Applying to The District Priority Pool: The Cheat Sheet
Step 1: Finding the Job Posting through
TeachBoston.org
Info about
what we look
for in our
teaching
candidates,
licensure,
standards,
competencies,
salaries,
substitute
teaching, and
why you should
want to teach
in Boston
This will
take you...
Type “District
Pool” into the
search bar to
find the
Teacher –
District Priority
Pool job
posting
Click here to begin
your application!
The first step in applying to the District-Wide Priority
Pool is finding the place to apply! Within the next
few weeks, we will be launching a re-design of
teachboston.org that will make finding the job
posting a one-step process. Until then, follow these
steps to apply:
1. Visit TeachBoston.org and click “Apply Today”
2. On the Office of Human Capital Careers Page
click “Apply Here”
3. Search for “District Pool” in the job listings, and
click “ Apply” next to the District Priority Pool
you wish to apply for
initiatives,
processes, and
opportunities in
Contact info,
and a link to the
teachers and
why they love
teaching in
This will take you...
Applying to The District Priority Pool: The Cheat Sheet
Step 2: Building Your Profile & Application
If you have not
applied to BPS
before, or
haven’t applied
in several years,
click here to
create your
account and
apply.
If you applied to BPS in this hiring system last year, log in here to update your profile
and submit your application.
Note: This hiring system was new in SY13-14. If you have an account on a previous BPS
hiring system, you must create a new one here.
Required Elements
Certification(s)
• Be sure to include every certification that you anticipate
holding by August 15
th
2015 (there is an option in the
application to select “Pending License)
• You can update this once your license is in hand, but it is
not necessary
• You can be hired for next year without a license, but your
offer is contingent on having that license in hand by
August 15
th
Resume
• Simple and easy to read, with consistent formatting and
no grammatical or spelling errors (to avoid formatting errors, you
can upload your resume in .pdf form)
• Be specific! Don’t just summarize your job title – detail
gains your students made, goals you met, curricula you
taught, etc.
• Highlight all certifications (including pending ones) at the top
of the resume
• Reviewers are looking for details and evidence of success,
organizational and communication skills, and relevant
certifications and experience
Cover Letter
• Upload a general cover letter for BPS, and include why
you want to teach in BPS, and your philosophy of
education
• Communicate your commitment to urban education, to
Boston, and to our students
• Double check for spelling, grammar, and formatting
consistency (to avoid formatting errors, you can upload your cover
letter in .pdf form)
References
• Names and contact information for three references are
required – reference letters are not required at this stage
Additional information & Tips
Candidates We Are Looking For
• Those with a strong commitment to public urban education and who drive
student achievement
• Those who reflect the racial, cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity of our
students
• Those with experience in urban schools, hold multiple certifications to be
able to serve all of our students, and especially those certifications in our
high-need areas (English as a Second Language, Mathematics, Science, and Special
Education)
How to Prepare
• Research, research, research! Spend some time on our Interactive Rubric
to learn how BPS defines excellent teaching, familiarize yourself with the
Acceleration Agenda to think about how your philosophy of education
aligns with the goals that BPS has set, visit school websites to learn about
different types of schools and school communities across the district, etc.
!!!
Applying to The District Priority Pool: The Cheat Sheet
Step 3: Resume & Cover Letter Screening
& Phone Interview
Resume & Cover Letter Screening
Who
• All candidates who complete an application in
the District Priority pool
What We’re Looking For
• Simple and easy to read documents, with
consistent formatting and no grammatical or
spelling errors (to avoid formatting errors, you can upload
your resume in .pdf form)
• Be specific! Screeners are looking for evidence of
success and experience in each of our six
educator competencies
• Compelling case for your candidacy
Educator Competencies
What We Look for & Sample questions for preparation
Accountability for Student Achievement
• Example indicators:
o Sets ambitious learning goals for all students, creates cognitively demanding tasks, takes ownership
of making necessary adjustments to instruction to reach goals
• Sample interview questions:
o How will you measure your own success as a teacher?
o Tell me about a specific lesson you felt was really successful. How do you know it was successful?
Communicating Content Knowledge
• Example indicators:
o Demonstrates mastery of and enthusiasm for content area and the pedagogy it requires, can
convey content in creative and engaging ways that align to standards
• Sample interview questions:
o What do you consider standard ways of conveying your content?
o What concepts do you find are easily confused by students? How do you teach them?
Equitable & Diverse Instruction
• Example indicators:
o Scaffolds and differentiates instruction in order for all students to do complex thinking and rigorous
work, uses instructional practices that are likely to challenge and engage all students
• Sample interview questions:
o What does differentiation mean to you? How does it factor into your lesson planning?
o How would you describe your classroom management style?
Cultural Proficiency
• Example indicators:
o Actively creates and maintains an environment in which students’ diverse backgrounds, identities,
strengths, and challenges are respected
• Sample interview questions:
o What do you know about the background and interests of your previous students? How did you
make use of that information?
o What is your approach to cultural diversity in your classroom?
Parent/Family Engagement
• Example indicators:
o Engages with families and builds collaborative, respectful relationships with them in service of student
learning
• Sample interview questions:
o How have you made connections with the communities in which you have worked?
o What happens if you consistently reach out to a parent without a response?
Professional Reflection & Collaboration
• Example indicators:
o Regularly reflects on practice, seeks and responds to feedback, demonstrates self-awareness
• Sample interview questions:
o What was the most powerful feedback you have received?
o
What would you do if you realized you were not being effective?
Phone Interviews
Who
• Candidates from the District Priority Pool whose
resume screeners recommend for this next step
What We’re Looking For
• Clear and compelling communication skills
• Ability to connect your experiences to examples
of success in our six educator competencies
• Personal and professional reflection and self-
awareness
• Commitment to, and passion for, urban
education and BPS
Questions?
Contact the Recruitment Team
recruitment@bostonpublicschools.org