Preparing for Your Substitute Teaching Interview with Kelly Educational Staffing

Interviewing for a substitute teaching position with Kelly Educational Staffing can seem daunting, but going in prepared can help you shine As one of the leading educational staffing agencies in the country, Kelly receives many applications for substitute teaching jobs Standing out requires thoughtful preparation tailored to Kelly’s needs.

This article provides actionable tips to help you ace your Kelly substitute teacher interview. We’ll cover:

• Background on Kelly Educational Staffing
• Understanding the Role of a Substitute Teacher
• Preparing Your Resume
• Common Kelly Substitute Teacher Interview Questions and How to Answer Them
• Interview Attire and Etiquette Tips
• Following Up After the Interview

About Kelly Educational Staffing

Kelly Educational Staffing, a division of Kelly Services, has been connecting substitute teachers, teachers, and other school personnel with school districts across the United States since 1997. They are contracted by school districts or individual schools to manage their substitute teacher needs.

Kelly focuses on providing quality substitute teachers who can step into the classroom ready to deliver impactful instruction and manage the classroom effectively. They look for candidates who are dependable, flexible, professional, and committed to student success.

Understanding Kelly’s mission will help you craft interview responses that fit their needs Highlighting your instructional skills, classroom management abilities, dependability, and flexibility will serve you well.

Understanding the Role of a Substitute Teacher

Before interviewing make sure you have a clear understanding of the daily responsibilities of a substitute teacher in the school district you are applying to. While the core duties are similar across districts, each school has its own policies and procedures. Common substitute teacher duties include

• Delivering lesson plans provided by the regular teacher
• Adhering to the regular teacher’s schedules and classroom rules
• Taking attendance and grading student work
• Providing classroom management, discipline, and supervision of students
• Following school rules and policies
• Communicating with the regular teacher about the day’s events

Substitute teaching requires adaptability, as you will be teaching different grade levels, classroom environments, and subject matter every day. Be prepared to demonstrate these skills in your Kelly interview.

Preparing a Strong Resume

Your resume will likely be the first impression Kelly has of you. Invest time into crafting a polished resume tailored to substitute teaching that will grab the recruiter’s attention.

Make sure to highlight:

• Certifications, including substitute teaching certifications
• Education credentials
• Prior experience working with children of all ages
• Classroom management abilities
• Instructional experience in core subjects like reading, writing, math, science, and social studies
• Strong communication and multitasking skills
• Detail-oriented mindset

Emphasize flexibility, dependability, and your student-focused attitude throughout your resume. This will align with Kelly’s needs.

Common Kelly Substitute Teacher Interview Questions and Answers

Thorough interview preparation is key. Expect interview questions that assess your ability to fulfill core substitute teacher duties. We’ll look at some common questions and tips for crafting strong responses.

Why do you want to work as a substitute teacher?

Focus your response on your passion for education, desire to make an impact on students, and interest in gaining experience in diverse classroom environments. Share any prior experience working with children that sparked your interest.

What qualities make an effective substitute teacher?

Point to adaptability, flexibility, dependability, patience, high energy, and strong classroom management skills. Give specific examples of times you demonstrated these qualities in work or volunteer experiences.

How would you handle classroom disruptions or inappropriate student behavior as a substitute?

Highlight your classroom management abilities. Explain your behavior management strategy, such as redirecting minor incidents with positive reinforcement or following the regular teacher’s discipline plan for major issues. Emphasize student safety.

Imagine you are teaching a 1st grade class and need to cover math. The teacher left you little direction. What would you do?

Discuss drawing on your knowledge of age-appropriate math skills to engage students interactively in counting, patterns, shapes, etc. Explain gathering materials around the classroom to create a hands-on lesson. Emphasize keeping students active and setting expectations.

Describe your approach to lesson planning and delivery as a substitute teacher.

Share how you would prepare engaging lessons aligned to provided learning objectives, making adjustments based on students’ needs. Highlight differentiating instruction and actively engaging all learners through varied activities. Discuss using techniques like checks for understanding to assess student learning.

How would you build positive relationships with students as a substitute teacher?

Building rapport quickly is key. Discuss how you would greet students at the door with a smile, engage them in conversations, and be approachable. Share ideas like starting class with an icebreaker activity to learn student names/interests.

How do you handle the challenges of adhering to another teacher’s lesson plans and rules?

Focus your response on adaptability, flexibility, and commitment to providing curriculum continuity for students. Share how you would stick closely to the teacher’s plans and schedule while making minor tweaks to improve engagement or address comprehension issues as needed.

Why should we hire you as a substitute teacher?

Summarize your strongest qualifications that make you a great fit for the role. Highlight your passion for teaching, relevant experience, instructional skills, classroom management abilities, flexibility, dependability, and student-focused mindset. Express enthusiasm to join Kelly’s team.

Preparing illustrative anecdotes to demonstrate these key substitute teacher qualities will help your responses stand out.

Interview Attire and Etiquette Tips

The interview attire and etiquette standards for substitute teaching interviews with Kelly are relatively formal. Treat the interview as you would a regular teacher interview.

Aim to dress professionally in business formal attire:

• A pressed suit or blazer, dress trousers, dress shirt, and tie for men
• A professional dress or blouse and skirt/pants with a blazer for women

Other tips:

• Arrive 10-15 minutes early to your interview time
• Bring extra copies of your resume and other application documents
• Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, and smile
• Use a confident, enthusiastic tone when speaking and answering questions
• Ask thoughtful questions at the end demonstrating your interest in the position
• Thank the interviewer and reiterate your interest in the role

Making a polished first impression will help you secure your next substitute teaching assignment.

Following Up After the Interview

Email the interviewer within 24 hours thanking them for their time. Briefly reiterate your interest in joining Kelly Services and share any additional qualifications you forgot to mention that make you a strong candidate.

Following up demonstrates professionalism and keeps you top of mind after the interview. Make sure to provide your contact information in the email should they need to reach you.

With preparation and practice, you will be ready to impress Kelly recruiters with your passion and abilities. Use these substitute teacher interview tips to confidently demonstrate you have what it takes to excel as a Kelly Education Services substitute. Tailor your responses to showcase your flexibility, classroom management skills, rapport building, and commitment to student achievement. With dedication to continuous learning and growth, a rewarding substitute teaching career awaits you.