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Boom! On to the final round (I think)! I am not usually nervous for interviews, but I applied for this job in December and have been through three separate interview panels including the most recent one where I had to give a 30 minute lesson to students I didn't know or see... Here is my final (I think) task. I know this is for staff, but I know there will also be parents watching. As a parent, what would you want to see from a candidate?

Dear Philip,

 

We enjoyed having you "virtually" complete the lesson demonstration and now would like to invite you back to lead a staff meeting. You can sign up at the link below and it will generate a Zoom link for you to use for this portion of the hiring process. The prepared part of the meeting should last no longer than 20 minutes which will then be followed by 10 minutes of staff Q & A.

 

Leadership Demonstration prompt:

 

You will have 20 minutes to introduce yourself and answer the following prompts:

  • “What is the foundation of your educational philosophy and how do they align to ours?”

  • “What is your management style and how would you implement change within a collaborative community?”

 

We look forward to seeing you,

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OH MAN do I hate those. I can do the thing where you teach to students you don't know but doing that is tricky business. Have you checked out there website to see what jargon or philosophy they espouse? Then think of ways you can push and pull to closely do that.

 

As for management style I was honest. My classrooms are noisy. Learning is a noisy. We do lots of group things. The best thing is to listen and know when it is important for all the kids to listen and be respect. For example we do math journals so kids an write how they feel about math and what not but we also have activities where they see where math is used in a practical way which requires group work and that is a noisy talkative interaction because I think kids understand concepts if they talk it out with each other peer to peer.

 

And that's why I work in an inner city poor school district because they just want bodies.

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OH MAN do I hate those. I can do the thing where you teach to students you don't know but doing that is tricky business. Have you checked out there website to see what jargon or philosophy they espouse? Then think of ways you can push and pull to closely do that.

 

As for management style I was honest. My classrooms are noisy. Learning is a noisy. We do lots of group things. The best thing is to listen and know when it is important for all the kids to listen and be respect. For example we do math journals so kids an write how they feel about math and what not but we also have activities where they see where math is used in a practical way which requires group work and that is a noisy talkative interaction because I think kids understand concepts if they talk it out with each other peer to peer.

 

And that's why I work in an inner city poor school district because they just want bodies.

This is for an executive director/ principal role of a charter school, so I was pleasantly surprised they actually had me teach. I love teaching so it was easy to slip back into the role. After being out of the classroom for so long, I had a lot of fun running a class when I wasn't coaching a teacher. I was a science teacher, so I did a lesson on neuroplasticity and a growth mindset.

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ugh. Grammatically that why I am a math teacher and not a Engrish teacher. LOL. I love reading but I typed that on my cell phone from my second job. It's just so intimidating to try and let them know how your philosophy of teaching will mesh with theirs. I over think it every time.

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As a parent, I would hope that a principal is a good boss and fosters respect amongst his team. As for change, I really hate when people say things are going to change and abandon it at the first sign of adversity. Change is uncomfortable and it should be. It doesnt mean change for the sake of change, but pushing the comfort zone semi-regularly and then evaluating isn't a bad thing.

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I dont necessarily have a problem with distance learning (as Ive said, its better than the nothing-burger a lot of disadvantaged students would be getting) but grades probably shouldnt be a part of it. Or at the very least it should be pass/fail based on doing it, but even thats a stretch. Not everyone has someone who can teach or hold the student accountable. Even more for kids with learning disabilities. If my wife wasnt able to teach, my son definitely couldnt do this on his own. His ADHD would ensure that.

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Seattle Public Schools decided to just do A or Incomplete for this last semester. At first I was like oh come on just make it Pass/Fail, but they said not all colleges were aligning to that, so I can see why they did it.

 

I'm admittedly protesting the specialist classes with assignments because they are a ton of work AND so unfriendly to disadvantaged families it's not even funny. It's not like they are going to fail him in Kindergarten for it, so I don't particularly care. He is at a 40% free and reduced price lunch school, so it's not like that's a small population.

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I've moved on to planning for the summer (we do a year-round schedule and take off when the weather is nicer and vacations are cheaper) and for next fall. Both kiddos start new programs in the fall, so I get to figure out how those are going to work.

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Welp my kid's grades have plummeted via online learning.

Yeah, I'm experiencing that with some of my students. Some of my kids were consistent A's and B's in class but now they're getting C's and D's. I think it has to do with their parents or home environment. Not that they're being abused but that there's not a set schedule and focus time and too many distractions. It's part of why distance learning is the suck for some kids. There are some that really do well in a school setting and some that do not like a home setting.

