interviews for public school teaching jobs (principal, hire, teachers, employment)

[Eeyore1]

To all those who have been at either end of the hiring process for public school teachers:

Approximately how long after the interview(s) is the final candidate chosen and notified?

I assume (and perhaps I shouldn't) that there is a "short list" of those who are interviewed, and that a decision can be reached pretty quickly.

My apologies if this belongs in the "employment" forum.

[Pitt Chick]

It depends...

I know a person who went through three call backs over a two month period... then waited another two weeks to hear she got the job.
I know another person who was hired on the spot.

BTW - these were in PA.

[photobuff42]

I have been on both sides of the table. If there are a lot of applicants, usually a short list of the best ones are slated for interviews. If not we usually interview everyone who meets the qualifications. Same thing for the hiring. If there are many applicants we might do second interviews. If there are few in a high needs field, we hire as soon as we can because we don't want to let a good candidate get hired away from us. So if you're art, elementary ed or PE, you might be on the first category. If you're special education, science or math, you'd probably in the latter.

[Fat Freddy]

Unless the district has a severe shortage of teachers, most positions are already decided before they are posted. The posting and interview process is just to satisfy the legal requirements of "fair hiring practice."

The best way to get the job before it gets publicly posted for interviews is to spend a while as a sub, especially a long-term sub, if you can find such an opening.

That way you get to establish a relationship with the site Principal and the hiring committee which will be made up of other teachers you will be working with and have already gotten to know.

[Eeyore1]

Thank you for the replies thus far. This is for a new magnet school (not yet opened.) Teaching there would be a dream job for me. The interview was two weeks ago, and I just want to know something either way. I assume that by now it's been decided, but I wanted to seek the input of some C-D members.

[maf763]

If it is opening in September, I wouldn't assume that final decisions have been made, though I would bet that first dibs would go to teachers already in the district.

[bigcats]

For the two positions I have had, one I was offered the position when the interview was over ( in August, a week before the school year started). For the other one, I got a call the next day (in June, for the upcoming school year).

Yes, this early in the year there might be a longer delay. Nobody's in a big rush right now, especially with the budget and school funding up in the air. They haven't started anything at my school for next year, even for positions that they know will be vacant.