A new school year is rolling in and it may be time to add some fresh faces to the staff. The quality of a teacher is an important factor in the overall success of each student’s educational career. So finding the best ones to lead the future into greater versions of themselves is a big deal.
But the search for the perfect educators can be a tiresome and discouraging one if you don’t have a system for acquiring them. Keep reading to check out these helpful strategies on hiring teachers.
Identify Your Needs
All educational criteria aren’t created equally. Your school may specialize in certain areas, such as business or tech, that you want your teachers to excel at. There may also be particular values that you embed into the foundation of the education for the students.
These are the type of things you should take into consideration when hiring teachers. Explaining your specific needs to a candidate should be made clear and simple in order to attract people who fit the culture of your school community.
Also highlight non-negotiable requirements or credentials that you’d prefer but won’t ruin their chances (certifications, specializations, etc.). Include the type of person you’re looking for as well when you think of the needs of the teacher position.
Put out the Job Alert
The internet has made it easier than ever to cast a wide, yet targeted net, to the people you’re looking for. Now there are plenty of places you can go to find some great potential for filling the job position. But you shouldn’t take the traditional route of just making a post about hiring teachers and leaving it there.
Although you’ll probably get some great candidates this way, you should also be scouting for hidden talent. For instance, social media is filled with bright individuals who contribute to the community in various ways. You can simply search for specific tags or scroll through profiles to find some individuals you like then reach out to them.
Try going to the social platforms where professionals and intellects hang out, such as LinkedIn or Twitter. You can also search on high-quality job boards and K-12 education executive search firms that do some of the background work for you and put plenty of qualified candidates in one spot.
Ask the Right Interview Questions
Times have changed a lot and you have to keep up with the “out with the old, in with the new” idea while hiring teachers. That means you have to ask the right questions to find the candidates who are modern enough to communicate and reach the students of today.
When you finally get through resumes and start preparing to bring in potential teachers for interviews, you need to make sure that you ask questions that are reflective of how the individuals can stay up-to-date with their target audience- students. This will probably require you to ask more questions about their personal philosophies and self-educating, as well as social, habits and interests.
The more connected to the world around the teachers are, the more likely it is that they understand the pupils they are trying to educate. It doesn’t mean that they have to know every single trend that pops up on a weekly basis. But they should be able to speak with relevancy and be relatable for a higher chance of students taking to them.
Spot Gems in Resumes
A lot of times it might be difficult to spruce up a resume. But there are certain keywords and experiences that can help you to identify a really good candidate.
Keep a close eye out for unique and qualifiable skills while sifting through resumes. And remember not to be so quick to discard someone who may not have extensive experience but proves to be an overall good person. People tend to grow within their professional lives when nurtured correctly.
Get a Test Run
Gone are the days of just standing in front of a chalkboard and reciting information repeatedly. Children are evolving much faster than the generations before them and have shorter attention spans mostly due to technological advancements.
With these revelations in front of us, it’s important that we take heed and be proactive with teaching styles. Asking individuals to teach mock lessons or provide sample lesson plans may be one of the key determining factors for hiring teachers.
However, you should make it known to all candidates in the job post that if they reach a certain level of the hiring process that they will be asked to give a trial presentation of their actual teaching skills and styles. This makes it fair for everyone to be as prepared as possible with no excuses.
Pay Attention to Personality Traits
Half of being a teacher is skill, practice, knowledge, and education. The other part is about your personality since you deal with other people intimately on a daily basis. No one likes a mean, harsh teacher with no actual constructiveness to their criticisms.
Not only will a poor personality affect the students but it will also hurt the overall environment of the school. Teachers have to work together frequently and need to have unity and be on the same page in order to educate the student body efficiently.
Pay close attention to mannerisms and ask about personality traits when hiring teachers. Be prepared to reject a candidate who has credentials with a subpar attitude. Look for individuals who exude positivity, compassion, enthusiasm and can engage the students in school pride.
Ready to Start Hiring Teachers for Your School?
It might feel like the weight of every student’s future is in your hands while hiring teachers. And that’s because it technically is. But this doesn’t have to be a scary or stressful thing if you follow some of the strategies that we’ve listed above.
Finding the right teachers for your school may be a process but it will make all the difference once you’ve landed the right fit for your staff. For more help and advice on hiring or team-building, check out the business section of our blog today.