Julie Thompson

Dr. Fusareilli
NELA Interviews
December 1, 2015
Roanoke Rapids Graded School District
Today the ClassroomTomorrow the World
Our vision is every student will learn and achieve.
Human Resources
Interview Questions

What strategies have you used to find, keep, and induct personnel with
outstanding potential?
What advice would you give an aspiring principal about recruiting, hiring, and
retaining effective teachers?

Details, Discussion, and Lessons from the Interviews

Dr. John Parker, Interim Superintendent
Build Relationships
Facilitate meetings between district level staff and building level administrators
Micropolitical Savvy
Be an advocate.
Mr. Lowell Rogers, Executive Director for Human Resources
Recruitment
Accentuate the positive
Acknowledge that RRGSD cannot pay as much as other NC counties, but focus
on Roanoke Rapids as a close-knit community with a good atmosphere
Retainment
Find a good fit
Match staff with passion
Advertise meaningful, collegial support

Instructional rounds/ mentors

New Teacher Talks

Induction
New Teacher Talks

Engagement and Management

New teachers meet once a month for one hour

Conduct classroom walkthroughs together

Mr. Jeff White, Principal
Look for a good fit.
Find people who are passionate and will fit on the Chaloner team.
Have an open door policy.
Support teachers and listen to them.

Julie Thompson
Dr. Fusareilli
NELA Interviews
December 1, 2015
Roanoke Rapids Graded School District
Today the ClassroomTomorrow the World
Our vision is every student will learn and achieve.
Teacher and Staff Evaluation
Interview Questions
Regarding teacher and staff evaluation, what is working?
Regarding teacher and staff evaluation, what is not working?
What advice would you give an aspiring principal about evaluation?
Details, Discussion, and Lessons from the Interviews
Dr. John Parker, Interim Superintendent
Make your vision and expectations clear. This year, RRGSD is focusing on the
intersection of content and engagement. The image Dr. Parker creates is of each concept
as a circle. His instructional focus is that teachers spend as much time as possible in the
intersecting area.

Mr. Lowell Rogers, Executive Director for Human Resources

NCEES Instrument
Leads to difficult, but productive conversations
Administrators must be honest. Unfortunately, administrators are not always as
direct (or honest) as they should be. While there is a better correlation, there is
room for improvement in evaluation and student results.
Administrators must share their why -- What is in the best interests of
students?
DOCUMENT. DOCUMENT. DOCUMENT.
Keep everything related to personnel in a file.
Document crucial conversations with a letter to staff member and to HR.
Be honest.
Mr. Jeff White, Principal
Make sure that you follow the correct procedures for evaluation and documentation. Pay
attention to the timeline for the NCEES observation cycles. Keep open communication
between HR and keep thorough documentation if you intend to dismiss an employee.

Julie Thompson
Dr. Fusareilli
NELA Interviews
December 1, 2015
Roanoke Rapids Graded School District
Today the ClassroomTomorrow the World
Our vision is every student will learn and achieve.
School Finance
Interview Questions
How do you develop the budget for RRGSD and allocate money for Chaloner?
Where does the money go once at the school level?
What types of creative budgeting occur?
What advice would you give an aspiring principal about finance?
Details, Discussion, and Lessons from the Interviews
Dr. John Parker, Interim Superintendent
Open communication between district level and building level administrators is key.
Think about other sources (e.g., band booster fundraisers, PTA, and community) to
increase local funding.
Mr. Tommy Britton, Finance Officer
The RRGSD budget allocates money based on the number of students and the type of
program. The money is allocated to each based on its number of students. Creative
budgeting (in the form of swaps) occurs through Mr. Britton; although, there are not as
many swaps at RRGSD as there may be in larger districts. Most of the swaps that do
occur are between positional and dollar teacher allotments. Mr. Britton started working
on the 2016-17 budget in November.
Mr. Britton gives the following advice to aspiring principals:
Learn as much as you can.
Pay attention.
Someone must eyeball what gets ordered at the school.
PRIORITIZE!
Be involved--Tell me what youre doing. Why?
Dont only depend your bookkeeper.
If you are asked a question that you do not know the answer to, say: Let me
check before I misspeak, and I will get back to you.
Mr. Jeff White, Principal
Mr. White believes that the principal must keep a close watch on what teachers want to
buy at the school. Ultimately the responsibility for all financial decisions made at the
school rests with the principal.