KIPP DC Teacher interview questions

My interview process was relatively quick and painless. It involved two phone interviews, an in-person interview and a classroom lesson. The phone interviews were conducted by a headquarters employee who had no direct relation to the school in which they created a position. After two phone interviews, I was invited to DC to teach a sample lesson (lodging and meals not included). The school principal, who chooses the employees in the school, did not even attend the sample lesson until the very last few minutes of the lesson, which was rather disconcerting. Despite the fact that a full-time teacher was in the lesson, the students were unruly. Within a week I was offered the job and was told to start within five days.

KIPP got in touch with me quite quickly after receiving submission of my online application -- within a day. The online application was fairly standard and asked for educational and occupational history; there were also a couple of short essays ("What academic goals have you set for your students, and what evidence do you have of their progress towards those goals?", and "Why do you want to work at KIPP? What is your experience with and interest in working with historically underserved students?") A phone interview was also set up in fairly short order, within a few days. Questions included: Why KIPP? How would you describe yourself as a teacher? What is the worst criticism you've gotten as a teacher? How do you manage the classroom and keep the class moving? How do you get/keep students interested and motivated? How have you dealt with a teammate you've disagreed with? I was also asked to describe a typical class/lesson; and to address a scenario with a misbehaving student. There were also questions more related to my own background and resume. The interviewer was personable and pleasant.