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Competency-Aligned Teacher Interview Questions and Activities
Grounding selection in competencies is a reliable way to ensure evidence-based decisions, minimize bias
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, and hire
staff who produce the best outcomes for students. Schools should determine the teacher competencies that are most
essential to success in their contexts, determine specific, observable ways candidates may demonstrate these
competencies (indicators), and then map them to the selection model to determine how these competencies will be
assessed.
TNTP recommends the following selection competencies, as they correlate to classroom performance
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: high
expectations, critical thinking, application of feedback, communication, and professionalism. As past performance is a
generally reliable predictor of future success, we also suggest assessing instructional expertise and classroom
management. Finally, schools may also assess candidates’ school fit and ability to build relationships to ensure that
candidates will thrive in their school setting.
In this document, we define each of these competencies, provide examples of indicators, and share aligned interview
questions and selection activities that can be done in-person or virtually. To ensure a normed process, we also
recommend that selectors norm on rating by co-rating and crafting sample exemplar responses.
Cross-Cultural Agility
Criteria
• Aware of how one's own background and assumptions can influence one’s perspective and interactions with
others
• Strives to understand the opinions and experiences of others
• Demonstrates the ability to effectively and appropriately interact with students and others in the school
community
Indicators
• Can articulate how their own background and identity play a role in forming their perception of specific
situations
• Shows ability to consider others’ perspectives in scenarios and past experiences
• Shows evidence of being able to contribute to a school’s effectiveness by working collaboratively with others
• Effectively navigates scenarios or experiences with challenging interpersonal situations, with appropriate
norms of interactions
• Speaks of students, teachers, and community with respect
• Demonstrates willingness to learn from and understand the perspectives of others
Sample Interview Questions
• How does your own identity and background influence your work as a teacher? How do you build
relationships with students, families, and colleagues who have similar or different backgrounds or identities?
• How will you learn more about our school community and context?
• How do you incorporate the background, identities, and experiences of your students in your instruction?
Share an example of what this has/will look like in your classroom?
• Tell me about a time when you worked with someone with a different identity and perspective than your
own? What was your partnership like? What was challenging about this experience? What did you learn?
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University of Washington White Paper. (2016). Managing unconscious bias: Strategies to address bias & build more diverse,
inclusive organizations
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Cellini, K., Haynes, K., Maier, A. (2012). Identifying great teachers: Connecting selection, training, and classroom performance
