Monday, May 24, 2021

Incorporating SEL into Your Interview Process

It is that time of year when school districts will be starting the interviewing process. Whether looking to add new teachers to the team or anyone from classroom assistants to school and district leaders, the process may likely include new and different interview questions. In response to the last year teaching and learning in a global pandemic, interview teams will be looking to see how you have been able to thrive during these challenging circumstances. Furthermore, schools will want to know how you supported students during a time when building relationships and fostering well being has been more important than ever. 


When preparing for interview season, consider the following questions with a focus on social emotional development:

What classroom practices have you implemented in the last year to build empathy and understanding in your students?

How have Random Acts of Kindness (or a similar experience) been used in your school? How did you contribute to its development? 

What do you do to ensure the ongoing social emotional development of your students? 

What do you believe are the essential components of social emotional learning? 

What SEL resources have you found to be the most beneficial? 

What strategies would you suggest to a student who was having difficult with self-regulation in the classroom? 

How do you develop social awareness within your students? 

What do you do personally to practice self care and social emotional development? 

The social emotional development of our students (and ourselves) is so important. When we are bringing new people onto our team, we need to have conversations, (starting during the interview process) that communicates SEL as a primary goal within the school system. What SEL questions have you asked interview candidates? As an interviewee, have you been asked any questions regarding social emotional learning in schools?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.