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Getting the Job

I was recently visiting a secondary campus where the principal asked me to meet with one of his assistant principles who was beginning to get disgruntled due to his lack of success at securing his next job.  I agreed. When I met with the AP, I asked him what he was thought set him apart…

A Reader Writes… (Pursuing My First Principalship)

In response to the post, “Pursuing My First Principalship,” a reader writes: “As I recall from the Hooker rule of thumb, the 100 to 10 to 1 ratio was dependent upon your willingness to move. Some people refuse to look no more than a pre-determined number of miles from their current home. I understand this,…

A Reader Submits… Pursuing My First Principalship

An active member of the LYS Nation submits: “Again, I have to admit that SC is right. If you are looking for your first principalship outside of your home district, it will take 100 applications, for ten interviews, for one job. By my count, I have now applied for 43 open positions. I have had…

A Reader Asks… A Common Interview Question

A reader asks: “SC, In my interviews, I am being asked about team building with teachers. How do I approach that?” SC ResponseIn an interview there is a right answer and a wrong answer. But there is no telling what the panel is looking for, so in this case, “right or wrong” can be very…

A Reader Writes… (Dress Code and More – Part 2)

In response to the post, “Dress Code and More,” a reader writes. “To comment on how deep this goes, I was recently at a job interview for a secondary school that was barely above water. Out of the four secondary schools in the district, three of them are Unacceptable and the fourth made acceptable by…

A Reader Submits… Hiring Decisions

An up and coming LYS Assistant Principal submits. “Yet again, the LYS administrator was denied a job because the tempo, enthusiasm, and drive to make teachers step up their game and come out of their comfort zones threatened the status quo. I am beginning to see how lost 50% of superintendents are. They are afraid…

A Reader Writes… (Interview Prep – Part 4)

In response to the posts on interview prep, a reader writes: “Although you are right, there are things that can be learned in this type of interview, there is danger working in these districts. Remember, you work for who hired you. If the superintendent hires you, that’s who you work for. If a committee of…

A Reader Writes… (Interview Prep – Part 3)

In response to the posts on interview prep, a reader writes: “I disagree with the last suggestion, (if the interview committee has 12 people just leave). Better advice for the LYS’er is to meet the committee face to face, be you, and engage them in the interview process. What you learn from their questions, opinions,…

A Reader Writes… (Interview Prep – Part 2)

In response to the posts on interview prep, a reader writes: “I certainly must agree on both points. If you represent yourself to be anything less than who you are and what you believe as a proactive, innovative, outside the box, inside the heart learner-centered instructional leader who embraces mutual accountability of all stakeholders (is…

A Reader Writes… (Interview Prep – Part 1)

In response to the posts on interview prep, a reader writes: “As a twist to Cain’s excellent advice, there is yet another scenario. You interview and the school thinks it needs a Brown / Brezina / Cain type leader because it is in deep trouble. The school may have earned an unacceptable state rating, missed…

A Reader Asks… Interview Prep

A reader asks: “SC,I have an interview for a principalship next week. As part of the interview process, they have asked me to outline my plan for the first 90 days, if they hire me. Since I’m going to get this job, I don’t want this to be an empty exercise. Any ideas on what…

Good Idea, Marginal Execution

I have a friend who was applying for a principal position. For the interview she was asked to do the following: “You have just been appointed as principal to an academically acceptable campus. During a 7 to 9 minute PowerPoint presentation, outline your focus and activities during the first 30 days in this new position.…

Chef Wayne, or How Do You Interview?

First, a disclaimer. In general, living on the road is a combination of the mundane, punctuated by random irritation. After the first two weeks, all illusions of glamour have disappeared. However, sometimes there are perks… Recently, I the was guest of Chef Wayne, the Executive Chef of the Chart House, in San Antonio, for a…
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