KIPP Public Schools Northern California Interview Questions
& Process

The interview process included a phone screen, an assignment and an in-person interview, and then a DEI interview. The DEI interview seemed a bit out of place, as I'd expect a company to gauge a candidate's responses to those types of questions much earlier, ideally in the initial stages.

The interview process started with a phone call where they asked about my experience and how it applies to the job. Then, there was a practical interview conducted via webcam, where I had to do a mock advising session with a "student." The goal was to create a college wish list of 10 colleges for the student. I was given general info about the student's intended major, high school transcripts, GPA, an ACT score, an EFC of 0, and a list of 5 colleges they were already considering (3 realistic, 2 Ivies). What I didn't know beforehand was that I'd only have 15 minutes and that mentioning community colleges or transfer admission guarantee programs was frowned upon, even though the student wasn't a strong candidate for UCs and I was trying to find options. They preferred a very direct approach: come with a pre-made list of 10 colleges showing realistic acceptance options, rather than a holistic discussion about the student's preferences. I needed to consider impacted majors (basically all majors in CA colleges), eligibility for CSUs/UCs, SAT/ACT requirements, and potential private schools. If I could redo it, I'd prepare a list of over 30 colleges with details like average GPA/test scores, location and its characteristics (student didn't want to be "in the middle of nowhere"), financial aid info, and specific degree programs/impaction details for the given major.

The interview process started with an introduction to the principal. After that, a student showed me around the school. Then, I had two brief interviews with the assistant principals. Finally, the principal conducted a closing interview. Everyone I met was really nice and made me feel welcome.

I was hired by my school's principal. We had a long conversation about why I wanted to be a teacher, especially since I had never taught before. The principal was more interested in whether my teaching philosophy and general work ethic aligned with hers, rather than asking about my skills. The next day, I spoke with the dean of academics at my school. A lot of her questions were also about work ethic.