CHILLICOTHE – Graduate education majors from Ohio University Chillicothe recently participated in mock interviews with local teachers and administrators to sharpen their interview skills and prepare them for the job search while learning what their local school districts are looking for are in new teacher candidates.
Lindsey McNeal, principal of Greenfield Elementary, OHIO Chillicothe alumna and member of the Ohio University Chillicothe Education Advisory Board, has already hired Natalie Rolfe, who will graduate next week with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. Rolfe completed her professional internship at Greenfield Elementary School. McNeal appreciates meeting and interviewing local teacher candidates who may be filling positions in her district.
“We have open positions in the district this year,” McNeal said in a news release. “These are the teachers we want. One of the people I’m interviewing today has applied for one of my open positions, so I get to interview them today and have that conversation. she still participates because she wants to get advice from the other directors.”
Associate Professor of Instruction Karen Corcoran, who serves as regional coordinator of professional internships in education, organizes the unique biennial event with support from other OHIO Chillicothe education faculty.
Jeanie Dalton, who teaches education classes at OHIO Chillicothe, said many local school partners eagerly attend the mock interview event to meet and support OHIO Chillicothe teacher candidates as they find candidates to fill positions at their schools.
“These mock interviews are intended for our local school districts and graduating teacher candidates,” Dalton said. “This is one of the ways Ohio University Chillicothe continues to foster mutually beneficial relationships with the schools that host our teacher candidates for clinical field experiences. Our teacher candidates can practice interviewing while local administrators pre-screen potential candidates seeking teaching positions in our local districts.”
Corcoran noted that the mock interview process has resulted in many job openings and hirings.
Hope Crabtree is graduating with her Bachelor of Science in Education in Early Childhood Education. She said the mock interview day helped build a network with community schools and prepare candidates for the interview process.
After the pilot interviews, students and visiting administrators continued their discussions over lunch, and school administrators shared their perspectives and expertise during a question and answer session.
For more information about OHIO Chillicothe education programs, visit https://www.ohio.edu/chillicothe/academics/bachelor.
This article originally appeared in the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: School administrators help OUC teacher candidates with mock interviews
