Most aspiring principals get this wrong in interviewsNew Broadcast

Published 6 months ago • 1 min read

Dear TPL Community Members,

One of the most common questions in a principal interview sounds simple:

“What is your leadership philosophy?”

Most candidates think this is a soft question.

So they answer with something broad like:

“I believe in collaboration.”
“I believe in building relationships.”
“I believe in supporting teachers and students.”

Those are good values.

But here’s the problem.

That kind of answer rarely wins the interview.

Search committees aren’t just listening for nice ideas.

They’re trying to figure out something much more specific:

How you actually lead.

How you make decisions
How you support teachers
How you handle challenges
How your leadership shows up in real situations

The candidates who get hired don’t just share beliefs.

They present a clear leadership framework.

🎥 I just released a new video breaking this down:

“Developing a Leadership Philosophy That Wins Principal Interviews.”

In this episode I walk through:

• The mistake most aspiring principals make when answering this question
• The 3-part structure strong candidates use
• A live example of what a compelling leadership philosophy actually sounds like
• How search committees evaluate your answer

This is the exact type of question that can separate two equally qualified candidates.

A resource that may help you

If you're preparing for a principal interview right now, I also created a free resource that walks through the preparation process step-by-step.

Principal Interview Prep Checklist

It covers:

How to structure your answers
What committees are really evaluating
The preparation mistakes that cost candidates the job

You can download it here:

👉 Download the checklist

https://adept-founder-4023.kit.com/80d37895e6

If you're actively pursuing a leadership role, I hope this helps you walk into your next interview more prepared and more confident.

I'm rooting for you.

Dr. Gordon Amerson

P.O. Box 581, Fontana, Ca 92335
Unsubscribe · Preferences

The mistake that costs most candidates the job

Reader I want to share something today that I've seen trip up more aspiring principals than almost anything else. It's not a lack of experience. It's not a weak resume. It's how they walk into the interview room. Most candidates prepare like they're studying for a test. They memorize answers. They rehearse scripts. They try to predict exactly what the panel will ask and have the "perfect" response loaded. Here's the problem: panels don't hire the person with the best memorized answers. They...

3 months ago • 1 min read

I built what I couldn't find

Reader When I was preparing for my first principal interview, I searched everywhere for resources that were actually useful. Not generic interview tips from people who had never sat on a hiring panel. Not vague leadership advice from consultants who hadn't been inside a school building in a decade. I wanted preparation built by someone who had actually made the hiring decision — someone who knew what panels were really looking for, because they'd been on both sides of the table. I couldn't...

3 months ago • 1 min read

Sample answers to the 10 questions I gave you last week

Reader Last week I gave you the top 10 principal interview questions search committees are asking in 2026. This week I went further. New video is live — and in it, I walk through a sample answer for every single one of those questions. Not scripts to memorize. Models that show you the structure, the tone, and the thinking behind answers that actually land with panels. 👉 Watch it here → And if you want a head start before your next interview — grab my free "Ace Your Next Leadership Interview...

4 months ago • 1 min read