About this episode

Darrin Peppard interviews Dr. Nason Lollar about redefining educator professionalism and the impact of adult behavior on school culture.

In this episode of  Leaning Into Leadership , Darrin sits down with Dr. Nason Lollar to explore a topic often overlooked in leadership conversations—educator professionalism. Drawing from his book  The Five Principles of Educator Professionalism , Nason introduces the  TRUST framework , a practical approach to connecting individual behaviors with school culture. The conversation dives into how small, everyday actions—not just major incidents—shape the success, safety, and climate of a school. Key Topics: Why adult behavior—not student behavior—is often the real leadership challenge Defining professionalism as a contribution to school culture The TRUST framework: Teaching and learning first Remain vigilant about safety Understand communication Seek personal balance Take ownership of morale The difference between  negatives vs. negativity Why listening is one of the most overlooked leadership skills Moving beyond “gotcha” leadership toward genuine support The power of acknowledgment in building staff morale Key Takeaway: Professionalism isn’t about compliance—it’s about clarity, consistency, and contribution. When leaders define what matters and support their…

People in this episode

Host: Darrin Peppard

Guest: Dr. Nason Lollar

Topics covered

• educator professionalism
• leadership challenges
• school culture
• TRUST framework
• staff morale
• communication
• safety

Keywords

• educator professionalism
• leadership
• school culture
• TRUST framework
• staff morale
• communication
• safety
• professionalism
• adult behavior

Sponsors

HeyTutor

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Five Principles of Educator Professionalism

More episodes of Leaning into Leadership

• Episode 281: Be the Light with Dr. Chris Culver · June 7, 2026 · 25 min
• Episode 280: Leadership in the Age of AI with Molly Rosen · May 31, 2026 · 34 min
• Episode 279: Burn the Script with Jo Lein · May 24, 2026 · 33 min
• Episode 278: Compliance Can Control a Team. Alignment Can Transform One. · May 20, 2026 · 17 min
• Episode 276: The Leadership TAP with Dr. Joy Karavedas · May 10, 2026 · 33 min

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