How to hire secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical 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 students. • Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students. • Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies. • Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health. • Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities. • Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks. • Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress. 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 active listening, learning strategies, reading comprehension, speaking, critical thinking and monitoring skills • Working knowledge of education and training, English Language, customer and personal service and computers and electronics • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $72,040 a year. [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical 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 students. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- 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?
- How do you teach yourself a new process, and how would you teach it to someone else?
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical 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 students.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
- Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
- Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
- Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: None (O*NET)
- Job outlook: -0.2% over ten years, little or no change · about 63,500 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Washington | $102,670 |
| California | $101,370 |
| New York | $97,070 |
| Massachusetts | $95,260 |
| Rhode Island | $92,610 |
| South Dakota | $51,050 |
| Mississippi | $50,980 |
| Oklahoma | $48,710 |
See secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education pay in every state
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- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School
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- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
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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.