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Seattle Public Schools decided to just do A or Incomplete for this last semester. At first I was like oh come on just make it Pass/Fail, but they said not all colleges were aligning to that, so I can see why they did it.

 

I'm admittedly protesting the specialist classes with assignments because they are a ton of work AND so unfriendly to disadvantaged families it's not even funny. It's not like they are going to fail him in Kindergarten for it, so I don't particularly care. He is at a 40% free and reduced price lunch school, so it's not like that's a small population.

We're still working on that Pass Fail idea and have had endless boring home meetings about this. There is talk we're going to open up schools later and classroom sizes will need to change to less students per teacher when school opens. I volunteered to teach afternoon evening staggered class schedules!

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My kid is loving that they got rid of the timed math tests. But then had a meltdown when I made her do her typing practice because it is timed and nails you for accuracy. Oh man. Like I get that she hates it but she does need to learn it. Maybe I need to find something that's less pressure and delayed feedback for her to practice her typing skills.

 

I think my son loves being home. On Monday he suddenly asked me why we are staying home so much. Like it finally occurred to him. (Actually, I do think it was because of his first Zoom meeting on Friday. I think he realized that no one else was at school, either.) He hasn't asked about his after-care place in weeks, either. But I think he's much happier not having to be held back by the rest of his class and the e-learning through iReady and Prodigy is a lot more appealing to him. He ASKS to play Prodigy (because I have to help him log in). Unfortunately I think it will be a tough transition in the fall having to go back to a classroom environment and 20 kids in a class is going to be really tough.

 

However, my daughter is really sad and missing the social interaction. She really does love school, even the learning part. Virtual schooling is pretty easy for her except when we get a ridiculous assignment that requires a lot of work on my behalf, and I feel bad because that's really because I'm the one who is frustrated and she picks up on it. Her grades at the end of 3rd quarter were really good, though, but I think a big part of that is her teacher went out on maternity leave at the end of January and the sub is amazing. I'm so glad we got her, this would've been an even bigger mess with the super uptight and strict regular teacher. I noticed some weird inconsistencies in the regular teacher's grading that I'm no longer seeing with the sub.

 

If my kids schools went to shifts, I would be willing to send them on a later shift and swap work shifts with my husband. I have a feeling that we are going to be working from home for a long time, they are struggling with the social distancing logistics because we have so many people packed into these open air cubicle clusters with low walls. They've talked about the possibility of having us on shifts so we aren't breathing in each other's faces.

 

Right now I'm really entertained by all the crazy soccer parents who can't wait to get Pele Jr back on the field. I can't believe I got suckered into another year of this competitive soccer nonsense lol.

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My sons soccer tried to get people to sign up for what basically sounds like Zoom soccer skills. Maybe just videos though. Either way, any amount of money is too much to pay for that, at least for my 7 year old.

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At my second job we work taking calls right now at corporate headquarters instead of the small kennel like desks they had us in. We have over 12 feet between each desk and higher walls in the cubicles. I brought my own clorox wipes and clean my desk regularly because we don't share. We can only ride one person in an elevator at a time and masks are required and this is the best part - we have to take our temps before entering but no thermometers were given and no one has one at work for us because they're on back order. So I'm taking my temps with a food thermometer. LOL.

 

What they're talking about doing is 6 to 8 kids in a classroom at a time and instead of them going from one class to another we, the teachers will move to classroom to classroom. They have the attendance office working on ways to keep 6 to 8 kids doing the same thing in the same classroom at the same level as the other students. And lunches will be in classroom and sack lunches hopefully brought from home but they will still offer only hot meal options delivered and left outside the classroom.

 

This is logistically a nightmare.

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So I did a TikTok dance with my counselors for the weekly video I put out...I am dusting off my old video editing skills. We also are having a weekly sprint week and students send in the pictures themselves wearing spirit garb. Last week was color week. I filmed my section on my deck...

 

 

Anywho...had my interview today...It was so hard. With 70 people in attendance. I didn't know if my jokes were landing or if people were losing interest or whatever. And of course the one staff member Zoom picks had the worse case of RBF I have ever seen. I ALWAYS tell my interview team to look friendly, you are trying to sell your school in the interview process. I was told I would know tonight what the next steps are. How many next steps can there ****ing be? Probably go to the board....but this is insane....

