Catholic School Interviews

[ClaireDeLune]

Hello Everyone,

Has anyone had a Catholic school interview? How do they differ from the public school board? I applied to teach at a Catholic school, but can't seem to find any information about their interview process on the Internet.

Thanks in advance,

Bren.

 

[connieg]

a little different

Hi,

My observation is that politics are more pronounced in Catholic schools. Parish members are preferred and satisfying the priest (who is the unofficial head of the school) is important. I have heard of friends in the Catholic schools losing their jobs after twenty years of great reviews. I was really unimpressed with the quality of principals I interviewed with and my best friend is miserable teaching in a Catholic school.

But, if you are Catholic, belong to that parish and have an in, you might enjoy it. I worked for two years in a Catholic school as a specialist hired from the public school district and I was shocked at some of the things that went on. This school had retained a deaf student two times before considering "gee,...should we look into getting this kid help?" They worked very hard to not make themselves look bad when I "discovered" her my first year there.

So, you probably won't find much difference in the interview. The school didn't seem very "Christian" to me, except they officially taught religion and the kids went to mass. I am a product of Catholic schools and I wish that I had received a public school education.
Connie

 

[ClaireDeLune]

You're Right There is Preference

Thanks Connieg,

I can sort of relate to the "wish I had received a public school education" feeling. I went to Catholic schools for elementary and high school and in both cases I had teachers who, as much as they claimed to be Catholic, had no qualms about openly preferring the popular or athletic students. I also forgot about how picky some priests can be. I was lucky, I actually had good priests at both levels, but the one who did my Parish Recommendation letter basically told me that only people who attend mass every Sunday are good Catholics. I thought he should get his head examined. I've known Catholics who went to church every Sunday, but were verbally abusive to their wives or beat their kids until they were black and blue. I think my parish priest needs to get out into the real world more often.

My cousin also hated her interview process with a Catholic board. I didn't apply to that one, although my parish priest kept insisting that I do so. I think it was so he could keep an eye on me since it's the board he's affiliated with.

Thanks for your post. If I do get hired, I'll give it a try, and if I don't like it, I'll switch to the public system.

Bren