Questions to be asked:
The Superintendent’s Interview: Questions and Answers (With Tips). Edited by Jack McKay
(Adapted from the “Interview” by the Indeed Editorial Team.)
Preparing talking points for common interview questions can help you feel confident and prepared. While every interviewer is different and their questions may vary depending on the school district and community, there are a few common questions you can expect and prepare for such as, “Tell me about yourself.”
Below, is a comprehensive list of commonly-asked interview questions including what school boards are looking for in your response, plus example answers to help you make a great first impression.
Example interview questions
Here are several common questions to use as practice for your next interview:
Basic interview question:
- Are you overqualified for this school district?
- What qualities make a good leader?
- What questions haven’t I asked you?
- What do you know about our school district?
- Why are you interested in this school district?
- Can you walk us through your resume?
- What are the characteristics of a leader and why?
- Why are you the right person for this job?
- What is your greatest personal achievement?
- Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
- What do you know about our school district?
Behavioral interview questions
- Describe a time when your school board was wrong. How did you handle the situation?
- Describe a time you went above and beyond at work.
- Tell us about the last mistake you made.
- What do you want to accomplish in the first 30 days of this job?
- Describe a time you were discouraged or upset at work.
- Describe a time when you had to give a person difficult feedback.
- Describe a time when you disagreed with your school board.
- Tell me about how you dealt with a difficult challenge in the workplace.
- What do you really think about your previous school board?
- What has been the most rewarding experience of your career thus far?
- How would you deal with an angry or irate parent?
- Describe a time you chose to not help someone on your administrative team.
- Describe a time when your work was criticized?
- Do you think you could have done better in your last job?
- How did you handle the last time you had to dismiss a teacher?
Questions about you
- What is your ideal working environment?
- What are some positive things your last school board president would say about you?
- What differentiates you from our other candidates?
- Are you more of a leader or a follower?
- Do you have a personal mission statement?
- What do you like most about yourself?
- How long do you expect to work for this school district?
- How do you keep yourself organized?
- What is your favorite book of all time and why?
- What are two skills or traits you wish you had?
- Do you prefer to work alone or on a team?
- What is your proudest professional achievement?
- How do you want to improve yourself in the upcoming year?
- When were you most satisfied in a previous job?
- What’s the last book you read?
- What is the best job you ever held?
- What was your greatest failure, and what did you learn from it?
- What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from a mistake you’ve made?
- What was the last project you led and what was the outcome?
- How many hours per week do you normally work?
- What two things are most important to you in your job?
- What is one negative thing your last school board says about you?
- What will you miss about your previous job?
- What is your leadership style?
- Who has impacted you most in your career?
- What is your least favorite thing about being a superintendent?
- What is a book that everyone needs to read and why?
- Do you prefer working alone or in a team environment?
- Do you have a mentor?
- Explain why you’ve had so many different jobs?
- Describe your top three technical skills?
- What causes are you passionate about?
- Brainteasers
- Which is more important, creativity or efficiency?
- Is it better to be good and on time or perfect and late with your work?