The Aspiring School Leader Podcast

Most aspiring school leaders don’t struggle in interviews because they lack degrees or experience. They struggle because they are preparing for the WRONG interview. They spend hours memorizing and scripting the "perfect" textbook answers. And that exact approach is why so many great candidates sound robotic and miss out on the job offer. In this episode, Dr. Donovan Smalls II breaks down the 3 cri...

GREAT INTERVIEW BUT NO JOB OFFER? WHAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND You walked out of your interview feeling confident. You did your homework, rehearsed your responses, and spoke with care. Yet, the position slipped away. Now, you're left with a nagging question… what happened? The reality is, it isn't always about a misstep on your part. In this episode, Dr. Donovan Smalls II offers insight into a frus...

STOP RAMBLING IN INTERVIEWS: USE THIS 4-PART FRAMEWORK TO ANSWER QUESTIONS Most aspiring school leaders don’t struggle in interviews because they don’t know what to say. They struggle because they don’t know how to structure their answers. And that difference is exactly what separates candidates who get hired from those who get passed over. This episode, Dr. Donovan Smalls II breaks down a simple...

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL VS PRINCIPAL: WHO REALLY LEADS THE SCHOOL? Many aspiring school leaders assume the difference between an assistant principal and a principal is simply more responsibility. It is not. The real difference between assistant principal vs principal leadership is a shift in thinking, decision-making, and system design. In this episode, Dr. Donovan Smalls II breaks down the difference...

What if your entire school leadership interview came down to one powerful question: “Why should we hire you?” Many aspiring school leaders struggle with this moment because they focus too much on their resume instead of clearly communicating their leadership value and impact. CONFIDENCE IS NOT ENOUGH. POSITIONING IS EVERYTHING. This episode, Dr. Donovan Smalls II breaks down a powerful 3-part lead...

Preparing for a school leadership interview can feel overwhelming — even for experienced educators. You can lead a classroom. You can lead a team. But when you sit down for a SCHOOL LEADERSHIP INTERVIEW, your heart races, your thoughts scatter, and interview anxiousness takes over. The truth: interview nervousness is not a capability issue. It is a preparation and clarity issue. In this episode, D...

Beyond the Interview: What TEACHERS Actually Expect FROM School Leaders Is it authority? Systems? Communication? Or something DEEPER? In this powerful episode of the Aspiring School Leader Podcast, Dr. Donovan Smalls II sits down with educator, coach, and motivational speaker, Chip Baker to uncover what teachers REALLY expect from school leaders. If you are an ASPIRING SCHOOL LEADER preparing for...

Most aspiring school administrators prepare for interviews the wrong way. They study possible questions. They rehearse answers. They hope it sounds strong. But a school administrator interview is not a Q&A session — it’s a leadership presentation. 一═⌊✪⌋Episode—69⌊✪⌋═一 I break down a powerful interview preparation strategy that shifts your mindset from responder to presenter. When you approac...

Most candidates believe the interview is over when the panel stops asking questions. That assumption costs people leadership roles. The reality is that the last interview question is often what exposes true leaders—and separates them from candidates who are simply hoping to get hired. In this week's episode we explore three powerful questions every aspiring school leader can ask at the end of a sc...

Many aspiring school leaders believe they are not ready yet. They think they need more experience, another certification, or one more year. But in the reality: most capable educators are already ready to lead. The real problem is not readiness. It is how you explain it in the interview. I will explains why so many qualified educators get blocked at the interview stage and what interview panels are...

Coaching and feedback alone don’t transform schools. It’s the way leaders coach that makes the difference. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why feedback alone doesn’t change culture - How coaching before correcting builds trust and teacher capacity - Why alignment matters more than opinion in leadership conversations - How consistent coaching behaviors shape school culture over time This episode i...

Why Most New School Leaders Fail After the Interview Most school leaders prepare to answer interview questions... but leadership isn’t about answers. It’s about making decisions under pressure.    CHAPTERS 01:38 – The 3 Skills Interviews Don’t Test 01:42 – Key #1: From Answering Questions to Making Decisions 07:49 – Key #2: Leading Adults (Not Just Managing Tasks) 13:42 – Key #3: Build Your Leader...

