Kindergarten Teacher 

How did you get your current job?
I was an education major in college and went to the job fair.

What was the application process?
resume, interview

Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail?
yes. Interview with the county (individual interview, but it was crazy, lots of people interviewing in the same room at the same time, each with their own interview person), and then with specific schools, just me and a few staff from that school.

If you can remember, what questions were you asked during the interview?
I dont remember exactly a question about teaching reading, one question about dealing with difficult parents, a question about math, and a question about dealing with a difficult child I think.

Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain.
No…neither did the University Of Maryland. But, I really don;t know if there is a “proper” way to get you ready to teach, You have to jump in and do it.

Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
New Teacher Orientation. A week of BS “classes” it was pointless.

Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain.
Kinda, I think they could have done a better job, in that I should have been in the classroom more throughout my undergraduate career.

If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare for your job?
yes. (student teaching) The first “taste” of what teaching is like

If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
submit thier resume to MCPS and go the spring job fair. If you get an open contract they have to place you somewhere by the beginning of the next school year.

What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours?
Organized – you need to know what each child is doing at all times and the needs (academic and socially) of each child so you can differentiate their learning to the best of your ability. You need to have different centers and reading groups going and it is a lot. Organization is Key. You have to plan for centers to keep the kids engaged while you pull your small groups, which you also have to plan for, on various levels. You have to assess your kids and keep all of that straight and then plan your future instruction based on your current assessments, and of course you have to assess students between assessment windows (progress moniotring) You need to be Flexible. All day long there are interuptions, PA announcements, people pulling some of your kids for various services (ESOL, Speech, Academic Support), fire drills, code red/blue drills, picture day, etc etc. Kids will throw up, wet their pants, cry, etc, and you just have to be flexible and go with the flow. You need to have Patience for those reasons as well. It is hecht balancing everything you have to do with all the interuptions and the tattling and whining, and the shoe tying… I think those 3 skills are the most important.

Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
YES!! Too many people see teaching as a “fall back” job. “Well, If nothing else I can always teach” NO NO NO

What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Get your degree in eduation, so you can get your feet wet student teaching and in internships etc, so you know what you are getting yourself into. Its the best job, but its a lot of work.