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My sons soccer tried to get people to sign up for what basically sounds like Zoom soccer skills. Maybe just videos though. Either way, any amount of money is too much to pay for that, at least for my 7 year old.

The top clubs out here are asking people to pay now and they will refund at the end of the season. Its nuts. Our club is supposedly in that elite tier but definitely not at the top of the heap. They have asked for a down payment but have said they will prorate the season but not charge us until we start playing. I think they are being very reasonable. They are also offering to let us out of our "contract" with them if we are not happy within 30 days of returning to play. No other club seems to be doing this. I admittedly don't think they are the best club around (they're kind of disorganized), but they are taking care of their families and their coaches through this. They are offering a training plan but we are admittedly not following it because it's far too technical for her age group. I'm just trying to get her out a few times a week to kick a ball around. I'm not sure we're going to stick with competitive soccer, but it wouldn't be to go to another highest-level club. We would just play rec or maybe select if they can make us a deal on not playing winter season.

 

This is admittedly one of those areas where it's hard for us to accept that our daughter is not us. I would have killed to play at this level but I started too late and wasn't good enough. My husband was good enough but got injured. She has tons of potential but isn't interested in the work to be great. I was surprised she wanted to come back, but I'm hopeful that the new coach will turn things around. She is trying to make it more fun and work on creating friendships, which I think is fabulous. Not sure the other parents are on board, they think their kid is the next national team player and will step on any kid in their kid's way. Fortunately, I think only 1 or 2 of the girls might actually be sociopathic like their parents.

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OMG....through to the next and final round....An hour and a half long panel...this is where I lose the job...lol. Am I reading too much into the fact that all other emails have been BCC and start something like "Good Evening" and this one is just to me and not a bcc?

 

Dear Philip,

--------and its community are excited to announce we’ve determined the final candidates that best fits the culture, experience, and skills needed for the principal / executive director role.

We are inviting you for the final panel interview. Please choose a time through the link below for Monday, May 4th.

 

We look forward to a conversation with you.

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Probably not. At they very least they've probably narrowed it down to 2 or 3. At the very least.

Are they just buying time until you can meet them in person? I'd hate to hire someone I couldn't meet with in person.

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The panel was 1 hour and 45 minutes long and 20 questions. I thought I did okay-not good and not bad. I took too long on the first few questions (what do I see as my role as the executive director, why did I take and leave my last FOUR jobs, and three challenges and strengths of the the school). Twenty minutes on three questions, but those are huge questions...

 

I think of all the pieces in the interview it was my third strongest showing (behind my lesson to students and leading a staff meeting). I am a verbal processor. When I have a tough decision or conversation I need to have I go on a long walk and talk it out to myself. However, that strategy impacts me rambling a bit in interviews. I have a tendency to start an answer, switch gears because I remember an answer I like more, and not complete my original thought. The more focused and task-based something is (like the lesson and staff meeting) the better I do.

 

I honestly hope that this is the end of the process. This is a huge job...the biggest job I have ever applied for...and I appreciate their thoroughness and thoughtfulness. I don't even really mind all the rounds. The problem I have is other than the last round, it has taken forever for them to get back to me and the next round is scheduled so far out.

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They said by the end of the week I would know whether or not I got the job. In education, if you don't hear a few days prior to when they said they will get back to you, you probably didn't get the job because they have to have someone accept and sign a contract before they notify the runner-ups. I figured I did not get the job and moved on. Last night my boss called and got a reference check for me. Now my anxiety is pretty high. Ugh...what is taking so long....

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In my experience, nobody even finishes a hiring process when they say. It's either super fast or super slow compared to what they say.

 

My last promotion was supposed to tell me by the end of the week and instead it was 3 weeks. When I first got hired by the same agency it was supposed to be two weeks and instead it was the next day. People have trouble estimating.

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I clearly don't know how it is in other parts of education, but at universities and colleges, the hiring process can be so long and drawn out. It was painful when I was the one applying, it's still painful when my PhD students go through the process, and it's really difficult when I'm on the committee trying to hire someone. If I didn't care so much about trying to help find great potential colleagues, I would never want to serve on a hiring committee again. There's just so much stress involved throughout the whole process.

 

I hope that this works out for you!

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So I never had to do hiring at Taco Bell when I managed I would hire bums off the street. And they often were the best workers. I hated my boss though. He was a dude and hired this "cute" girls who were way to young for him and he'd flirt mercilessly with them even though he was in his 40s and they'd quit because he was skeevy.

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