interview questions

Question 1

Tell us about yourself

Answer 1

15th year in education/mostly h.s. school librarian
added prek-12 endorsement in 2017
worked two years at the elementary level
professional development-AISLE, RAILS, RSA
public library experience previously
wife is reading teacher, 2 children/foster parent

Question 2

What are your strengths/weaknesses?

Answer 2

strengths-
organizational skills,
interpersonal skills
willing to try new things

weaknesses-i find it difficult to help more than one student and or staff member at the same time but I sometimes have an aide, student helper, or volunteer to call upon. When I don’t I may have to make a physical or mental note of their need and get back to them.

Question 3

How would you incorporate diversity/inclusion?

Answer 3

• book selection which reflects all student/staff input
• by being aware of current events
• book and bulletin board displays.
• incorporating groups and individuals in lessons from various cultures (Hair Love)

Question 4

What do you see as being the role of a library media specialist?

Answer 4

promote a love of reading

teaching students how to be effective users of info

student book review placards

teach students about tools of technology skills to communicate what they’ve learned
Share as a teacher with my peers pedagogical knowledge

Question 5

How would you promote a culture of reading within the school?

Answer 5

I would continue to offer reading incentives for reading the Monarch & Bluestem Award titles.

As part of these incentives, I would continue to offer an easy to complete Google Form that all students should be able to complete (maybe with parental help)

fun collaborations/promotions like an ‘edible book festival’

I would promote books through every medium possible (bulletin boards, book trailers, displays, etc…)

I will do booktalks and read to classes as well.

Book fairs

Soliciting input of students and staff

Question 6

Describe a lesson or curriculum map that you developed related to information literacy skills. (Big 6/Super 3) What standards were addressed in these lessons?

Answer 6

I had 5th grade students make a timeline of events in their life so that they would get an understanding of sequencing.

2nd grade-same with
the Terrible, No Good Day to demonstrate their understanding of the story and sequencing)

Students did basic research on their favorite animals and put that information into a Google Doc. Access preselected digital sources for information needs)

I also had first grade students use Padlet to create a picture to demonstrate their understanding of a story I read them.

HS-big 6

Question 7

Tell me about a collaborative partnership in which you have been involved that was successful in enabling students to achieve content area learning outcomes.

Answer 7

• HS: Big 6 research method, plagiarism, etc…
• Last year, I had 5th grade students - Civil Rights Movement- Google Map with the locations and descriptions of 15 different sites that were pertinent to this time in history.
• 4th grade @ Pepper-states unit-we made brochures about the states. 2nd grade-insects

?Last year I also had kindergarten students learn about the parts of a book which supports reading instruction.

Question 8

Tell me about one assessment that you have used to determine if students are learning appropriate information literacy skills.

Answer 8

Trails 9
in class assessment tools-exit tickets (GForms, oral, etc...), kahoot and Factile game

Question 9

The budget for books, materials and electronic resources is limited. What can you do to ensure that the collection is up-to-date and relevant?

Answer 9

grants
weeding
inventory
donations
book fairs

Question 10

If I were to walk into your library on a typical school day, how would I see it being used?

Answer 10

elementary-the lesson broken up into chunks of instruction, work time and checking out books
me instructing students in a new library or tech skill
students working on either individual or group work
students check out books with me or the library secretary
me helping students with homework or books
collaborative efforts between staff and I

Question 11

Tell me about one assessment that you have used to determine if students are learning appropriate information literacy skills.

Answer 11

Kent State University online assessment -TRAILS 9

Otherwise, I will use oral questioning or short online quizzes I make up to assess skills (pre-tests and post-tests)

I will also use student demonstration of knowledge to assess in a physical assessment. (locate a book on the shelf or use a bookmarker, go to a section of the library, etc…)

Question 12

Describe ways that you could work with other teachers to promote Internet safety

Answer 12

With elementary students, I have had them do the FBI’s internet safety website, S.O.S. (Safe Online Surfing)

Lesson and practice making passwords

Question 13

What ways do you try to differentiate your instruction?

Differentiated Instruction— (content, process. and product in response to student readiness, interest, ability, and learning profile.)

Answer 13

In the Content-Process-Product
student input on rules and procedures
centers

content-
jigsaw process with student group work

eliminate or offer fewer choices on a test or sections to do on a project.

make instructional videos for students to demonstrate or them how to do different procedures (this helps as they can stop, rewind and review)

process

allow for choice with students when it comes to the finished product for a project or what they include (padlet-5th graders)

gifted students-stretch it-ask them more questions after they get one correct to encourage further thinking

interest-allow students to choose their topics when possible.

