Hiring

A Letter to Applicants | An Applicant's Brief Introduction to BLHS

A Letter to Applicants

Dear Applicants,

Welcome to our website and to the beginning of your application process at Bushwick Leaders' High School.

The Bushwick Leaders' High School community believes that hiring is a primary factor affecting the success of our school. We take our staff selection process very seriously and make no apologies about the rigorous system we have in place. Those interested in applying to Bushwick Leaders' High School can expect the following:

1. OPEN HOUSE / HIRING FAIR

Applicants who send us their resumes will be invited to attend an Open House. The first thirty minutes will consist of an info session where members of the hiring committee will provide information about the school. Additionally an information packet will be made available. During the second thirty minutes, we will break up into smaller groups where members of the hiring committee will have informal discussions with applicants. We will invite applicants to return for formal interviews based on these discussions and the contents of their resumes.

Applicants whom we meet at hiring fairs will be invited to formal interviews based on the contents of their resumes and the informal discussions that take place at the hiring fair sites with members of the hiring committee.

2. INTERVIEW

Interviews will be conducted by the principal, the program chair, and staff, parent, and student members of the hiring committee. Applicants will again be provided with our information packet upon arrival at the school and are encouraged to refer to it during their interviews. They will be asked a series of questions related to their experiences, their educational philosophies, and their motivations for applying to Bushwick Leaders' High School. References will be contacted. Applicants will be invited for a school visitation based on the consensus of the hiring committee following these interviews.

3. SCHOOL VISITATION

Applicants who are invited to visit our school during the instructional day will be assigned a teacher member from the hiring committee who will serve as their central point of contact for the day. In advance, their teacher-mentor will give them the day’s schedule which will consist of observations of between one and four class periods (one of which must be an advisory) and other times to meet with various members of the school community. Applicants are encouraged to participate in the lessons they observe, especially during class work times. In addition, applicants will be asked to present a lesson for one half period (26 minutes) to one or more of the host teacher’s classes. An advisory mini-lesson may also be encouraged. These lessons should be prepared in advance and developed through consultation with the host teacher. Members of the hiring committee will be present at various intervals throughout the day.

All applicants who are invited to interview will be contacted regarding their status. This usually occurs within one week of their interview or school visit.

If you have any questions, please contact Catherine Reilly at creilly@schools.nyc.gov.

An Applicant's Brief Introduction to BLHS

We have prepared a brief, two-page information sheet for those wishing to get a better picture of who we are as a school community. This will be distributed at all hiring events. A PDF file of this document can be viewed and printed here.