Hiring kindergarten teachers

A teacher must understand how to help students reach their educational goals. Your candidate should be familiar with a wide range of teaching methodologies that can keep kindergartners engaged in lessons and successful with the curriculum. Staying up to date on educational trends is a plus.

A kindergarten teacher should have clear educational goals for their students and be able to design lesson plans to achieve these goals. At the same time, because kindergarten students are in a highly developmental phase of life, teachers will have to adapt lessons as they learn about their students. Your candidate should be able to balance planning in advance with making changes according to their students’ needs.

A teacher must commit to creating a positive learning environment for all students, regardless of race, gender, or cultural background. Kindergarten isn’t just about learning the alphabet. It’s also where kids learn crucial life skills. The teacher should embrace diversity in the classroom, and teach their students to respect each others’ differences.

It’s common for children within this age group to act out every once in a while. Your candidate should have clear strategies to address this challenge. A great kindergarten teacher will approach disruptive students with empathy rather than anger, and inform parents of any major behavior changes.

For many kindergarten students, this is their first time away from home for an extended period of time. This may make a student feel anxious, shy, or disengaged. A great teacher gets to know their students on an individual level and tries different strategies based on specific needs and learning styles.

Sending a child off to kindergarten can be as much of an adjustment for parents as it is for students. A kindergarten teacher must be able to address parent complaints and concerns with empathy and stay calm and professional when faced with conflict. The candidate should be able to maintain authority over their classroom while also seeking solutions that work for everyone.

The answer to this question should give you a sense of how your candidate interacts with their students on a daily basis and their idea of what makes a successful lesson. Listen for an overlap between their teaching philosophy and your school’s. You should be able to understand what ideas your candidate is bringing to the table and whether their goals align with your school’s mission.

A great kindergarten teacher is passionate about what they do and always has their students’ best interests in mind. Understanding what drew someone to teaching can give you a feel for their passion and expertise. Your candidate should also be able to demonstrate that they understand kindergarteners developmentally.

The teacher you hire shouldn’t just be a great teacher. They should also be a great fit for your school. Understanding what excites a teacher about your school — be it your curriculum, a particular educational program you’ve instituted, or your mission statement — will help you get a feel for how they’d fit into the larger picture, and whether or not your goals align.