20 Fairfax County Public Schools Interview Questions and Answers

When you go to an interview for Fairfax County Public Schools, you can expect to be asked questions about your experience working in education, your knowledge of the Fairfax County Public Schools platform, and your ability to manage and lead a team. You may also be asked questions about your teaching style and your ability to engage students in learning.

Fairfax County Public Schools Interview Process

The interview process at Fairfax County Public Schools can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least two interviews, one with a panel of school administrators and one with the principal of the school. For some positions, like teaching positions, you may also be required to do a presentation or demo as part of the interview process. Overall, the interview process is generally pretty smooth and efficient, although it can be quite overwhelming if you are not prepared.

1. Why do you want to work at Fairfax County Public Schools?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your interest in their organization. When you answer, make sure to highlight the aspects of Fairfax County Public Schools that attracted you to apply for a job there. You can also use this opportunity to explain why you are passionate about working in education.

Example: “I applied for this position because I am passionate about helping students succeed. In my last role as an English teacher, I saw firsthand how important it is to have teachers who care about their students and want them to do well. I think Fairfax County Public Schools has many teachers like that, which is one reason I would love to work here.”

2. What is your teaching philosophy?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer your passion for teaching and how you plan to help students succeed. Your answer should include a few key principles that guide your teaching style, such as encouraging creativity or building confidence in students.

Example: “My philosophy is that every student can learn if they’re given the right tools and encouragement. I believe it’s important to build strong relationships with my students so they feel comfortable coming to me when they need extra support or want to share their ideas. I also think it’s vital to give them opportunities to try new things and develop their skills through hands-on learning.”

3. How would you handle a student who was being disruptive in the classroom?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle challenging situations and the steps you take to resolve them. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation in which you handled disruptive students and what actions you took to ensure they were able to learn.

Example: “In my experience as an educator, I have encountered many different types of disruptions in the classroom. In one instance, I had a student who was disrupting class by talking loudly with other students. I asked him to come up to the front of the room so we could talk privately. Once he was at the front of the room, I explained that his behavior was distracting others from learning and asked if there was anything I could do to make him more comfortable. He told me that he was hungry and needed to use the restroom. After checking with the school nurse, I learned that he hadn’t eaten breakfast yet and allowed him to go to the cafeteria for a snack.”

4. Tell me about a time when you had to make a difficult decision or judgment call.

This question can help an interviewer get a better sense of your problem-solving and decision-making skills. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the steps you took to make that difficult call or how you overcame challenges in making that choice.

Example: “In my previous role as a teacher’s aide, I had to decide whether or not to tell my principal about a student who was cheating on their test. While I knew that telling her would likely result in the student being removed from the class, I also knew that if I didn’t report them, they could continue to cheat and hurt other students’ grades. Ultimately, I decided to tell my principal so she could handle the situation appropriately.”

5. Describe what methods you use to engage students and motivate them to learn.

This question is an opportunity to show your creativity and problem-solving skills. You can describe a time when you motivated students or helped them learn something new.

Example: “I use my knowledge of the subject matter, as well as my enthusiasm for teaching, to engage students in learning. I also make sure that my lessons are fun and interesting so that students want to come to class. For example, last year I was teaching about the solar system and how it works. I brought in some space-themed decorations and even had a planetarium projector set up in the classroom. The kids loved it and were more engaged than ever.”

6. Do you have experience working with students who are learning English as a second language?

This question can help interviewers understand your experience working with students who may have a different background than the average student. If you don’t have direct ESL teaching experience, consider sharing an example of how you helped a non-English speaking student in another way.

Example: “I’ve worked with many bilingual students throughout my career and I find that it’s important to give them time to speak their native language while also helping them learn English. In one instance, I had a student who was learning English as a second language but didn’t want to use her translator app during class. She asked me if she could write down what she wanted to say in Spanish on a piece of paper so she could practice saying it out loud in front of the class. I told her that was fine and we would review the note together after class.”

7. Can you describe how you deal with conflict resolution?

Conflict resolution is an important skill to have in the workplace. Employers ask this question to make sure you can resolve conflicts effectively and efficiently. In your answer, explain how you would approach a conflict with another coworker or manager. Explain that you would try to understand their perspective and find a solution that works for everyone involved.

Example: “I believe it’s important to be empathetic when resolving a conflict. I would first listen to my coworker or manager to hear their side of the story. Then, I would share my own perspective on the situation. After both parties are heard, I would work with them to come up with a compromise that makes everyone happy.”

8. Have you ever been asked to leave a position? If so, why?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your character and how you handle challenges. When answering, be honest and explain what you learned from the experience.

Example: “I was working as a teacher’s aide in my hometown when I first started teaching. One day, one of the teachers asked me to leave the classroom because she needed help with something. I left the room without questioning her request, but later that day, I found out that she had fired another teacher for no reason. I reported her actions to the principal, who investigated the situation and terminated her.”

9. Are you able to pass a drug test?

This question is asked to determine if you are able to pass a drug test. Employers want to know that their employees can be trusted and will not use drugs on the job. If you have ever used illegal substances, it’s important to disclose this information in your interview so they understand why you might fail a drug test.

Example: “I am willing to take a drug test at any time. I have never used illegal substances or alcohol while working for an employer. However, I do smoke cigarettes occasionally, which would show up as nicotine on a drug test.”

10. When was the last time that you worked independently on a project from start to finish?

This question can help interviewers understand your ability to work independently and how you manage projects. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific project that you completed from start to finish.

