10 Steps for Hiring Effective Teachers

Mary C. Clement has been researching the hiring of new teachers for over twenty years, and received the 2013 Star Award from the American Association for Employment in Education for her writing in the field of k-12 teacher hiring. A professor of teacher education at Berry College, north of Atlanta, GA, she also directs the college's Center for Teaching Excellence. Clement's other books include The Definitive Guide to Getting a Teaching Job, Get a Teaching Job NOW, First Time in the High School Classroom, and The Induction Connection. Her articles have appeared in the Kappan, Principal, Principal Leadership, the American School Board Journal, the Clearinghouse, and Kappa Delta Pi's Record. She has presented at ASCD, NAESP, Phi Delta Kappa, and Kappa Delta Pi conferences, as well as internationally in China and Namibia. She was the 2012-2014 international president of Kappa Delta Pi. Clement received her doctorate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and taught high school Spanish and French before her career in higher education.

Preface How to Use this Book Step 1 - The Need for Best Practice in Hiring What Does the Teacher Job Market Look Like? Deliberate Best Practice Step 2 - Creating a Blueprint for Hiring A Hiring Philosophy A Calendar for the Hiring Process Emphasizing the High-Needs Subject Areas Step 3 - Recruiting and Advertising Where to Recruit Technology and Hiring The Job Ad Advertising is Recruiting Step 4 - Determining and Training Those Who Hire The Use of Teachers in the Hiring Process Support Staff Training Step 5 - Candidate Applications and Paperwork What Cover Letters and Recommendations Reveal Evaluation of Resumes District Applications The Portfolio Step 6 - Using Behavior-Based Interviewing Prohibited Questions Evaluation of Candidates' Answers Rubrics One More Idea -Start with the End in Mind Step 7 - Planning Effective Preliminary Interviews Job Fairs Telephone and Online Preliminary Interviews Step 8 - On-site Interviews Planning for the Interviews Observation of Candidates' Teaching What to Learn from Candidates' Portfolios Evaluation of Candidates' Personal Qualities Step 9 - Decisions and Negotiations Making Data-Informed Decisions Decision Announcements Step 10 - Reviewing the Keys for Success New Teacher Induction: An Important Next Step Planning an Induction Program An Effective Mentoring Program Appendices 1 - Checklist for the Job Advertisement 2 - Survey of Recent New Hires 3 - Template for Soliciting Teachers for the Hiring Process 4 - Outline for Training all Involved in the Hiring Process 5 - Role-plays and Discussion Questions for Training 6 - Template for Cover Letter and Resume Evaluation 7 - Prohibited Questions 8 - Preliminary Interview Questions 9 - 18 - On-site Interview Questions by Grade and Subject Areas 19 - New Teacher Orientation and Induction Workshops 20 - Ten Steps for an Effective Mentoring Program References

"In my career as an administrator I have not seen such a thorough or comprehensive work on the hiring process. I never thought of the process as a year-round process until the author posed it that way, but it helps place the hiring procedure in a better light in course of our annual work. This book brings to light several processes, such as Behavior-Based Interviewing (BBI), that I will definitely be including in future interviews. I will ensure participants on future interview teams read this book in order to fully understand the integrity and the importance of the interview process. This book is clear, thorough, timely and well done." -- Marc Simmons, Principal "Behavior based interviewing is the norm in the private sector, and is the best way to hire qualified people who are going to move your team in the direction you want and engage your learners in the content. This book brings that process of behavior based interviewing to the classroom, and helps you find those top people who are going to help move your department into the future." -- Glenn Waddell, Math Department Chair "They say hiring a teacher is a multi-million dollar decision. 10 Steps for Hiring Effective Teachers will help you to create or refine your district's process of hiring teachers. When a multi-million dollar decision is being made you want the best process for obtaining the best teachers that you can. 10 Steps for Hiring Effective Teachers will put you on that path." -- L. Robert Furman, Elementary Principal "Starting with the opening pages Mary Clement provides the reader with succinct, research-based targeted information on good hiring policy and practice. Her emphasis on behavior-based interviewing and involvement of other school stakeholders is well taken. The appendixes provide excellent tools to assist interview teams in identifying the strongest candidates. This book is a valuable tool in identifying the best teacher applicants." -- Lloyd Goldsmith, Professor and Program Director "Mary has intimate knowledge of the realities of the hiring process in schools and her suggestions for improvement are rooted in these facts. Dr. Clement provides practical, useful direction for school districts seeking to improve their hiring processes. This book will serve as a valuable guide for districts seeking to improve their hiring processes through the implementation of practical solutions. Dr. Clement has identified a need in the school community with this book, and she has filled the void with practical, useful solutions. The need for the book is long overdue. Mary provides sound advice about the hiring process, as well as detailed directions for improvement." -- Tim Neubert, Board President, Illinois Association for Employment in Education