Question 14

What makes you a good fit for this area/job/school?

Answer 14

I now have 2 school years experience at the elementary level between 3 schools plus an additional 10 years experience from the high school level to draw upon and modify. I also have a small amount of experience working at the junior high level as well.

I have a master’s degree in library & information science and I continue to seek out opportunities to learn-PD, podcasts, blogs, conferences, etc…

Small town life (Blue Ridge) is half my life experience.

Question 15

What are some of your favorite children’s books? What are you reading now?

Answer 15

Erik Larson books-Splendid & The Vile, Devil In The White City
10 Reasons Why
Unbroken
Hunger Games
Mother Bruce-Ryan T. Higgins
50 Below Zero/I Have To Go!-Robert Munsch
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates-Ryan T. Higgins
One & Only Ivan-Katherine Applegate
The Day The Crayons Quit
Hair Love-Matthew Cherry
The Van Gogh Deception

Question 16

Why do you want to work at our school?

Answer 16

I enjoyed working with younger students in previous elementary positions.

It’s a enjoyable challenge.

My experience has been that at the elementary level I got more instructional time than at the high school level.

Question 17

What technology tools have you used to enhance instruction? Why are some tools better than others for the learning experience?

Answer 17

Hardware: Apple devices including desktops, laptops and iPads. PCs, Chromebooks and PCs. Smartboards, 3D printers and pens, iPads

Software: Google Suite for Education,Google Classroom, Zoom and Google Meet, 3 different circulation software, MS Office, 3D printer related software, numerous online applications like Padlet, Kahoot, Flipgrid, Facttile, Bitmoji, typing.com, Pixie, Pear Deck, Prezi, Nearpod, Quizlet, Brainscape, Flocabulary, Clever*

Question 18

What is your dream job?

Answer 18

public library

one that involves travel

Question 19

What four words describe your ideal school?

Answer 19

collaborative
innovative
encouraging
safe place

Question 20

How do you administer classroom discipline?

Answer 20

classroom behavior chart-classes got a score of 0-5 based on their collective behavior and once the class got to 25 points, they would get a ‘free day’. Students who have not completed library projects don’t get to participate.

moving around the room,
calling on students to keep them engaged in the lesson
taking students aside to have private conversations
non-verbal signals too
make a point of learning student names

Question 21

How would you handle a challenge to a book in your library?

Answer 21

I would resort to the challenge policy which should already be in place and follow those steps. (respond to the complainant by phone or email and then if needed ask public member to fill out a form, then form a committee, etc…)

Question 22

How can library instruction and programming help us meet the school or district mission, vision and goals?

Answer 22

Usually schools/districts have goals like reading, making informed citizens and libraries help students learn how to find and use information which goes along perfectly with those goals, etc…

collaboration
problem solving
creativity
individualized learning
critical thinking
students learn to advocate for a cause
reading connection to life long learning

Question 23

Describe your teaching or learning style?

Answer 23

I use lecture and group/individual work and I try to make library assignments as hands on as possible.

Question 24

Have you supervised other staff, volunteers or student helpers?

Answer 24

Yes, I have supervised 3 library assistants as well as a number of parent volunteers at the elementary level. At the high school level, I often had student helpers who I supervised as well. Parent and student volunteers often checked in and out books and shelved these items as well. The library assistants did the same tasks but also created billboards and gave input on the collection and management of the library as well as other duties assigned by the school.

management style-laissez faire and servant leader

Question 25

What is your vision for the library (or our district libraries)?

Answer 25

increase use by the staff as an instructional space
students (& staff) would check out more materials (and read them)
students (& staff) would use the library space because they want to be there and they find it a productive place to work and because they simply enjoy being there (provide SEL options-puzzles, games, coloring sheets, etc…)

Question 26

How can the library/libraries instruction and programming help us meet the school or district mission, vision and goals?

Answer 26

Libraries will always exist to either provide information in print or electronic form or they will point the way to online sources-ours or others.

The subject matter covered in the curriculum therefore should always be supported by library instruction in information literacy and technology

Libraries are also about reading and will continue to be. Having material to read that matches interests and information needs will help to encourage students to read and encourage the development and continuance of this habit.

Question 27

What is your leadership style?

Answer 27

laissez-faire-open to the input of others. Library assistants and student helpers advice sought and or willingly received.

servant-leader-interested in building relationships. I like getting to know the people I work with and their own strengths and weaknesses related to the job.