Example: “The last time I worked on a project from start to finish was when I helped my team complete our annual budget for the school district. We had to create a plan for all of the expenses we would incur during the year, including supplies, transportation costs and more. It took us several weeks to finalize our budget, but in the end, we were able to submit it before the deadline.”

11. What qualities do you think makes a good teacher?

This question can help an interviewer get to know you as a person and how your values align with the school’s. When answering, it can be helpful to mention qualities that are important to you in a teacher or mentor and how they relate to your own personality and skills.

Example: “I think one of the most important qualities for a good teacher is patience. I’ve seen teachers who have this quality and those who don’t, and I think students learn so much more from someone who has the ability to remain calm when things get challenging. Another quality I think makes a good teacher is creativity. Teachers should always be looking for new ways to engage their students and make learning fun.”

12. Provide an example of a time when you went above and beyond for a student.

This question is an opportunity to show your dedication and passion for helping students succeed. When answering this question, it can be helpful to share a specific story about how you helped a student overcome challenges or achieve success.

Example: “When I was working as a teacher’s aide in my high school math class, one of my classmates had trouble understanding the concept of negative numbers. After explaining the concept multiple times, I realized that he just needed more practice with the material. So, I created flashcards with different problems on them so he could study at home. He practiced every night until he mastered the concept.”

13. How do you approach discipline with students?

This question can help interviewers understand your approach to discipline and how you might handle a situation if it arises. When answering, consider what the school’s policies are regarding discipline and discuss how you would implement them.

Example: “I believe that students should be given consequences for their actions, but I also think that they need to know why those consequences were implemented. For example, if a student is late to class, I will first ask them why they’re late before issuing any disciplinary action. If they have an excuse, I will give them a warning or assign them extra work depending on the severity of the tardiness. If there is no excuse, I will issue detention.”

14. Give an example of a time when you were not satisfied with your performance.

Employers ask this question to learn more about your self-awareness and how you handle challenges. When answering, try to be honest and specific about what steps you took to improve in the future.

Example: “In my first year as a teacher, I was not prepared for the amount of work that came with teaching a class. I often felt overwhelmed by the amount of grading I had to do each night. After talking with other teachers, I learned there are many tools available to help me grade faster and more efficiently. Now, I use these tools every day to make sure I am giving students constructive feedback.”

15. Describe a time when you successfully resolved a dispute between two coworkers.

This question can help interviewers understand how you resolve conflict and your ability to work with others. Use examples from previous jobs or school experiences that show your communication skills, problem-solving abilities and teamwork skills.

Example: “In my last job as a teacher’s aide, I had two teachers who were constantly arguing about classroom management techniques. One teacher preferred giving students more freedom while the other wanted to maintain strict rules. The principal asked me to mediate between them because they didn’t want to lose either teacher.

I met with each teacher separately and explained why the other teacher was successful in their methods. Then, we came up with a compromise where both teachers would implement different teaching styles throughout the day. After implementing this solution, the teachers stopped arguing and started collaborating.”

16. How did you handle a situation where you needed to calm down an upset student?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle challenging situations and the steps you take to resolve them. Use examples from your experience that show your ability to remain calm under pressure, communicate effectively with students and manage a classroom or school environment.

Example: “In my previous role as an elementary school teacher, I had a student who was having trouble focusing in class. When he would get distracted, it would cause other students to lose focus as well. To address this issue, I met with him one-on-one after school to discuss his behavior. We talked about what he could do when he felt himself getting distracted so he could refocus on the lesson. He also agreed to raise his hand if he needed any extra help.”

17. How well do you manage conflict?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle challenging situations. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a time when you had to manage conflict and the steps you took to resolve it.

Example: “In my current role as an assistant principal, I have been in many situations where teachers or students are having conflicts with one another. In these instances, I try to listen to both sides of the story and then determine what the best course of action is for resolving the issue. For example, if two students are arguing over who should get a seat at lunch, I might ask them to take turns sitting at the table until they feel comfortable sharing the space.”

18. What would you say is your greatest strength?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your personality and how you would fit in with their team. When answering, it can be helpful to think of a specific example that relates to the job description.

Example: “My greatest strength is my ability to work well under pressure. I have had many experiences where I was responsible for helping students understand concepts while also managing other tasks like checking attendance or organizing materials. In these situations, I always try to prioritize what needs to get done first so I can help students succeed. This skill has helped me become an effective teacher who cares about each student’s success.”

19. What would you consider to be one of your weaknesses?

Employers ask this question to see how you handle a weakness. They want to know that you are aware of your weaknesses and have strategies for overcoming them. When answering, try to choose something that is not essential to the job.

Example: “I would say my biggest weakness is time management. I am always running late because I get distracted by other things. However, I have started using an app on my phone to help me keep track of what I need to do each day. It has helped me stay organized and be more productive.”

20. How long do you plan on staying with this job?

Employers ask this question to make sure you’re committed to the job and that it’s a long-term career opportunity. They want someone who will stay with their school for at least five years, so they can get the most out of your experience. When answering this question, be honest about how long you plan on staying in this role. If you don’t know exactly how long you’ll stay, explain why you think this is a good long-term position.

Example: “I’m looking for a long-term career opportunity, and I believe this one fits the bill. I love working with children and helping them learn new things. I feel like I have a lot to offer this school district, and I would love to work here for as long as possible.”