Panel interviews for teachers: what to ask beyond the demo lesson

Four question buckets

1. Classroom judgement

• A student calls another student a slur in class. Walk me through the next 5 minutes.
• Half the class fails a unit test you thought was fair. What do you do this week?
• A student consistently finishes 10 minutes early and disrupts others. Your move?

2. Parent handling

• A parent emails at 10pm asking why their child got 7/10. Draft your reply.
• A parent asks for a meeting to challenge a grade. What do you prepare?
• A parent asks you privately to give their child extra time. Response?

3. Coordinator + peer work

• Your coordinator changes the syllabus mid-term. How do you push back?
• A senior teacher's method contradicts yours in the same subject. What do you do?
• You disagree with a school-wide policy. Walk me through your escalation.

4. Growth

• Last thing you changed in your teaching, and why.
• One book or course from the last year that changed your practice.
• What would you want feedback on 90 days in?

Score on a 1–4 rubric with two panelists. Do not skip the parent-handling bucket — it is where new hires fail most often.