I’ve been on several interviews the last few years. Am I a good interviewer? No. I try to be humble. I try not to talk about “Teacher of the Year.” I try not to bring up the book I co-authored. I try to be genuine. I try to be modest. I try to just be me.
And sometimes that works against me.
Through some conversations, I’ve learned two things about why some of those interviews haven’t gone my way: I’m either seen as “too out of the box” or they assume I’ll leave for something “bigger and better.” Neither of those things are my intention. I just want to do good work. I want to make things better for kids and teachers. That’s always been my goal.
And yet, I’ve got stories—interview stories for days, that still leave me scratching my head. Here’s one that’s stuck with me…
A few years ago, I had a screening interview for a teaching position. I showed up ready. At the end, the assistant superintendent told me, “You nailed that interview. The principal should be calling you next week.”
Next week came and went. No call. So, I followed up with an email to both the superintendent and principal.
I got a short reply: “I am sorry to inform you that 2nd round interviews have been scheduled. If you were not notified then you unfortunately did not make it to the next round. I am sorry to have not gotten back to you sooner.”
That one confused me.
Especially because… this was the same person who, just a year earlier, had DM’d me to say that their district would be “lucky to have someone of your caliber.”
It’s funny how education works.
I used to think accomplishments would help. That the resume would speak for itself. That being named teacher of the year, co-authoring a book, presenting, and mentoring might open some doors.
Sometimes they do the opposite.
This is one of many experiences with interviews that shaped me.
They made me think harder about who I am, what I value, and intentionality. I’ve learned that accomplishments and experience don’t always matter—not in the ways you’d expect. In education, things flip fast: one day it’s praise, the next it’s silence and being let down. But I keep working. Creating. Grinding. Sharing. And having fun.
Whether some recognize it or not.
Moler's Musings 