How to Hire a Quality Early Chilldhood Education Teacher

Don't forget to hire someone you feel you'll enjoy working with.

An excellent early childhood education teacher is more than a person with a degree. It's also a person with compassion, creativity and patience. Gauging the competence of a potential early childhood teacher requires an understanding of that candidate's personality, goals, strengths and weaknesses. While it is extremely important to verify a candidate's experience and training, you must also envision what this candidate will contribute to your school.

Instructions

1. Check that the candidate has the proper level of training for your state and institution. While some states require a national Child Development Associate credential (CDA), others require a bachelor's degree in early childhood education or simply a high school diploma.

2. If hiring a teacher for a Head Start facility, check that the candidate meets federal standards for teaching requirements. As of 2011, the educational requirement for a Head Start teacher is to have at least an associate degree.

3. Run a background check on the job candidate to assess any illegal behavior, and ask for copies of the candidate's certification, awards, degrees and other important information.

4. Use the initial job interview to gauge the candidate's qualifications and personality. Ask the candidate leading questions about what he might do to resolve conflicts in the classroom or deal with emergencies. Ask the candidate to tell stories about his favorite moments as teachers, what he is most proud of, and how he motivates and encourages students.

5. Host a second job interview after running a background check to allow the candidate to spend some time around children. Pay attention to the way she interacts with the children. She should use age-appropriate language and teaching strategies and appear sensitive to each student's needs.

6. Gauge whether the candidate is a good fit within the structure of your specific institution. For example, some teachers may expect a seasonal break, while others may expect to work the year around.

Tips & Warnings

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employee turnover rate for early childhood teachers is high. You may want to consider whether a potential candidate intends to find a permanent job, or whether she is planning on returning to school or fulfilling other obligations that might require her to leave after a short time.

References

• Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association; Hiring Qualified Kindergarten Teachers; Linda Good, PhD; May 2007
• Bureau of Labor Statistics; Teachers--Preschool, Except Special Education; December 2009
• Virginia Tech; Sample interview questions for teaching candidates