Waiting is killing your leadership career — and 2026 won’t wait for you. If you’re an aspiring school leader still waiting for permission, this episode is your wake-up call. Too many aspiring school leaders stay stuck because they’re waiting to be chosen, promoted, or validated. In this episode of the Aspiring School Leader Podcast, Dr. Donovan Smalls II explains why 2026 must be your Green Light...

Why Qualified Aspiring School Leaders Still Fail Interviews Most aspiring school leaders do the coursework and complete the internship — yet still walk into interviews feeling unprepared. The problem isn’t qualifications. It’s that their mindset hasn’t shifted into leadership yet. In this episode, Dr. Donovan Smalls II breaks down three foundational mindset shifts that immediately strengthen schoo...

Most aspiring school leaders think low staff morale is a “culture” issue. What if the root cause is a systems issue? In this episode, Dr. Donovan Smalls II breaks down the four critical systems that destroy staff morale when they’re unclear, inconsistent, or nonexistent: 1️⃣ Discipline Systems – Clear pathways, accountability levels, consistent follow-through. 2️⃣ Instructional Monitoring & Su...

The REAL Reason New Leaders Crash After November (Not Burnout) If you're a new school leader and November already feels heavier than it should... pay attention. Most leaders don’t “burn out” in their first year. They collapse because they walk straight into the Leadership Dip without knowing it exists. And if you misdiagnose this dip as burnout, you’ll make decisions that destroy your confidence,...

What makes an Assistant Principal vital to a school’s success? In this conversation, Principal Baruti Kafele sits down with Dr. Donovan Smalls II, Principal Arlette Melo Johnson, and Dr. Sonia Matthew to unpack the real work of school leadership—reflection, alignment, humanity, and purpose. This episode challenges every AP, teacher, and school leader to go beyond titles and build a culture where l...

What if the best instructional leadership doesn’t start with a rubric, but with people? In this episode, I sat down with Principal Jeff Linden to unpack how my journey from PE teacher and college professor to assistant principal has been shaped by calm under pressure, disciplined time management, and a people-first approach that lifts instruction across a building. We dive into the pivotal COVID m...

Leadership is not about your job description—it’s about stepping into your lane, inspiring others, and creating lasting growth. #Leadership #SchoolLeadership #InstructionalLeadership #Impact What are Instructional Leadership Strategies, and how can they help you grow as a school leader? In this episode, I share three essential strategies that every aspiring school leader must know to build influen...

From the classroom to the principal’s office: How did Jeff Linden make it happen? In this episode, Dr. Donovan Smalls II talks with Jeff Linden about his journey from teaching students in PE and math to leading an entire school. Dr. Donovan Smalls II talks with Jeff Linden about: ✅How to successfully transition from teacher to principal ✅Mindset shifts for aspiring school leaders ✅Leadership st...

Getting the job — or getting passed over — can come down to one simple leadership story mistake. In this episode, Dr. Donovan Smalls II shows you how to avoid that mistake and craft a story that makes the hiring panel say, ‘We need you on our team!’ Need LEADERSHIP interview preparation? 👉🏾 Visit my website: https://donovansmalls2.com/coaching — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 👉🏾 Wha...

How to Answer Leadership Interview Questions with Confidence in 2025 #schoolleadership #leadershipinterview #interviewquestions — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Whether you’re interviewing for an assistant principal, supervisor, or other school leadership role, tough interview questions can feel overwhelming. LEADERSHIP interview preparation: https://donovansmalls2.com/coachin...

Sweaty palms, racing heart, or a blank mind during your school leadership interview? You’re not alone. Learn how to stay confident, calm, and completely prepared! In this episode, Dr. Donovan Smalls II shares three strategies for aspiring school leaders to overcome interview anxiety and shine under pressure. ⏱️ CHAPTERS: 0:00 – Introduction: Why Interview Anxiety Happens 6:43 – Strategy 1: Reframe...

Leadership is not just a title it is about inspiring others, guiding them the right way, and creating positive change. What is Leadership? How to Lead with Influence & Impact In this episode, Dr. Donovan Smalls II explains the true meaning of leadership and shares four important leadership skills that every aspiring school leader should know. This episode is especially helpful if you want to l...

Dreaming of becoming a school leader? Start by acing your interview! In this video, Dr. Donovan Smalls II breaks down what makes a WINNING school leadership interview and shares 3 ways you can work with him, actionable steps to help you ace your interview and confidently step into your first leadership role. Whether you're preparing for an upcoming interview or planning your leadership journey, th...