20 Noble Network of Charter Schools Interview Questions and Answers

Noble is a non-profit, public charter school operator in the Chicago area. Our mission is to provide students with the academic foundation and character development necessary to succeed in college and lead exemplary lives.

The Noble Network of Charter Schools has a competitive interview process for prospective employees. In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of common Noble interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

Noble Network of Charter Schools Interview Process

The interview process at Noble Network of Charter Schools is lengthy, and can take up to six months. Candidates will first complete an online application, followed by a video interview. If they are selected to move forward, they will then participate in phone interviews with multiple principals. Finally, candidates will have an in-person interview and teaching demo on one of the campuses.

1. What is your teaching philosophy?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your teaching style and how you would fit in with the Noble Network of Charter Schools. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific lesson or activity that helped you develop your philosophy.

Example: “My teaching philosophy is based on my belief that all students deserve an education that challenges them to think critically and creatively. I believe that every student has unique talents and skills that they can use to create something beautiful and meaningful. In my last position, I had a student who was struggling with math. He didn’t understand why he needed to know certain things for his classwork, so we talked about how knowing math could help him later in life. After that conversation, he started asking questions about other subjects and became more engaged in school.”

2. How would you handle a student that was not meeting expectations?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle challenging situations. Use examples from your experience to explain how you would respond and what actions you would take.

Example: “If a student was not meeting expectations, I would first meet with them one-on-one to discuss their progress. If they were struggling in a particular subject or class, I would find out if there was anything that could be done differently. For example, if the student needed more time on an assignment, I would allow them extra time to complete it. If the student was having trouble understanding a concept, I would provide additional resources for them to learn.”

3. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with difficult parents, how did you handle it?

Parents can sometimes be difficult to work with, especially when they disagree with a teacher’s methods or grading. It is important for teachers to have the ability to handle these situations in a calm and professional manner. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention how you tried to resolve the situation while still maintaining your authority as an educator.

Example: “I had a parent call me at home one night because their child received a low grade on a test. I calmly explained that we do not give make-up tests, but if they would like to discuss the grade further, I am always available after school hours. The next day, the student brought the test back with a higher grade, and the parents thanked me for my help.”

4. If hired, what would be your approach to teaching math?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the subject and how you would apply it in a classroom setting. When answering, consider what methods you have used in the past that were successful and explain why they worked.

Example: “I believe math is one of the most important subjects students learn because it’s applicable to their lives outside of school. I always try to make my lessons fun and engaging so students are excited to come to class each day. In my last position, I had a student who struggled with basic addition and subtraction. I created a game where he could practice his skills while having fun. He was able to master these concepts within two weeks.”

5. Why do you want to work at Noble Network of Charter Schools?

This question is an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the position. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific aspect of the job that you are excited about and why.

Example: “I want to work at Noble Network of Charter Schools because I am passionate about education reform. The charter school system in this state has been very beneficial to my students, and I would love to continue working with them. In addition, I have heard great things about the culture here, which makes me eager to join the team.”

6. Can you tell us about an innovative way you taught students in the past?

This question is a great way to show your creativity and problem-solving skills. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the situation that led you to develop an innovative teaching method or strategy.

Example: “In my last position as a high school English teacher, I noticed many of my students were struggling with writing assignments. After talking with them about their challenges, I realized they didn’t know how to write in complete sentences. So, I created a sentence structure worksheet for them to use during class time. They would fill out the sheet while I taught other lessons, and then we would review the sheets together at the end of class.”

7. Give me an example of a lesson plan for one of your classes.

Interviewers may ask this question to get a better idea of your teaching style and methods. They want to know how you plan out lessons, what types of activities you use in the classroom and whether or not you include assessments in your lesson plans. In your answer, try to be as specific as possible about the type of information that’s included in your lesson plan.

Example: “In my last position, I taught an eighth-grade science class where we focused on genetics and evolution. My students were at different levels when it came to understanding these concepts, so I created three separate lesson plans for each week of the semester. Each lesson plan had objectives, materials needed, pre-assessments and post-assessments. I also included notes for myself on any important information I wanted to remember.”

8. We are looking for teachers who can take initiative and create their own curriculum. Would you consider yourself to be someone who takes initiative?

This question is an opportunity to show your ability to think critically and creatively. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a time when you took initiative in the classroom or another professional setting.

Example: “I would definitely consider myself someone who takes initiative. In my last position as a high school English teacher, I noticed that many of my students were struggling with grammar. So, I created a curriculum where we focused on grammar for two weeks at a time. This helped my students learn grammar more thoroughly and gave them practice using grammar rules in their writing.”

9. Do you have any experience working with diverse groups of people?

The charter school system is designed to provide an education for students of all backgrounds. The interviewer may ask this question to determine if you have experience working with a diverse group of people and how well you can collaborate with others. Use your answer to highlight any previous experiences that helped you develop the skills needed to work in a team environment.

Example: “In my last position, I worked as a teacher’s aide at a public elementary school. While there, I learned about the importance of teaching children from different backgrounds. My principal encouraged us to learn about our students’ cultures and celebrate their differences. We even had a week where we focused on learning about other countries and celebrating their unique traditions.”

10. Have you ever had a conflict with another teacher or staff member? How did you handle it?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle interpersonal conflicts and whether you have the ability to resolve them. Use your answer to highlight your conflict resolution skills, communication abilities and problem-solving skills.

