On February 15, eleven senior interns and one junior teacher candidate participated in an interview bootcamp featuring the involvement of eleven Education alumni. The keynote speaker was Amber Cook ’14, Assistant Principal at Elmwood Elementary School in Baltimore County Public Schools. Ms. Cook opened her remarks with this affirmation: “I am at the right place, at the right time, in the right chapter of my book. I am made for this, I am deserving of this, I am enough for this.” She referred to teachers as difference-makers with a genuine desire, passion, and commitment for a professional career in education. She offered real-life advice, strategies, and examples for applying and interviewing for a teaching job. Her final comment counseled candidates not to make a rushed decision and settle out of fear, but to find the place they felt they belonged and can make a difference.
Following Ms. Cook’s practical yet inspiriting address, candidates rotated to different alumni for mock interviews. Each interviewer asked different types of questions to expose interns to a variety of styles and scenarios. Topics included: Getting to Know You and Teaching Beliefs; Instruction, Lesson Planning and Classroom Environment; Student Engagement, Differentiation, and Assessment; Real-World Scenarios and Professionalism.
After the interview rotations, the group gather for an alumni panel and feedback session. Interviewers shared collective observations and key takeaways from the mock interviews, and interns asked questions and received additional tips for interviewing.
Both candidates and alumni recommended this event be held regularly to prepare for the job search process.
Participants: Germayony Alcaraz, Alyssa Boyer, Ashley Clous, Makayla Frock, Anje Greef, Maggie Greenwell, Joy Lee, Ashlee Payton, Justice Simpson, Abby Slovisky, Zaria Smith, Makala Thompson
Alumni: Sarah Ameel ’23,Wiktoria Bilich ’23, Sarah Casey ’23, Eva Furman ’23, Lauren Green ’23, Dani Jones ’23, Katie Madigan ’17, Jordan McCrimmon ’20, Shae Rounds-Kelly ’18, Jimmy Small ’23