Leading and MentoringYamaiyamarna PaityaTeachers are Deadly!

2012

Associate Professor Robert Somerville AMPrincipals Australia Institute

AGENDAReview three pieces of research that identified; 1. the characteristics needed for good school leadership, 2. the necessary preconditions of leadership necessary for change and 3. what leadership changes made a difference in improving Aboriginal outcomes.

So what did this research find?

Professor Helen Wildy:

Research into the domains of leadership necessary to be an effective Principal.

Department of Education, Western Australia 2010

Effective School Leadership?

1. Teaching and Learning (Curriculum)2. People Management (Staff)3. Strategic Leadership (Direction, culture)4. Administrative (Finances)5. Community (Parents)

Principals

Student

Teachers Care Givers

Punching Above Their Weight

Vic Zbar etal: Research for Victorian Education Department (Pub 2009).‘Schools that achieve extraordinary success: Punching Above their Weight’

Preconditions1. Strong Leadership (stable, skilled at

resource allocation and could draw out staff expertise).

2. High expectations (of students and high efficacy between teachers and students).

3. Orderly Environment (consistent messages not petty rules but consequences).

4. Focus on Core Priorities (literacy, numeracy, attendance).

Principals

Student

Teachers

Dare to Lead

Collegiate Snapshot

Snapshot?• Over 300 schools have undertaken a

‘Snapshot’ in Australia ie a collegiate review of the health of the school.

• 22 Schools located across Australia were revisited 3-4 years to identify what differences had been made and what was the major catalyst to change.

What can we learn from the Zbar, Wildy and the Dare to Lead

Snapshots work?

1.People Management:• Developed middle level leaders through

coaching and mentoring.• Gaps in staff expertise were identified and

filled.• Encouraged disengaged staff to move on. • Developed leadership competence across all

Wildy domains using mentoring and coaching (through the profession) as the key change agents.

What did the three pieces of research find??

2. Teaching and Learning:• Attention to struggling students• Apply explicit teaching (through a

coaching, mentoring model)• Use system supplied data to enhance

teaching• Real not token professional learning

3. Strategic Leadership• System initiatives tailored to school

priorities.• School displays pride in its:

• Buildings and grounds, • Students work • Cultural diversity and• Celebrated and recognised staff and

students often.

4. Community• Parents were valued partners in the learning process.

• They were informed, involved and a part of the schools very being.

• Parental/community involvement up-skilling of school leaders was effectively accomplished through a mentoring/coaching model.

Note that Snapshot found…

What were the common messages?

• Mentoring and coaching are powerful tools for self development.

• Leaders develop leaders.• School leadership is complex.• Only care givers, teachers and school

leaders have a direct and causal impact upon student outcomes.

Yes.. You do make a difference

and it is to lives such as these

Zbar

Preconditions1.Strong Leadership

(Administrative-Human)2.High expectations 3.Orderly Environment 4.Focus on Core Priorities