What to Ask a Potential Preschool Teacher Employee

Finding that perfect fit for a preschool teacher at a preschool can be a trying task. It is not always easy to find someone that fits into the criteria of what is expected.

An interview with the right questions can definitely make the process a little less stressful.

While the questions asked during an interview will depend, and differ, based on the particular school in question, there are still many generalized questions that every employer should ask their potential preschool teacher.

• What has led to the potential candidate wanting to pursue a career as a preschool teacher?
• Depending on what the specific job requirements include, asking about schooling can play an important role in who is hired. Do they have a degree?
• Does the potential hire have any sort of experience in teaching preschool aged children? Or even when it comes to “handling” children of that age?
• Ask about curriculum. If your school follows a certain curriculum set, mention it and find out if the potential hire has heard of it.If they have, how do they feel about using it?
• If lesson planning is something they will be doing on their own, find out what sort of experience they have with lesson planning. Be firm with what your expectations are and gauge how they react with it.
• Teachers wear many capes throughout a single day; they must be patient, flexible, caring, and willing to get down to a child’s level, among other things. Ask the potential employee to describe themselves using three words and see where their description fits among this.

Be sure to go over what is expected of them.

Every school runs differently, so no matter how much experience they may have, it will still have a sense of newness to it.

Allow them hear what a “day at preschool” would be like, and open the floor to any questions they may have!