Great Leader Spotlight: Nason Lollar

Building Credibility, One Conversation at a Time

"There probably wouldn't have been a quicker path to my credibility as an administrator than going all in on impactful professional development that just helps teachers do what they do every day."

In a recent interview, Dr. Nason Lollar explained how he leads with humility, reflection, and a belief in the power of teacher voice.

After fourteen years in high school math and social studies classrooms, Lollar now serves as the newly appointed principal of Germantown Middle School in Gluckstadt, Mississippi.

He is also the author of The 5 Principles of Educator Professionalism: Rebuilding Trust in Schools. He was named Mississippi’s Assistant Principal of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) in 2023.

A Teacher First

Lollar's journey is a result of intentional professional development, first for himself, and then for the teachers and staff he led.

Lollar began by spending many years in the classroom. He said, "For the longest time, I really felt like I had a call to leadership, but most of that time I was in the classroom."

Originally imagining himself moving up through coaching, Lollar instead pursued advanced degrees simply to keep improving. He says he did not intend to become a principal.

His big leap came when he accepted the assistant principal role at Germantown High School, which opened his eyes to what school leadership could really be.

From Hesitation to Credibility

Nason Lollar pictured with his staff

Before he ever led a PD session, Lollar knew how skeptical some teachers could be.

He said, "I was probably one of the ranking members of that tough crowd at the previous school where I used to work."

Lollar brought that awareness with him into administration. Rather than take an expert-only approach, he engaged teachers by beginning with collaboration and trust.

"The more I worked at it and built relationships with those teachers, my comfort level grew."

He now sees teachers as the most important part of professional development. "The best resource that any administrator has is not a book or a website or a technique. It is the expertise of the teachers."

He includes teachers in both planning and delivery, often using classroom observations to spotlight effective strategies and elevate teacher leaders.

Conversations that begin in whole-group professional development sessions would continue in one-on-one conversations or small groups. 

From Blog Posts to a Book

Lollar started blogging six years ago on his blog at nasonlollar.wordpress.com, often writing about leadership in the early morning hours before school. Over time, those posts revealed a clear pattern.

"In the fourth blog I ever posted, I talked about professionalism as a daily contribution to school culture. And as I worked through my material, I had a lot that I felt like could go into a book."

That book became The 5 Principles of Educator Professionalism, centered not just on the “thou shalt nots” of the profession, but on its higher calling.

He said, "I think it's so important to spend time diving into the Code of Ethics. The positive aspects of professional conduct are so important. If we can consume ourselves with those, we're much more likely to minimize the negative things that can happen."

Advice for Aspiring Leaders

Looking back on his leadership journey, Lollar has a clear message for educators who are considering school administration.

He encourages aspiring administrators to involve others early and often. Trying to lead a team without getting buy-in can lead to poor results. 

He explains, "Early on, I didn't really realize the team approach my school took toward professional development. I was hesitant...I think my hesitancy was mostly self-imposed, and it didn't have to be that way."

Later, he embraced teamwork, and that made all the difference in his leadership.

His biggest advice? "Bring teachers in. Let them lead with you. The best PD I've ever been a part of was all about empowering teachers."

Still Learning and Growing

Now stepping into a new role as principal at Germantown Middle School, Lollar is leaning on relationships, teacher voice, and his core belief that professionalism is about culture, not compliance.

He will continue his focus on personal and professional development in this new endeavor.

He says, "We’re never done learning. I'm glad to get to learn the role all over again in a new situation."

Mississippi is fortunate to have leaders like Nason Lollar. He is one of those who listens first, leads with humility, and raises the standard for how we grow, develop, and trust the educators in our buildings.

Connect with Nason on his Facebook, Personal Development, or on his blog, nasonlollar.wordpress.com.

Have any of Nason Lollar's practices resonated with you? Let me know in the comments below!