Here's how you can showcase your passion for education in an interview.

Sometimes teaching is simply holding space. I had a student who suddenly appeared catatonic. He was lying on the ground and couldn’t speak. I sat by his side, while we waited for medical support, and I asked him to blink if he could hear me. He did. He was breathing, and I didn’t see signs 🪧 of distress, so I spoke gentle affirmations to him. Later, I discovered that he found out his girlfriend thought she was pregnant. He went into shock. Weeks later, unprompted, he thanked me in front of the class and said he would never forget how I was there for him. I’ve never forgotten either. I could’ve panicked and missed the opportunity to speak kindly or dismissed him. Instead, I just slowed down and met him where he was.

I’ve found success by seeing interviews as a get-to-know-you experience for both the applicant and interview panel. The interview is an opportunity to determine what collaborative culture already exists in a school community. I suggest preparing examples of how you approach collaboration, build relationships, and engage in collaborative reflection. As you discern the collaborative culture and what the school is seeking, you’ll be well-positioned to illustrate how you are THE candidate they need to strengthen or unlock further potential in their team.

La pasión es muy importante más allá de los muros de la escuela, como has escrito, pero también es importante alinear la perspectiva personal del tema con la escuela o compañía en la que vas a trabajar. Muchas veces uno tiene una visión libertadora de la educación, es decir, en la cual los individuos son autónomos, y la escuela va al revés de eso.

Passion for education could be found in one's early stage of school itself. The most efficient game which I played during primary stage itself was enacting as a teacher. The dolls would be my students. During high school stage, I taught my friends and in higher secondary I just started my own tuitions at home. While doing college, worked as a part time teacher in a small school and still continuing as a teacher for over 21 years. The passion for education can be continuous through the lens called teacher. A teacher is always a continuous learner.