Dr. donovan smalls ii
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL | BEST SELLING AUTHOR | SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COACH
Improve Teacher Effectiveness
Helping aspiring & early-career school leaders close readiness gaps, strengthen instructional leadership, & implement sustainable systems that
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The Elevate Your Impact
Strategic Planning Guide
Serious preparation leads to serious opportunities.
The Elevate Your Impact Strategic Planning Guide is the same strategic framework used inside the Elevate Your Impact: 4-Week Interview Preparation Coaching Program. This guide helps aspiring school leaders organize their experiences, clarify their leadership story, and prepare for interviews with clarity, structure, and purpose.
Download this guide today to start preparing with intention — and if you’re ready for personalized support, the Elevate Your Impact: 4-Week Interview Preparation Coaching Program builds on this framework to guide you every step of the way toward landing your first leadership role.
MEET DR. DONOVAN SMALLS II, FOUNDER + CEO OF SMALLS LEADERSHIP CONSULTING LLC
MEET DR. DONOVAN SMALLS II
I equip aspiring and early-career school leaders with the strategies, skills, and practices they need to strengthen instruction, develop teachers, and drive school-wide improvement.
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I founded Smalls Leadership Consulting LLC to help districts develop aspiring and early-career leaders who are ready to drive instructional excellence and improve teacher effectiveness from day one.
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Through professional development, leadership coaching, and strategic presentations, I help leaders develop the skills, frameworks, and practices they need to close readiness gaps, strengthen instructional leadership, and implement sustainable systems that improve teaching and learning.​
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With over a decade of experience as a teacher and leader, I’ve developed the skills and expertise needed to facilitate real learning and professional growth for aspiring and early-career school leaders. Currently, I am an Assistant Principal, Amazon Bestselling Author, and Chairperson & Executive Board Member of the New Jersey State Affiliate for the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE).
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I earned my Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership & Management from Drexel University, a Master of Science degree in Sport Management from Virginia State University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Health & Exercise Science Teaching from The College of New Jersey, and a Business Management Essentials Certificate from Cornell University.
Questions about working with me?
SERVICES
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Dr. Donovan Smalls II provides strategically designed, sustainable, and holistic professional development to support both leaders and their teams. Through customized development plans and targeted PD series, he ensures ongoing, embedded growth that strengthens instructional leadership, builds leadership capacity, and drives measurable school-wide outcomes.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Donovan Smalls II delivers dynamic and inspiring keynotes that motivate school and district leaders to take actionable steps toward strengthening leadership capacity and improving instructional practice. Each keynote is grounded in the realities of schools and leadership challenges, ensuring educators leave energized, focused, and ready to lead with measurable impact.
1:1 EXECUTIVE & SMALL GROUP COACHING
Whether working 1:1 with aspiring or early-career school leaders, or with small school leadership teams, Dr. Donovan Smalls II uses a strategically designed, confidential coaching process to help leaders strengthen instructional leadership, close readiness gaps, implement sustainable practices, and drive measurable improvements in teacher effectiveness.
The Aspireful Leader™
Framework
Too often, districts promote talented educators into leadership roles without a clear, structured pathway for success. The result is:
Inconsistent Leadership Practice
Limited Instructional Impact
Leaders Who Spend Their Early Years
Reacting Instead Of Leading
The Aspireful Leader™ Framework
is a leadership readiness framework designed to close readiness gaps and strengthen instructional leadership among aspiring and early-career school leaders.
Grounded in the real demands of school leadership, the framework equips leaders with the clarity, confidence, and practices needed to improve teacher effectiveness and drive school-wide improvement — before gaps become performance issues.
What the Aspireful Leader™ Framework Delivers
The Aspireful Leader™ Framework provides districts with a structured, scalable approach to leadership development that:
leaders to step into roles with clarity and confidence
instructional leadership and teacher development
sound professional judgment and leadership efficacy
the implementation of sustainable leadership practices
leadership development translates into measurable impact on teacher effectiveness
Prepares
Strengthens
Builds
Supports
Ensures
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Why Districts Use the The Aspireful Leader™ Framework
Addresses
leadership readiness gaps before they impact performance
Aligns
leadership development with instructional priorities
Scales
across coaching, professional development, and consulting
Provides
a consistent leadership language and approach across schools
How the framework is used
All consulting, professional development, leadership coaching, and speaking engagements delivered by Dr. Donovan Smalls II are grounded in the Aspireful Leader™ Framework — ensuring leadership development is
intentional, aligned, and results-focused.
Dr. Donovan Smalls ii
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL | BEST SELLING AUTHOR | SCHOOL LEADERSHIP COACH
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Let's Work Together!