[Shar Olguin]

I think that my boss gauges people’s passion and dedication through their application materials and answers to their interview questions. Can they provide an example of something that happened in their classroom that they were proud of?

[Trainer]

Great insight, Shar! Using specific examples during interviews is a powerful technique to assess passion and dedication. It reveals candidates’ experiences and their reflective practices in early childhood education.

[shelly Sute]

we can tell by the tone in their voice when we ask why they want to work with young tchildren

[Kristy]

Something we have tried a few times is to have the candidate come in and spend about 2 hours in a classroom. In that time you can really see if this job might be a good fit for them.

[Elizabeth Molina]

One technique I find highly effective is the “Scenario-Based Problem Solving” question paired with observation. Instead of asking generic “how would you handle this” questions, I present a particular, common challenge in our unique home environment. For instance, “Imagine it’s nap time, and one toddler is having a meltdown, another is trying to climb out of their crib, and the oven timer just went off for lunch. How do you prioritize and manage these immediate needs while keeping everyone safe and calm?” While they answer, I not only listen to their solution but also observe their body language, their tone, and if they express empathy for the children involved. A passionate educator often instinctively speaks from a place of care and a desire to connect with the child’s feelings, rather than just listing steps.

[Rebecca]

I don’t have much experience in interviewing candidates for teaching positions. Some things that I would look for are dedication and experiences. Asking questions about what their most enjoyable teaching moments and the most favorite places that they had worked in the past, even if it wasn’t with children. I think that if you have them feel relaxed enough to open up, you will find out about the true nature of the person/ candidate.

[Jo Ann]

Assessing passion for teaching goes beyond just their answers; it involves observing their non-verbal cues and exploring their motivations.

[Sasha]

I always try to explain my experience in the field of Early Childhood Education and tell them about the possible ups and downs and how i overcame obstacles during my time as a preschool teacher.

[Doo-Hee Kim]

First, I ask for the resume in advance and review it carefully. Then I ask questions about their previous experience. If they haven’t completed the basic courses required for teachers, I ask whether they still have the passion to learn them now.

[Jenny]

I give applicants that I am interviewing a tour of our facility and ask them what they think of the different age groups and classrooms to see how they respond to the different ages of children and where they might enjoy working.

[Martha]

I like to ask them to tell us about yourself including your volunteer and work experience. I also like to ask what is their favorite children’s book & song.

[Riley Longwill]

you can tell someone true passions or dedication to early childhood education is by listening to them share why they believe that they should be apart of the team.

[pam]

Ask about previous job experience and schooling in this field. Gauge their excitement for this position and what made them apply.

[Caroline Ford]

I ask the candidate what are the reasons they like to work with children and getting them to give more detailed reasons besides “I like children”.

[Sally]

We do Staff Shout-Outs. Recognizing their extra work every day.

[Lori]

We look at their experience on their resume. If they have been at one location for a decent period of time that is good. If they have been to multiple places for short periods that signifies an issue. We would also show them the classroom and see how they react/interact with our learning environment. Finally, skillfully planned questions in the interview would also help give insight to their dedication and passion for this work.