Diocese of Brooklyn Interview

Hi everyone! I've been reading this board for a while, and now I can finally post :)

I was contacted this weekend for an interview with the Diocese of Brooklyn. I've been subbing for 2 years in a public school but I'm really excited for this interview. It will be an hour long..two 30 minute interview with two different principals.

Does anyone have any experience with Catholic school interviews and/or what the Diocese is looking for in a teacher? I am not sure what to expect and how to prepare for these interviews. Any help would definitely be appreciated :) Thanks!

Re: Diocese of Brooklyn Interview

What subject and age group is the position for? I might be able to give you some specific things to look out for as my DH and some other people I know have taught in religious schools and the questions can vary by the subject/age.

Re: Diocese of Brooklyn Interview

I am in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. I went on a number of interviews last year since the school I was in closed and i was looking for another job. Not sure if it's the same where you are, but the interviews are very laid back. They asked your typical interview questions. A lot wanted to make sure I was good with technology.

Re: Diocese of Brooklyn Interview

No specific subject/grade level yet. I guess its a screening interviews. I was told I'll be meeting with 2 different principals for a half hour each. If I get a good review from them, I will then be placed on a list that is given to principals. They are all elementary schools, though, and I'm also certified for Literacy.

Re: Diocese of Brooklyn Interview

What were some of the questions asked? I haven't been on very many interviews, so this is all new to me. Thanks for the tip on technology!

Re: Diocese of Brooklyn Interview

I don't remember sepcific questions, but they may ask things along the lines of: technology, what was your best lesson, how do you vary your teaching styles accoring to different needs, parent communication, behavior techniques, extra curricular things you may have done. That's all I can think of for now. Also, be prepared to have a few questions you can ask them.

Re: Diocese of Brooklyn Interview

Was there a lot of questions on religion/religious instruction?

Re: Diocese of Brooklyn Interview

To be honest, not that I remember. I guess be prepared for them to ask you how you incorporate Religion into your lessons.

Re: Diocese of Brooklyn Interview

I had an interview with a catholic school a few years ago and they did not ask a single questions about religion. It was a pretty standard interview, like:

"If I was to walk into your classroom, describe what the period would be like."

"What strategies do you use with a disruptive student?"

Two additional things I was told/asked was

1. This job requires weekend work as well. For example, around the holidays, we have a Saturday where we offer to babysit (not their words, but I can not think of the terminology they used) the students so their parents can go shopping without them.

2. If you were to get a job at a public school before or during the current school year, would you leave?

Re: Diocese of Brooklyn Interview

I'm so surprised that from everything I'm hearing there doesn't seem to be many questions on religion. My interview is broken down into 2 interviews, so I had assumed one would be religious based. I went to Catholic elementary school, but of course what I remember at this point isn't too much. I have two weeks to prepare, so I will be brushing up on my basic religion.

I've also heard a lot about the outside time commitment, which I would have no problem with. I did a lot of that while I worked on my school's Student Council, all unpaid because I was just the building sub.

Thanks ladies!

Re: Diocese of Brooklyn Interview

Re: Diocese of Brooklyn Interview

Hello,
I interviewed many years ago with the diocese of Brooklyn and also have been on a few interviews with Catholic schools in Queens.

The Brooklyn interview was very basic. I was inexperienced at the time so I answered the questions poorly--LOL

They asked things like...are you comfortable teaching religion? How would you incorporte Religion in your lessons?

Behavhior modification questions and they asked what I would do in different situations. Very general....

When I interviewed with schools I had a grade level/subject I was interviewing for. I was asked how I would make S.S. fun? What woudl I do during circle time?


I would know something about the new common core standards and if you know anything about Smartboards, I would mention it. Many schools currently have them. I do in my classroom. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Good Luck!

Re: Diocese of Brooklyn Interview

If there's any science lessons involved in your planned teaching be prepared to discuss creationism vs. evolution. My husband taught at a Lutheran high school where he was forced to teach that creationism in 6 days was the basis for the origin of the earth and that evolution was incorrect - even though the students were taking the state regents which included evolution - and this was brought up numerous times on the interview. ("It's so great that you can use your science classroom to teach that creationism is the true origin of the earth and not evolution" is how it was first brought up.) Just an FYI... probably won't come up, but who knows.

I know in the public school where my husband now teaches there is a lot of focus on differentiated learning - adapting lessons to suit the needs of different learning styles in students, so sometimes he breaks them into groups and gives some students an assignment to write about the subject, some do something hands-on, some read, some listen, etc. You might want to read up on this to incorporate it into your "teaching philosophy" in adapting lessons to the needs of your students. Also second the smartboard thing, maybe peruse the diocese info on the web and see if they boast having technology/smartboards in the classrooms?

Re: Diocese of Brooklyn Interview

Thank you both for your responses! I still have two weeks to "study" and prepare, so I will definitely be looking into everything you mentioned :)