Deanna – high school teacher, San Jose, CA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pmQZ8o
Qym8
Dedicated to great Mr. H.David Knobloch
(HGHS orchestra director) & sidekick band
teacher, Doc. 3 student creators
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jGjTXC9
XBk
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Cover Letters
Resumes
Interviews
Educ 450
Dr. Karen V. Lee
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Purpose of
Cover letter & Resume:
 Win an interview
 Convinces employer you are
potential candidate for position
 Concise, powerful, persuasive
 Tailor to employer
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Cover Letter:
Introduces your resume
Academic competence
Demonstrates Professional language
Grabs employer’s attention
First impressions
Highlights skills
Validates referral
To Win an interview
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Cover Letter tips:
Brief - maximum 3 paragraphs
1. Intro; link to referral, i.e., newspaper
ad, contact person
2. Personal interests; specific goals
3. Contact info: cell phone, email
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Outline for Resume:
1. Contact Info with photo (!)
2. DO not include age, gender,
marital status, SIN, health
3. Objective – career direction
4. Education – degrees, certificates
5. Teaching Practicum
6. Employment Experience
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Outline (cont’d)
7. Volunteering– coaching, church, etc
8. Hobbies/Interests – clubs, music groups
9. Professional Affiliations – BCMEA, Orff
Chapter, Musician’s Union, etc
10 References – Faculty Advisor, Sponsor
Teacher (s), private teaching, etc
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(show samples of cover letters/resumes)
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Locating Teaching Postings :
 Research - school districts have
different hiring policies
 Internet. www.educationcanada.com
www.bcpsea.bc.ca
www.bctf.bc.ca
 Networking – get to know as many
people as possible. Show your skills!
 Eg, requests, referrals, etc
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Diverse Career Opportunities
 Teacher-on-call
 Librarian
 Counsellor
 Administration
 Secondary
 Middle
 Elementary
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 Other subject areas
 Full-time
 Part-time - team/teach
 Daytime
 Evenings
 Online
 Weekends
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 Public Schools
 Catholic Schools
 Charter Schools
 Private Schools
 Adult Education
 Summer School
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 College
 University
 Online
 Canada
 USA – New York, California, etc
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 International
Korea England China
South America Singapore Australia
Hong Kong Germany South America
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UBC MUED
Teacher Graduates
(1999-2013)
TOTAL = 178 responses
Karen V. Lee, Ph.D.
October 22, 09
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TEACHING:
N/178
FT Sec. (other sub)
PT Secondary
FT Elem
PT Elem
Middle
Itinerant Band
Another sub. (FR,SS)
= 77
= 12
= 23
=5
=5
= 15
=2
%
45%
6%
11%
1%
3%
5%
1%
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OTHERS:
N/37
%
TOC
Not Teaching
Failed
Supp
W
Don’t know
Home Studio
Died
= 24
=4
=1
=2
=3
=4
=3
=2
13%
1%
.7%
.7%
1%
3%
2%
1%
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Grad students = 5 (full time masters)
N, Orleans;
S. Francisco, LA, Manitoba)
= 1 (Ph. D. – Ontario)
Grad students = 85 (part time masters)
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TYPE OF SCHOOL:
Public
Private
Catholic
Others
N/178
%
= 110
= 34
= 12
= 22
82%
7%
12%
27%
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SCHOOL DISTRICTS:
N/84
VSB
Burnaby
Richmond
N. Van
W. Van
Surrey
Langley
= 22
=7
=2
=2
=3
=7
=3
%
26%
8%
2%
2%
4%
8%
4%
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Delta
N. West
Coquitlam
Squamish
Abbotsford
Mission
=4
=6
=2
=1
=1
=1
5%
7%
2%
1%
1%
1%
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Other BC = 11
13%
Alberta
=2
2%
Manitoba = 1
1%
Ontario
=3
4%
USA
=2
2%
Int’l
=5
6%
(Germany, England, Korea, Australia,
Singapore)
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Prepare for Interview:
 Research school/school district
 Bring Practicum Binder
 Talk to referral (if one)
 Know ‘buzz’ words (education jargon)
 Prepare a few questions - e.g. Why is
position open? Cultural backgrounds?
Funding for music program? Any
significant changes? Main objectives?
 Know unit plan (some interviews
require)
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Suggestions:
 Be early
 Be friendly
 Be articulate
 Be honest and sincere
 Be polite with good manners
 Show you love kids
 Show you love teaching
 Show professional grooming
 Show good eye contact
 Show EXCELLENT interpersonal skills
 Write follow-up letter
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Possible Interview Questions:
 Tell me about yourself
 What is your philosophy of teaching?
 What are your pedagogical strategies?
 What are your classroom management





strategies?
What are your thoughts on assessment?
What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
Why do you want to teach for the VSB?
What do you know about the VSB?
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Possible Interview Questions:










