Teacher Interviewer Not Prepared for Candidate's MAGA Hat and Iran Bombing Talk
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A school staff member conducting teacher interviews faced a surprising range of applicants this week, including one who showed up in a "Make America Great Again" hat and launched into unsolicited comments about bombing Iran.
The original poster (OP), user disgruntled_veteran, gained traction on Reddit's r/Teachers forum with more than 1,700 upvotes and almost 400 comments within 48 hours on a post that summed up a long day of interviews for various school positions.
Multiple Applicants
One applicant for an Advanced Placement Biology teaching position arrived 30 minutes late and lacked both a relevant degree and certification.
"He admitted that he took biology in high school and did well," the OP wrote, noting the candidate had a bachelor's in philosophy and no science accreditation.
File image: A Donald Trump MAGA hat in London, England on June 23, 2025.
File image: A Donald Trump MAGA hat in London, England on June 23, 2025.
Photo by Peter Dazeley via Getty Images
Another candidate, applying for a high school English Language Arts position, made a much better impression. She had a decade of middle school ELA experience and left her previous position only because of her husband's job relocation.
"She nailed this interview," the OP said, recommending an immediate offer.
'I don't care about his politics'
However, the most unexpected turn came with the third interview of the day.
According to the OP, the candidate wore faded jeans, cowboy boots, a MAGA hat and had not shaved his face.
The candidate began the conversation by voicing his support for bombing Iran "to the stone age," saying it would be a great move in support of Israel.
The OP noted that the candidate "did alright" in the actual interview.
Still: "He has no teaching experience and is moving over from being a contractor to teaching," the OP told Redditors.
"I just couldn't recommend him. I don't care about his politics, but his unprofessional dress didn't help. And he just seems like the kind of guy who'll be rubbing his political views in his students' faces."
User disgruntled_veteran said the candidate "was a trip," in a message to Newsweek.
"When I saw his attire, I was disheartened," the OP continued.
"He was obviously not taking the interview seriously. Then his comments sealed the deal."
Teaching Challenges
Teaching can be a major challenge in the modern classroom. One teacher explained to Newsweek why even using sick days can be difficult, detailing how the school's secretary scolded her for calling out.
"I was surprised that she made it seem like it was my fault that she didn't have a sub," the teacher told Newsweek in June 2024.
Other educators have removed themselves from the classroom entirely. One teacher, after spending 16 years teaching in Florida, told Newsweek she quit to follow her dreams and live off the grid in November.
''Some states have lowered requirements'
User disgruntled_veteran went on to tell Newsweek that the hiring process is always difficult.
"It is hard to find qualified candidates sometimes," he wrote.
"Now that some states have lowered the requirements, I have too many people who should not be in the classroom. [...]
"I have to make sure they have the degree(s), certifications, experience, etc. to do the job. Then I have to select the one that best meets the needs of our school's students.
"It is long and tiring."
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