gail dyer

Time ran out at the Conference yesterday before comment could be made on this component of making sure we prepare and provide for our students as citizens of the 21st Century.

As a school leader with well in excess of 10 years experience it is obvious the role of the school leader is becoming more and more complex. It seems like almost daily we are called upon to undertake additional administrivia drudgeries. This part of the job is not why I became a Principal. When I stepped into this role it was to be an educational Leader.

The quality of the educational leadership is pivotal to the success of a school as an effective organisation.

A successful leader focuses on student and staff learning and well being. They promote positive relationships throughout the learning community.

It is the leaders role to:

• develop a culture of shared leadership
• promote collaborative collegial relationships
• actively research and promote constructive change and innovation.

I like Tom Carroll’s view: in previous eras “schools saw themselves as organisations focused on maximising teaching effectiveness . . .

21st century schools must be communities that maximise learning effectiveness“.

 The next generation of leaders need to focus on just that.