Thanks for the great questions that I can hopefully ask the candidates for
Director of Schools for my district. The hit is below. Y'all are the
greatest!!! By the way, I really appreciated the person who sent me the hit
at the end. I knew this sort of question had been asked recently, and I did
try the archives, but they aren't working so great these days. Thanks for
your help!
Nancy
--------------------------------------------------
I would ask a followup relating to the importance of being able to find and
evaluate information on the Web. That is as much a part as information
literacy as being able to do an intelligent search in the first place.
-----------------------------------------------
"Based upon the recent studies done that show the positive impact that
school libraries have on the education of students, what do you feel are the
significant areas that we can improve libraries / library services to
provide students with even more of an academic advantage?"
"What do you feel are the most significant areas of information literacy
needed by today's student?"
"What is your experience with school libraries / librarians and how would
you go about providing the type of climate that would allow for
collaboration between the classroom teacher and the librarian?"
------------------------------------------------
I would want to know how they felt about our states standards and whether
they would strive to achieve those. I would want to know how they felt
about professional development opportunities. I would also want to know
what their expectations would be. Maybe you would want to ask about
technology and whether they support providing subscription databases.
Another thing I would want to know is what their plans and ideas for the
library are...
------------------------------------------------
What role did the librarian play in your previous school(s)?
What was the library's budget at the last school? or How much per student
should be allocated to the library?
-----------------------------------------------------
I saved this hit about interviewing principals--maybe it will help you:
PRINCIPAL QUESTIONS
I always ask them what they have read lately. I also ask what journals they
read and what their plan is for professional growth. I am looking for
people with a lively intellectual life.
##########################
What is your view of the library's role in the school? What do you feel the
librarian should be doing on a typical day.
What book(s) have you read recently that are not work-related?
What would you communicate to the rest of the school staff about the library
and their use of it?
##########################
You could ask candidates their opinion of the Keith Curry Lance studies. If
the person doesn't even know what they are, that would be a clue that they
wouldn't make the library program much of a priority.
##########################
The best source of information is the library teacher in the school where
they have previously worked. They opinion would probably be the most valid
as to the commitment issue.
##########################
Some very important questions are the following:
1. What do you see as the role of the learning center in the school?
2. What would you envision would be an exemplary learning center
program?
3. What type of financial support did your learning center have in your
last school?
4. How did the LC operate in your last school? Was it flexibly
scheduled? Was your LC Director a co-teacher, or a break giver?
##########################
Problem is when you ask things like, Do you believe the Library program is
important? They aren't stupid and answer yes.
You need to ask things like:
How have you utilized the library in your previous locations when in the
classroom and as an administrator?
On average how many books for pleasure do you read a month? For
information?
According to the Colorado, Alaska and ... studies, the single most important
factor in improving and maintaining reading scores is a certificated
librarian who administers a strong program. Why do you believe the findings
are showing this?
As an administrator how will you make sure that your teachers view the
library collection and the knowledge of the librarian as integral to
presentation of their curriculum?
Budget question. Something to the effect: When allocating money to various
departments, where can you support your teachers, students and curriculum
for the greatest affect?
##########################
My favorite question is to ask how the candidate goes about finding
information on a new concept or issue in education. Their answers will tell
you a lot. I'm not very interested in people who say they network and go
to conferences - because that means all they're getting is the admin company
line. As you well know, you want someone who considers all sides of an
issue. (We had one candidate who was kind of goofy, but he answered my
question by saying that his sister was a librarian...good enough for me!)
The answer I'm looking for is that they somehow engage the HS librarian in
doing some research for them. The few really good admin that I have worked
with have also used me as a resource, at least part of the time. If they
don't see their own HS library as a place to go for information, how
supportive will they be of your program? They all know enough to say the
"library should be the center of the school", but few of them can expand on
that - so ask them to do it in order to see if they really know anything.
##########################
What is the last book you read and what is your favorite book?
##########################
I would want to know how the candidate words his/her evaluation form. How
does it address the manner in which the teacher collaborates with the LMS
and the extent to which the teacher integrates the library media program
into their teaching and lesson design. I'll bet you get "duh" answers. If
the specifics are not written into the form (union input) there is nothing
to keep the evaluator from addressing the points just the same. When this is
done regularly then there is something in it for the teachers and they do
work with you because they know the principal means it.
I'd want the candidate to be able to quote Information Power and cite
research that is pro library values in information literacy and see what
kind of a per capita budget allowance the candidate would wish to have in
place. And if elementary definitely their take on flex schedules and why.
Thanks again!
Nancy Dickinson, Librarian
Hillsboro Elem. School
Hillsboro, TN 37342
fsufan23@charter.net
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