TNTP Teaching Fellows Teacher Interview Questions
& Process

I did a virtual interview with one interviewer. She was really nice. They asked me about 7 or 8 questions, and I got hired right away after. The questions weren't too hard. I was asked about handling a student getting bullied and what to do if a student didn't follow directions.

You apply online and then are invited to an interview event, which is scheduled to be a full day but usually lasts about 5 hours. First, you'll spend 25 minutes responding to a written prompt about challenges teachers face and your solutions. Then, you'll join a "teachers conference" with other applicants to discuss remedial student needs. After that, there's a PowerPoint presentation covering the duties and testing required for a DC fellow. Following the presentation, you'll present a lesson plan to a group of 5-11 other applicants. Finally, you'll have a 25-minute personal interview with one of the "selectors" (current Fellows). You'll get an email notification about acceptance. The interview event follows a strict schedule. The interviewers seem to take notes of everything you say without much eye contact. It feels like the selectors might already know who they want to select before the interview. You have to register for a Praxis exam (costing over $100) without knowing if you'll get an offer, risking that money. What's more, you're required to pay them $4,500 for a 6-week "certification process." During this time, you'll be an assistant teacher in a high-need school and attend lectures twice weekly. This $4,500 fee is required even if you don't secure a job in the DC school system afterward. Acceptance into the program doesn't guarantee a job, though placement is likely if you pass the program. Failing the initial certification means losing the $4,500, plus a $50 license fee and $190 for Praxis tests. Some fellows don't pass the program. The idea of paying a fee before getting a job offer seems questionable, and one might be better off pursuing a traditional Master's program. High-need schools are typically in rougher areas of Washington, DC, with more challenging students and strict teaching effectiveness scores required to keep your job. Even if selected, it's uncertain what you truly gain, given the $4,500 bill and no job guarantee.

The interview had a group interview where you had to give a lesson plan, and then a personal interview with someone in the program. It's a lot like the Teach for America interview, so if you can't find much on DCTF interviews, check out TFA ones too.