Darrin Peppard: How to Build Staff Morale by Running a School Well (Not Playing the Superhero)

As we return to the second half of the school year, and exhaustion starts to set in, morale often becomes fragile—for teachers, students, and leaders alike. In this episode, John is joined by Dr. Darrin Peppard, former Wyoming Principal of the Year and founder of Road to Awesome Consulting, to explore a critical reframe: morale isn’t a program—it’s a byproduct of a well-run school.Darren traces his own leadership journey from classroom teacher to principal and superintendent, including the burnout that came from trying to be a “superhero leader.” From there, the conversation unpacks what truly boosts morale: clarity of vision, strong systems, shared leadership, and leaders who model what they expect.Listeners will hear practical examples of how effective leaders:Build clear organizational and instructional systemsDelegate leadership without micromanagingCreate opportunities for teachers and students to leadShift from “putting out fires” to feeding the cultureRecognize, reward, and reinforce the behaviors they want to seeThe episode closes with a powerful reminder: the same practices we ask teachers to use with students—clarity, modeling, and positive narration—are the practices leaders must use with adults. When schools are run well, morale follows.Darrin Peppard LinkedIn PageRoad to Awesome Music by Aylex