NYC Teaching Fellows General Intern Interview Questions
& Process

The point of the first interview, at least, is just to weed out people based on things that don't really matter for being a good teacher. And even though this is a fellowship for PROFESSIONALS, not teachers, they ask stuff you'd expect a teacher or someone in education to know. It's one thing to see if someone knows about learning or has trained people before, but it's another to quiz people with no teaching background on how to manage a classroom, deal with student behavior, or use specific teaching methods. It feels like you might as well apply to be a licensed teacher. It's a total waste of time to interview for a teacher development program and then get asked about the nuts and bolts of teaching, only to be rejected for not knowing. The first interview should be more about potential, how someone learns, logical thinking, memory, handling stress and conflicts, emotional intelligence, and understanding how to work with diverse groups, not the mechanics of teaching.

First there was an online assessment asking about your background and experience. Then, a 25-minute phone interview where they presented a scenario. Finally, an in-person teaching demonstration that lasted about 3 hours. Don't stress about the teaching part, just follow the online instructions and be yourself. It's a really competitive program, so try not to take it personally if you don't get selected. It was fun meeting other people who were also interested in becoming fellows.

The application process had three parts. First, you submit an online application, which includes essays answering questions about your views on education and why you want to participate. If you pass that, you move on to a group interview. This interview starts with a math and teaching strategies test. Then, you're split into groups to give a 5-minute teaching presentation. After that, your group works on a case study, and finally, there's an individual interview.