Hiring With Purpose: Building Culture Through Every Interview

Note to Readers: The Progress Report will be on summer break in June and July. Mike may publish some content during this time; however, the regular cadence of The Progress Report will return the first week of August.

Feel free to check out past editions for all your summer reading needs.

Hello! So happy to be back in your inbox this week. 👋🏼

You know… you can feel it.
We’re officially in that stretch where next year starts now.

SIP planning is underway.
Schedules are in draft mode.
And every time you open your email, there’s a new applicant notification waiting.

It’s hiring season.

And let’s be honest—this can quickly turn into a numbers game.
✅ Post the position.
✅ Screen the resumes.
✅ Interview.
✅ Fill the spot.

But here’s the part that often gets missed:
Every person you hire shapes your school’s culture.
Not just how they teach—but how they show up, how they connect, how they move the energy of the building.

Which means every interview isn’t just a chance to evaluate skill.
It’s a chance to protect or erode the culture you’ve spent all year building.

So this summer, don’t just hire to fill.
Hire to align. Hire to build. Hire with intent.

The Reality: Hiring is Culture Work

I’ve made this mistake before—probably more than once.
I needed a teacher. Wanted someone competent. Got them in the door.

But months later, I was dealing with:

• Staff tension

• Mismatched mindsets

• Passive resistance in meetings

• A classroom that didn’t reflect our vision

All because I moved too fast. I hired for convenience, not for culture.

The truth is:
Every teacher you add either strengthens or softens your culture.
There is no neutral hire.

What This Looks Like in Action

If you’re hiring with purpose, you’re not just screening for credentials.
You’re listening for belief systems.
You’re looking for alignment.
You’re watching for leadership in disguise.

🔥 Do they believe all kids can learn—or just say they do?
Listen to how they talk about “those kids,” struggling readers, or students with IEPs.

🔥 Do they take ownership—or deflect blame?
When something goes wrong in their classroom, what’s their first instinct?

🔥 Do they bring energy or drain it?
This one’s hard to quantify—but you know it when you feel it.

🔥 Do they ask questions that show curiosity and commitment—or just concern about planning time?

🔥 Do they want to belong at your school—or just work at it?

Leadership Moves You Can Make This Week

Rewrite Your Interview Questions
Ditch the overly polished prompts. Ask about real scenarios.
Try: “Tell me about a student who didn’t respond to your first approach—what did you do next?”

Make Your Core Values Part of the Hiring Process
Don’t save the culture conversation for onboarding. Make it part of the interview.
Ask: “Here’s what we believe. How does that align with how you work?”

Listen Between the Lines
Don’t just evaluate answers—listen for energy, mindset, and ownership.

Panel With Purpose
Choose panelists who understand the culture you’re building—not just who’s free during second period.

Remember: Not Hiring is Better Than Bad Hiring
If it doesn’t feel right; don’t force it. You may have to keep looking—a long-term culture problem can tank your work quickly.

Final Thought: Culture Isn’t What You Say. It’s Who You Hire.

You can write a beautiful vision statement.
You can hang motivational posters all over campus.
You can run culture-building PL all August.

But if you hire people who don’t reflect those values—
you just quietly rewrote the culture.

This summer, don’t just fill vacancies.
Fill your school with people who will help you build something great.

📩 What’s one hiring move you’ve made this season that helped protect or grow your school culture? Hit reply—I’d love to hear how you’re building with purpose.

On A Recent Episode of The Principal School Podcast…

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If you’re a school leader navigating the chaos of education, The Principal School Podcast is your must-listen resource. Each week, we tackle the biggest challenges in education—leadership, culture, time management, student learning, and everything in between. Packed with actionable insights, real strategies, and a touch of humor, this is the podcast that helps you lead smarter, not harder.

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