Finding a Teacher Who Fits Your Culture
There are several skills that you might be looking for when you decide to hire a new teacher. And while the right skillset is vital, there’s something else that’s likely just as important – finding someone who fits your school culture.
This is necessary if you want a cohort of like-minded staff who will have a positive impact on students, and significantly, choose to stay at your school in the long term.
DEFINING YOUR CULTURE
It may sound obvious but it is essential to consider – and define – the school culture in preparation for your next recruitment process. While staff may have individual teaching styles, the overarching values that define your school and the group environment you collaborate in are unique. Work together with staff to narrow down the key components of your culture, consider what works well and what might disrupt it. Then put it in writing.
STARTING THE SEARCH
Once you have the culture clearly defined, convey this information through all your recruiting channels, including your website and job ads. Including a few lines in your ads that provide an overview of the school’s values, ideals and culture will help both you and potential candidates discern from the outset if they are a potential fit.
BRINGING CULTURE TO THE INTERVIEW
Once you’ve narrowed down the list of candidates you want to meet, the education interview provides you with the opportunity to ask not only about skills, experience and teaching style, but attitudes and behaviours. You might frame this with queries about what they feel are the most important aspects of the job, how they would act in certain situations and specifically, how they feel they would fit in with your school. Be sure to incorporate aspects of your school culture and values into the behavioural questions you ask. The right questions – and the answers – should help you work out who might work best in your team environment.
USE YOUR EXISTING STAFF TO CHECK CULTURAL FIT
Getting feedback on candidates from your current teachers can also be invaluable in assessing their potential fit. Give the candidates you are interviewing the chance to meet with staff. Watch how they interact, and ask your staff for their thoughts on which candidates would fit the team best. Recruiting for educators is a vitally important element of any school’s growth, and making sure you are fully prepared is the best way to ensure you find teachers that are the right fit. For help in finding teachers who are aligned with your school culture, don’t hesitate to get in touch for advice and assistance.
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