Laura P. Weakland
  • Welcome!
    • OU Internship Experience
    • Awards and Accomplishments
    • Resume
    • Contact Me!
  • Vision
    • Leadership Vision - Begin with the Why!
    • Leadership IGNITE! - "How" We Will Get There!
    • Entry Plan - A Smooth Transition
    • Shared Involvement Process - Working Together
  • Leading Learning
    • Develop School Culture and Dispositions for 21st Century Learning
    • Invest in People - Hiring New Teachers
    • Invest in People - Teacher Evaluation
    • Invest in Learning
    • Build a Culture of Thinking
    • Align Curriculum and Create Assessments
  • Management
    • Manage Time
    • Manage Safety
    • Manage Money
    • Manage Policy
    • Manage Technology
  • Collaboration
    • With Families
    • With Community
  • Integrity
    • Taking Care of Ourselves
    • Taking Care of Others
    • Helping Hands Club
    • Helping Hands Snack Bags
    • Girls on the Run
  • The Bigger Picture
    • Bond Issuance
    • Friday Focus
    • Position Paper on School Finance Reform
    • Twitter Professional Learning Network (PLN)
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Standard II - School Culture and Instructional Program
Invest in People - Hiring New Teachers and Invest in their Learning

Artifact: Teacher Interview Questions

Description: SAs interim principal in 2016, I had the opportunity to screen applicants at the district job fair and participate in the district interview screening process in preparation for the hiring of instructional staff. I also conducted interviews as interim principal and hired a 1st grade teacher. Also as I have served as a teacher-leader in my building over the past 8 years, I have had many opportunities to be part of an interview committee for new-teacher hires. I also mentored a MSU educational leadership interim and two student teachers from Eastern (fall of 2013 and winter of 2018). I attended the Michigan State Job Fair as a teacher-leader to screen candidates. In addition, as part of my coursework, I brainstormed interview questions and participated in mock interviews with cohort colleagues. Fullan (2014) in The Principal says "Human capital is about the quality of individual teachers - the personnel dimension, if you will. It depends on attracting and then cultivating talent." Fullan (2014) also says the principal's task is to hire teachers who have at least four core qualities: 
  1. High moral commitment relative to the learning of ALL students regardless of background,
  2. strong instructional practice, 
  3. desire to work collaborative, and
  4. commitment to continuous learning. 
Lastly, I believe that after you hire new teachers, you must invest in their professional learning. I serve as a district mentor for two of my building 4th grade colleagues and I have led the following professional learning opportunities for new teachers:
  • Fostering Literacy Motivation and Engagement Through the Use of Thinking Routines and Discussion Protocols
  • Utilizing the Math Workshop Model tin the Elementary Classroom
  • Making Thinking Visible
  • Engaging the Whole-Brain Learner: Developing Classroom Culture to Support Academic Achievement

Rationale for Inclusion and Reflection: These teacher interview questions, my role as interim principal, my participation at the MSU Job Fair, being on many school interview committees, and the professional learning I have led for new teachers all demonstrate my ability to attract,  hire, and retain talented teachers. I have learned that when you hire a teacher, you are hiring for life and the teacher is one of the most significant factors that impact student learning! 


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