[CALIBK12] Interview Questions Needed (Principal)

[RichardGuy at aol.com]

In a message dated 8/6/07 3:45:19 PM, jbrooks at lbusd.k12.ca.us writes:


> Perhaps I am naive and being unfair to candidates, but I'm wondering if
> some of them, especially if they are young and new to administration,
> are so geared to the internet that they may be disconnected - or were
> never connected - from school libraries in that they may not have
> thought of the mission of a school library, how it connects with student
> test scores, what their vision for the future is, etc.  If the candidate
> appears to be vague or uninformed, do you think that it would be
> appropriate to ask if they are willing to receive information,
> orientation, whatever you call it, from the district or school
> librarian?  In our district, we even made a video to present to new
> principals, local civic groups, etc., regarding librarians and their
> training; teaching credential, M.L.S., a description of
> standards/programs/collaboration at all levels, etc.  I would not like
> to see a candidate be underrated simply because of lack of vision.
> His/Her response regarding willingness OR lack of interest in "getting
> on board" would count for a lot if I were on the interview panel.
> 
> Jane Brooks
> Library Media Teacher
> Cabrillo High School
> 2001 Santa Fe Avenue
> Long Beach
> 

     So, given that the vast majority of new principals raised in CA have 
never seen a library at the K-8 level, and that they would say, "Of course." to 
any inquiry into their willingness to learn, and that assistant superintendents 
in this state BRAG about not using libraries . . . we are left with how to 
ask the interview question.

          I keep going back to what I asked my secretaries in interviews: 
"What would a good day at school look like?"   Then listen for answers that 
relate to reading, learning, and building knowledge.   Once you have the right 
person, those Long Beach tapes (which should be shared at a CSLA conference) are a 
great way to bring them along into the world of fully staffed, fully funded 
libraries.

Richard K. Moore, InfoSherpa
Huntington Beach, CA
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