SO, you wanna be great?

Golden AppleEIU Summer Institute

June 27, 2013

PJ Caposey (@principalpc)Assistant Superintendent/Principal

Author

Big Ideas• Teacher Identity Crisis• Big picture – what is a great teacher?

– Concrete ideas for you to take forward• Before you can teach kids, you must. . .

– Get a job– Interview prep– FAQs

• What else can I do for you?

What is . . . Teacher?

Destroy . . . and Re-Build

What I s

Teacher?

You, as a teacherMust be the same

As you . . to be great

If everyone wants to be great,

Why are soMany

schools Struggling?

GREAT AVERAGE

Student-CenteredIn all Actions

(Calling)

Adult-Centered(Job)

Success notImpacted by system

System drivesEffectiveness

Remain Unfinished Believe that‘this’ is teaching

Examples of Student versus Adult-Centered behaviors

1)Timing of units 2) Re-take policies3) Content –focus versus learning-focus4) Discipine strategy 5) Many, many more

Performance dependent uponOr in spite of setting

1920

2013

A few other things, just for me . .

• Textbook DOES NOT EQUAL curriculum – you have a responsibility in this

• Know what critical thinking is . . . • Coloring – why is it ever the best strategy you

can use?• If you teach based on standards – then teach

and assess based on standards• Classroom management . . . . Just

a few words

Now, Let’s Get You

a Job

Interviewing is like a 1 s t date

Unfortunately, you are desperate

While you are sweating out your application process, this is what I am doing

Nothing

Taking Care of myself politically

Look through the over 100 résumés

The unfortunate truth is that a great kid with an application with zero errors will get called for an interview less than 5% of the time in my experience – I have hired one (Student Taught in District)

How do youImprove your odds?

1)Call2)Cash in Favors3)Commiserate

(network) – How many principals do you know right now?

4)Coach – then call

Increased Specialization = Increased Chances as well(AP Experience, Dual Cert.,

etc.)

Tell me what you think you know

about constructing a good résumé?

I KNOW THE JOB

DESCRIPTION OF A

TEACHER!!

You have an interview, now what?

You should have 2 primary goals. .

.

1)Progress in the process

2)Get enough information out of the other party to decide if you want to progress in the process

Group Activity, 5 minutes

Part 1:• Predict 3 to 5

questions that you will be asked during an interview

Part 2: • Create 3 to 5

questions that you should ask of them or statements you should make during an interview

Group Activity, Correct Answers, IMO

Part 1:• Tell us a little about

yourself?• What distinguishes

you from other candidates?

• Do you have any questions for us?

Part 2: • Reference their data• Ask about goals moving

forward• Vision/Mission/Core Values• Culture and Climate• Biggest strength/Biggest

barrier• Bring up what you read• What should I know that I

could not find examining your website and IIRC

Interview Prep (25 minutes – time allowing)

• 90 seconds each – I will keep time• Question 1 – One thing nobody at table knows

about you• Question 2 – Person most influential in your

choice to be a teacher• Question 3 – Life changing event• Strength bombardment

The Day of the Interview

Importance of secretaryBody language and relationshipsHave extra materials on handAsk for clarification on confusing questionsAdmit it if you do not know what they are talking aboutBe yourself – humor = ok as long as it is naturalAsk for timelines and protocolsAsk for additional details about open position

Be afraidSwearBe underdressedRamble – if your answer is short that is okChew gumOppressive cologne or perfume“Good question”Be on time - - on time is LATE!!

For me – and I cannot speak for other principals

I hire based on fit, talent, and potential and/or willingness to be coached as

opposed to correct answers on technical questions

BUT, Technical Answers are Still Important

SOME SAMPLE QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS

Sample Questions

Evaluate your understanding of Bloom’s Taxonomy and if it impacts your professional practice. If it does, how? What level of Bloom’s does the majority of your instruction take place in?

Explain what best practice curriculum development is.

Entering a new building, what would be some of the first questions you would ask your departmental colleagues?

If we came to watch you for a day, what would we denote as far as how and why you differentiate instruction?

Sample Questions

Define literacy instruction. What role does it play in your discipline?

Describe best practice use of assessment on an individual and departmental level.

How do you manage your classroom? What role does administration play in maintaining order in your class?

How do you plan for a unit? Walk us through every step that you would take if I said to you when you come back for a second interview I want to see a unit plan on ________

Sample Questions

Describe to me, if you doing an evaluation, what an excellent teacher would like? Would they be a leader within the building, involved in extra-curriculars, etc?

How do you stay current professionally? What are the last three things you have read professionally that have impacted your practice?

Describe classroom failures? How often do they occur, why? Whose responsibility is the student’s grade?

So, you got the job – now what?

Who should you be talking

to in thetime between Your hire and

the start of the school year?

#1 Priority = Educating Kids#2 Priority = Preserving Your Job, So You Can

Educate Kids

Hurt your standing

• Under-Communicate• Do not follow directives• Do not meet stated

expectations• Refuse to listen to criticism• Refusal to work as a team-

player

Help your standing

• Become involved in the school– SIP– Data leader– Committees– Leadership Opportunities– Coaching or Sponsoring

Activities

Must reads for future educators. . . • Danielson, Danielson, Danielson• Social Intelligence – Goleman• Drive – Pink• 7 Habits – Covey• Outliers – Gladwell• Good to Great – Collins• SuperCrunchers – Ayers• Results Now and/or Focus – Schmoker• Five Dysfunctions of a Team – Lencioni• Anything by:

– Marzanno– Whitaker– Me