Example: “I once had a disagreement with another teacher about which students should be placed in certain classes. I spoke with her privately about my concerns and asked for her opinion on the matter. She explained that she thought some of the students would benefit from being in different classes than what I suggested. We decided to hold an informal meeting with all of the teachers so we could discuss our ideas and come up with a solution together.”

11. How do you think technology will impact education over the next 5-10 years?

This question can help interviewers understand your thoughts on the future of education and how you might fit into that vision. Use examples from your experience to explain what you think will change in the classroom, including new technologies or teaching methods.

Example: “I believe technology is going to play a huge role in education over the next few years. In my last position, I helped develop an online curriculum for students who were unable to attend school due to illness or other circumstances. The program was designed to be self-paced so they could learn at their own pace while still receiving credit for the coursework. This type of program would allow more students to receive a quality education.”

12. Describe your experience with teaching science.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your teaching style and how you plan lessons. Use examples from your experience to describe what you do in the classroom, including any methods or techniques that have helped students succeed.

Example: “I’ve been teaching science for five years now, and I love it because there are so many different ways to teach a concept. In my last position, I taught fifth-grade science, which is when kids start learning about ecosystems. I started by having them draw their own ecosystems on paper, then we discussed what they drew and talked about real-world examples of ecosystems. We also did some hands-on activities where they could explore the parts of an ecosystem.”

13. What is your experience with developing curriculum?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your experience with curriculum development and how you use it in the classroom. Use examples from past experiences to explain what steps you take when developing a new curriculum or revising an existing one.

Example: “In my last position, I worked with other teachers to develop our school’s curriculum. We started by identifying the skills we wanted students to master at the end of each grade level. Then, we broke down those skills into smaller units that we could teach throughout the year. Finally, we created assessments for each unit so we could measure student progress and make adjustments as needed.”

14. Tell me about a time where you struggled as a teacher and how you overcame it.

This question can help interviewers understand your problem-solving skills and how you overcome challenges. Use examples from your previous experience to explain how you overcame the challenge and what you learned from it.

Example: “In my first year of teaching, I struggled with managing a classroom full of students. It was difficult for me to keep track of all their assignments and grades. To solve this issue, I created an online grade book that allowed me to enter each student’s assignment and grade instantly. This helped me stay organized and gave parents access to their child’s progress.”

15. In what ways do you like to communicate with parents?

This question can help interviewers understand how you interact with parents and families. It’s important to show that you value communication with parents, as it helps build relationships and ensure students are succeeding in the classroom.

Example: “I like to communicate with parents through email newsletters and monthly updates on their child’s progress. I also send weekly emails to all of my students’ parents with homework assignments, upcoming events and other relevant information. I find these methods to be effective because they allow me to share a lot of information quickly while still giving parents plenty of time to respond or ask questions.”

16. Are you comfortable working in a fast-paced environment?

The interviewer may ask this question to gauge your ability to work in a high-pressure environment. This is especially important if you’re interviewing for a leadership role, as the school might have many students and teachers who need help at any given time. Highlight your ability to multitask and prioritize tasks effectively to show that you can thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Example: “I am definitely comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. In my previous position, I was responsible for managing multiple projects simultaneously while also helping other employees with their tasks. I find that I’m able to stay focused on my own tasks even when there’s a lot of commotion around me.”

17. What is your experience with writing assessments?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn about your experience with writing assessments for students. They want to know if you have the skills and knowledge necessary to write effective assessments that help students improve their academic performance. In your answer, describe a time when you wrote an assessment or helped someone else write one. Explain what steps you took to ensure it was accurate and helpful for students.

Example: “I’ve written several different types of assessments in my career as a teacher. I usually start by identifying the goals of the assessment and then determining how best to measure those goals. For example, I might use multiple choice questions to assess whether students understand a concept and short answer questions to see if they can apply what they learned to real-world situations. After creating the test, I review it with other teachers to make sure there are no mistakes.”

18. What is your experience with evaluating student performance?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn about your experience with assessment and grading. Use examples from previous positions to explain how you evaluate student performance, grade assignments and assess overall academic progress.

Example: “In my last position as a high school English teacher, I used the Canvas learning management system to create digital portfolios for students that included their best work throughout the year. Students could access these portfolios at any time to see what they had accomplished in each class. This helped me keep track of which assignments students completed and when they turned them in. It also allowed me to provide feedback on their work and give them constructive criticism.”

19. Do you have any experience mentoring other teachers?

This question can help interviewers understand your leadership skills and how you might fit in with the existing team at Noble. Mentoring other teachers is a common responsibility for administrators, so if you have experience doing this, be sure to mention it in your answer.

Example: “I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some amazing teachers over my career. I always try to offer them advice when they ask for it, but I also make myself available as a mentor whenever they need me. In fact, one of my previous colleagues reached out to me recently because she was having trouble managing her classroom. I spent an hour on the phone with her going through different strategies that could help her improve her management techniques.”

20. How do you stay up to date on the latest trends in education?

The interviewer may ask this question to see if you are willing to learn new things and adapt your teaching style. Your answer should show that you have a passion for education and want to continue learning about the latest developments in the field. You can mention some of the resources you use to keep up with trends, such as professional development courses or conferences.

Example: “I am passionate about education and always looking for ways to improve my teaching methods. I regularly attend workshops and seminars on the latest educational techniques. I also subscribe to several online newsletters and blogs where teachers discuss their experiences and share tips. Last year, I attended a conference where I learned about project-based learning, which inspired me to change how I teach math at my current school.”