and realistic vocational program for a school
district of this size?
6. What does a school
district need to do to serve both the gifted and at-risk students?
7. What would you do to ensure that this
district has quality programs and teaching?
F. Personnel
Relations
1. What teachers and staff
welfare considerations do you believe are necessary to insure the
smooth functioning of a school district?
2.
What is the superintendent’s role in the recruitment, evaluation,
retention, release and promotion of teachers?
3. What provisions have you made for inservice training of the staff
in your present school system?
4.
Explain the process you would follow in recruiting and selecting new
teachers.
5. Of what value do you consider
teacher unions?
6. What role would you play
with the principals and what do you think they should concentrate on?
7. This board and community wants high
employee morale and performance. What would you do to ensure
that both are achieved?
8. What qualities do
you look for when hiring teachers?
9. How can
this district attract and keep quality teachers?
10. Describe an administrator evaluation and a teacher evaluation
program.
G. Building Program
1. How would you suggest this district develop a long range building
program?
2. What are your ideas on
replacement of buildings versus maintenance and remodeling?
3. With your limited knowledge of our
facilities, what do you perceive as the greatest need?
4. Describe your experience and success in
planning, funding and conducting building programs.
H.
Professional Activities
1. What
professional meetings, conferences, workshops and conventions would you
hope to attend? Why? How much budget?
2. Describe some of the things you think you would do almost every
week of the school year if you were superintendent in this district.
3. What would be your highest priorities if
you were superintendent of this school district?
4. What do you do and/or read to assure that you are properly
informed on current issues and trends in education?
I.
General
1. What is your professional
opinion of the value of parent-teacher organizations?
2. What, in your opinion, is accountability
and how is it achieved?
3. What are the
essential ingredients of a good community relations program?
4. What is leadership?
5. Describe your leadership style.
6.
What would you do to insure that this district has the best possibly
relationship with the local news media?
7.
What goals would you want to set for a school district where you were
superintendent?
8. Have you experienced job
stress and how do you handle it?
9. To what
extent do you feel your duties can be delegated?
10. Describe your current career plans. How does this job fit
into your plans?
J. What questions does the candidate have
for the board?