Why do you want to be a teacher?
What did you learn from your practicum?
What are your professional goals as a teacher?
Why do you want to be a teacher-on-call?
What provides you the greatest pleasure about
teaching music?
Would you prefer to try a lot of strategies or
perfect the ones that work for you?
Do you like to teach with a plan or let the
process determine the results?
Where do you see yourself in 3 to 5 years?
Can you tell me about any breakthrough
moments?
What to do with a kid that doesn’t listen?
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Possible Interview Questions:
 What is an area you still need work on?
 How to handle an irate parent that phones you?
 What is difference between teaching band vs. choir? Band






vs. strings? Band vs. guitar?
Why should we hire you over others in your cohort?
How to create lesson plan to address diversity?
Tell me about your best lesson on practicum
Tell me about your worst situation about classroom
management on practicum?
If I walked into your classroom and observed you teach
from the back of the room for 15 minutes, what would I be
feeling while walking out of your classroom?
What happens if a parent asks why their kid didn't get a line
in the musical?"
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Problem Solving Questions:
 A student is performing poorly in guitar
class. While you talk to her, she says
you are the worst music teacher she has
ever had. What will you say?
 Building an elective music program with
Band and Choir is a challenge due to
competing electives. What steps will
you take to strengthen enrollment in the
Band and choir programs?
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Problem Solving Questions:
 Tell us how you select repertoire for
your junior band/choir versus your
senior band/choir students.
 A student throws her flute across the
room during intermediate band class.
What will you do?
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Phone Reference Categories:
(show VSB & Rmd Referee forms)
International – email forms *(samples)


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Classroom Management
Written and Verbal Expression
Flexibility
Enthusiasm
Instructional Skills
Modeling Appropriate Behavior
Commitment to Accomplishment
Interpersonal Relationships with Staff/Students
Teamwork
Cultural Sensitivity
Willingness to learn
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Interview Stories:
 Student offered 2 teaching positions on same day
 Student receives phone call for interview the




same afternoon
Student is out-of-town on Labor Day weekend
and participates in phone interview for position
that begins in 2 days
Student offered job at end of interview!
Student gets a flat tire on the way to interview and
does not have school board’s phone #. She
shows up 1 hour late and told they will ‘phone
her.’
Student interviews for .2 position & leaves
interview with full-time job offer
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Stories (cont’d):
 Student returns after vacation to phone
message for interview for day before. When
she phones, the job has been filled.
 Student arrives for interview and her shoe heel
breaks off!
 Student gets sick the day of interview in May.
When rescheduling, they offer her another
interview in September.
 Student receives verbal job offer in June with
condition that she has to wait until they exhaust
the Surrey SD before she receives official
written offer.
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Interview Stories (cont’d):
 At 5pm, student requested for 11 a.m. interview
the next day. All his suits are at the cleaners.
 Accepts job offer the Friday before labor day
weekend with responsibility for choir
performance next Wednesday.
 Student accepts TOC offer at 10 a.m. At noon,
she is offered continuing P/T position in
another district.
 Student offered position at the end of the
interview @ 10:30 a.m. on the 3rd day of
school. By noon, he signs contract at the
board office and starts teaching choir at 1pm.
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Stories (cont’d):
 During 4pm interview, Principal from
independent school requests to observe your
@7:30 a.m. choir class tomorrow at practicum
school.
 Student is offered position in Salmon Arm on
Thurs and told they need an answer Monday.
Student drive ups on Friday to visit school and
community and then declines position.
 A student declines a music position at a private
school but they phone back and offer her
$10,000 more.
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Salaries – BCPSEA grid
VSB SD= approx $50,000 (first yr)
Masters Degree = approx $55,000 (first yr)
TOC = $210/day
On 4th consecutive day, paid at scale
Eg. $200 for day, 1, 2, 3 = $600
Day 4 = $215/day
i.e., 4th day adds $215 + 45 = $260
TOTAL = $860 for 4 days
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Approximate Salaries
If scale = $58,000
Day 4 = $300/day
i.e., 4th day adds $600
TOTAL = $1200 for 4 days
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Questions??
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Benefits of Teaching
Deanna – high school teacher, San
Jose, CA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pm
QZ8oQym8
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