School District Interview Essay
Please respond to the following quote in a clear and concise manner. You are expected to complete the written responses within a twenty to thirty minute time frame using only the space provided.
“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” Author unknown
Briefly explain your opinion of this statement and how positively or negatively this relates to your professional philosophy.
Upon reading this quote, my first thought was the well worn phrase “there is no ‘I’ in ‘Team’.” This is certainly true; however, feel that the last sentence has a more positive relevancy to my professional philosophy that an outstanding teacher has passion.
Sir Isaac Newton* once said “If I have seen farther than others it is because I have stood on the shoulders of giants.” A teacher passionate about the subject taught, the process itself, and the best interests of the student will build upon the best ideas available.
Teamwork is the ideal model to follow in this undertaking. As a cooperative unit, passionate teachers are able to guide students to high achievement levels in a better manner than if they worked alone, or worse, if they worked to cross purposes.
No, there is not an “I” in “Team” if people wish to “attain uncommon results.”
* In retrospect, this may have been Albert Einstein.
The essay above (and the guidelines preceding it) was for one of my most recent interviews in a local school district. As with any good essay writing I did pre-writing (“brain storming”) and a draft before tackling the final you see above. If I had access to any resources besides my brain and the dictionary in my PDA I would have verified the quote and maybe spruced up other parts.
