The Aspiring School Leader Podcast
Episodes
Episode 32: Great Interview, But No Job Offer? Listen to This!
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
GREAT INTERVIEW BUT NO JOB OFFER? WHAT YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND You walked out of your interview feeling confident. You did your homework, rehearsed you...
Episode 31: Stop Rambling in Interviews! Use This 4-Step Framework to Get Hired
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
STOP RAMBLING IN INTERVIEWS: USE THIS 4-PART FRAMEWORK TO ANSWER QUESTIONS Most aspiring school leaders don’t struggle in interviews because they do...
Episode 30: Assistant Principal vs Principal: Who Really Leads the School?
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL VS PRINCIPAL: WHO REALLY LEADS THE SCHOOL? Many aspiring school leaders assume the difference between an assistant principal and a...
Episode 29: The SECRET Interview Answer That Gets School Leaders Hired FAST
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What if your entire school leadership interview came down to one powerful question: “Why should we hire you?” Many aspiring school leaders struggl...
Episode 28: School Leadership Interview Preparation: 3 Ways to Reduce Anxiousness
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Preparing for a school leadership interview can feel overwhelming — even for experienced educators. You can lead a classroom. You can lead a team. B...
Episode 27: Beyond the Interview: What TEACHERS Actually Expect FROM School Leaders
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Beyond the Interview: What TEACHERS Actually Expect FROM School Leaders Is it authority? Systems? Communication? Or something DEEPER? In this powerful...
Episode 26: School Administrator Interview Preparation Strategy: Think Like a Presenter
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most aspiring school administrators prepare for interviews the wrong way. They study possible questions. They rehearse answers. They hope it sounds st...
Episode 25: The Last Interview Question That Exposes True Leaders
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most candidates believe the interview is over when the panel stops asking questions. That assumption costs people leadership roles. The reality is tha...
Episode 24: Why the Interview Is Blocking Capable Leaders
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Episode 23: Coaching & Feedback That Transforms Culture (Not Just Practice)
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Episode 22: Why Most New School Leaders Fail After the Interview
25 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Why Most New School Leaders Fail After the Interview Most school leaders prepare to answer interview questions... but leadership isn’t about answers...
Episode 22: Why Most New School Leaders Fail After the Interview
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Why Most New School Leaders Fail After the Interview Most school leaders prepare to answer interview questions... but leadership isn’t about answers...
Episode 21: One Wrong Answer Can Kill Your Leadership Interview
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
One Wrong Answer Can Kill Your Leadership Interview If you’re an aspiring school leader preparing for interviews, this episode could prevent a costl...
Episode 20: Waiting Is Killing Your Leadership Career (Green Light Season 2026)
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Why Qualified Aspiring School Leaders Still Fail Interviews
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why Qualified Aspiring School Leaders Still Fail Interviews Most aspiring school leaders do the coursework and complete the internship — yet still w...
Episode 18: Want Better Staff Morale? Fix These 4 Leadership Systems First
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Episode 17: The REAL Reason New Leaders Crash After November (Not Burnout)
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Episode 16: Why Most Assistant Principals Never Lead | How to Change That
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What makes an Assistant Principal vital to a school’s success? In this conversation, Principal Baruti Kafele sits down with Dr. Donovan Smalls II, P...
Episode 15: Learning Leadership and Becoming a Transformational Leader with Jeff Linden
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 un...
Episode 14: How I Learned to Lead With Impact | 3 Proven Strategies
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Leadership is not about your job description—it’s about stepping into your lane, inspiring others, and creating lasting growth. #Leadership #Schoo...
Episode 13: Teacher to Principal | How Jeff Linden Made the Leap
21 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 abou...
Episode 12: The #1 Leadership Story Mistake Aspiring Leaders Make in Interviews
14 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Episode 11: LEADERSHIP Interview Question & Answer! How to Respond with Confidence in 2025
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How to Answer Leadership Interview Questions with Confidence in 2025 #schoolleadership #leadershipinterview #interviewquestions — — — — — —...
Episode 10: Interview Anxiety? 3 Proven Strategies for Aspiring School Leaders
30 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sweaty palms, racing heart, or a blank mind during your school leadership interview? You’re not alone. Learn how to stay confident, calm, and comple...
Episode 9: What is Leadership? How to Lead with Influence & Impact
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Episode 8: What Makes a WINNING School Leadership Interview?
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 lead...
Episode 7: Stop Rushing the Process: 3 Keys to Leadership Readiness
10 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re an aspiring school leader, you might be tempted to rush the process and chase the title. But here’s the truth, leadership readiness is a...
Episode 6: Before You Give Up on Leadership: 3 Hard Truths Every Aspiring School Leader Must Hear
03 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you an aspiring school leader who's tired of being overlooked, rejected, or “almost chosen” for leadership roles? This episode of The Aspiring...
Episode 5: What I Learned at a National School Leadership Conference: 3 Lessons for Aspiring Leaders
27 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you an aspiring school leader looking for real-world insights that actually shift how you lead? In this episode of The Aspiring School Leader Podc...
Episode 4: 4 Summer Moves Aspiring School Leaders Must Make to Get Hired
20 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you spending your summer updating your resume or watching leadership webinars — but still not landing the job? The truth is, some aspiring schoo...
Episode 3: 3 Lies Aspiring School Leaders Believe: School Leadership Myths That Keep You Stuck
13 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🔥 If you’re an aspiring school leader, chances are you’ve believed at least one of these three lies. I know I did when I was starting out. Thes...
Episode 2: Should You Really Be a School Leader? Ask Yourself These 4 Questions First
06 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🎯 Should You Really Be a School Leader? Ask Yourself These 4 Questions First Before you spend your summer chasing school leadership roles, you need...
Episode 1: Welcome to the Aspiring School Leader Podcast!
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to The Aspiring School Leader Podcast—your weekly guide to landing your first leadership role and leading with clarity, confidence, and impa...