How to hire elementary school teachers, except special education
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests. • Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students. • Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or with special academic interests. • Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations. • Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health. • Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate. • Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities. • Read books to entire classes or small groups. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Bachelor's degree] • Strong learning strategies, speaking, active listening, critical thinking, monitoring and reading comprehension skills • Working knowledge of English Language, education and training, mathematics and customer and personal service • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $63,970 a year. [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for elementary school teachers, except special education
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or with special academic interests. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- How do you teach yourself a new process, and how would you teach it to someone else?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What elementary school teachers, except special education do
- Adapt teaching methods and instructional materials to meet students' varying needs and interests.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among the students.
- Guide and counsel students with adjustment or academic problems or with special academic interests.
- Instruct students individually and in groups, using teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, and demonstrations.
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Read books to entire classes or small groups.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for elementary school teachers, except special education
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Job outlook: -0.4% over ten years, little or no change · about 87,500 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay elementary school teachers, except special education
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Washington | $102,350 |
| California | $99,650 |
| District of Columbia | $96,580 |
| Massachusetts | $94,000 |
| Rhode Island | $90,930 |
| South Dakota | $50,130 |
| Mississippi | $49,790 |
| Oklahoma | $48,200 |
See elementary school teachers, except special education pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
- Tutors
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
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Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.