One Wrong Answer Can Kill Your Leadership Interview

If you’re an aspiring school leader preparing for interviews, this episode could prevent a costly mistake.

Every year, qualified educators lose leadership opportunities because of a few sentences that instantly raise red flags — not because they lack experience, credentials, or passion.

In this episode of the Aspiring School Leader Podcast, Dr. Donovan Smalls II breaks down three statements you should never say in a school leadership interview — and what hiring committees actually hear when you say them.

This episode is for educators preparing to move from the classroom into leadership roles such as assistant principal, dean, supervisor, or school administrator.

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You’ll learn:

✔ Why “I just want to be supportive” can signals weak leadership

✔ The interview answers that raise immediate red flags

✔ What hiring panels interpret as lack of leadership maturity

✔ How “supportive” language can weaken your leadership voice

✔ What instructional purpose hiring committees actually want to hear

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About Dr. Donovan Smalls II:

An educator, best-selling author, and school leadership coach dedicated to helping aspiring leaders develop the mindset, language, and presence needed to lead people, systems, and schools with confidence.

📕 Grab my book, Beyond the Classroom → https://shorturl.at/74Bgy

👉🏾 1:1 leadership coaching to help aspiring school leaders prepare for interviews and transition confidently into administrative roles: https://donovansmalls2.com/coaching  

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Timestamps:

00:00 Why Strong Candidates Get Overlooked

01:50 What Hiring Committees Actually Listen For

02:38 Speaking Negatively About Your School (Red Flag #1)

06:49 “I Just Want to Support Wherever Needed” (Red Flag #2)

10:24 “I Just Want to Get Out of the Classroom” (Red Flag #3)

14:03 What Leadership Intent Really Sounds Like 15:53 Final Advice for Aspiring School Leaders

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If you’re preparing for leadership interviews and want strategic interview prep or leadership coaching, reach out and let’s have a conversation.

Streaming on:

📺 YouTube 🔗 https://urlgeni.us/youtube/channel/L0Y2m

🎧 Apple Podcasts 🔗 https://tinyurl.com/mv7f683k

🎧 Spotify 🔗 https://tinyurl.com/4wydt4nr

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Keywords: aspiring school leaders, school leadership interview, assistant principal interview mistakes, education leadership interview, school administrator preparation, leadership interview red flags, principal interview prep, leadership coaching education

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