Middle Leadership 2024 Program NSWPPA

The moral purpose of NSW public education

The commitment ‘to prepare young people for rewarding lives as engaged citizens in a complex and dynamic society’1 underpins the moral purpose of the NSW public education system.

Assistant principals and head teachers enact this moral purpose by placing every child and young person at the centre of all decisions.

THE MIDDLE LEADERSHIP IMPERATIVE

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A four-day professional learning opportunity for Assistant Principals addressing the three key themes of middle leading, collaborative professionalism and ideas in action.

Who will benefit

Principals and school executive

Program Overview

The middle leader has become increasingly more important to the work of schools through increased accountability and responsibility of principals (Dinham 2016). The role of the middle leader is evolving with specific purpose in facilitating collegial professional learning and in the development of quality student learning (Ronnerman 2014). However, ambiguity still exists in relation to what middle leaders are expected to do (Fluckiger et al 2005).

Participation in this course will empower middle leaders through a practical understanding of the environmental and personal inputs into middle leadership, the key roles middle leaders play and the potential outputs in relation to teachers and students. This course will address an extensive review of available research on middle leadership leading to an effective undertaking of the middle leadership role in NSW schools through the recognition that middle leadership is teacher driven, site responsive and encompasses team based professional learning

COURSE COMPONENETS

MIDDLE LEADING

This module will examine the role of the middle leader within the leadership structure of schools; leadership and management as a set of abilities and skills; as well as the impact of school context on the middle leadership role. Leadership qualities and character strengths will be viewed in line with a developing theoretical model of middle leadership (De Noble 2018).

Middle Leading for Learning Focus: Middle Leader definition

What the research says…

Middle leaders are those who have an acknowledged leadership position but are also involved in teaching in the classroom.

Middle leaders practice their leading close to the ‘hot site’ of education – the classroom.

Grootenboer, P Edwards-Groves, C & Ronnerman, K (2014) Leading practice development: Voices from the middle

The Middle Leadership

Imperative

Expectations

Engage with the learning

Suspend judgement

Be in the room, participation

Step up and Step Back

Do something with the learning

Confidentiality

Respect – for experience and opinions

Intellectual property -Library

Planning Considerations

Research Informed - enables the contextual transfer of learning

Peer support model –collaboration, facilitators

Time conscious Mentors – ongoing support

Learning journal – capture the learning

Table Groups – Why?

Exploring collaborative professionalism

Task 5 minutes

Table Groups

Why should we collaborate?

How do people collaborate?

What kinds of collaboration are there?

Quadrants of collaboration

What the research says…

Hargreaves, A (2018) Leading collaborative professionalism Centre for Strategic Education:Seminar Series 274

Collaborative Professionalism

Collaboration (high trust, high precision)

Teachers have strong relationships, trust each other and feel free to take risks and make mistakes

In place are tools, structures and protocols of meeting, coaching, feedback, planning and review that support practical action and continuous improvement of the work undertaken together

Positioning of the Middle Leader

Teaching Leadership Middle Leaders

Middle leaders can have the greatest impact on teacher learning and development and more directly impact classroom practices

Grootenboer (2019)

COLLABORATIVE PROFESSIONALISM

This module will centre on collaboration and building social capital among teachers and other educators to improve student learning. Middle leaders will be supported in how to collaborate more deeply in ways that achieve greater impact covering topics: Leading a team by bringing people on the journey with you; Communicating effectively including difficult conversations; Importance of trust; and Feedback

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IDEAS IN ACTION

This module will focus on site based educational development through the lens of middle leadership. Participants will be guided through the praxis of site based middle leadership with a rigorous focus on leading teaching and learning to enhance: Student learning outcomes; Effective and sustainable teacher learning; Pedagogical development; and, Curriculum and assessment practice.

2024 Program

Cost: $1,130.00 per participant

Regional Areas may vary, prices quoted on enquiry

GOOD BECAUSE......

GOOD BECAUSE......

GOOD BECAUSE......

Practical aspect/strategies to practice great professional discussions such interesting learning

Good developing networks across schools

time to reflect on my leadership skills

lots of resources to use at school

GOOD BECAUSE......

conversations with people in the same role

good focus on ideas in each session

Facilitator helped at table keep on track and have good discussions reflection on mine and other settings very relevant to my role good sharing

lots of time to process , no info dump

self reflection gave me confidence and enthusiasm

enjoyed working with like minded professionals informative

excited about the library

good opportunities for discussion i dont have

loved the design of the slide show

lots of different opinions and ideas loved how you displayed the task etc.

pair chats and speed dating was really good small steps!

conversations with people in the same role engaging presenters

confirmed my skills

good focus on ideas in each session activites mixed up

focus on small stepd to creat/maintain teams

I now know the steps i can take to improve myself i am taking ideas back

LedbyFacilitator's

LouiseGreenandMargretCharlton

lots of great discussion

great we are meeting up again good sharing

valuable info given by experienced practitoners would highly recommend

https://www.nswppa.org.au/professional-learningENQUIRENOW

MASTERCLASS TEAM

With 43 years of experience in NSW Public Schools, Louise Green has served in various roles, including teacher, executive member, Principal, and Executive Coach. She has demonstrated dedication to developing future leaders and supporting colleagues for the benefit of NSW Public School students Louise's extensive leadership experience spans from serving as Assistant Principal, Deputy Principal, to Principal in schools across South West Sydney, including Artarmon Public School in Sydney. Currently, she contributes as a mentor/facilitator in the NSW School Leadership Institute's Aspiring Principals Leadership Program, where she continues to mentor and coach aspiring leaders, relieving, aspiring, and substantive Principals Louise's commitment to the ongoing development of educational leaders within NSW Public Schools is evident throughout her career.

Margaret Charlton , With a strong commitment to public education Margaret has been a principal of 28 years’ experience in a number of varied school contexts. Starting her leadership career as a teaching principal she has led six different primary schools, including both high and low SES and high multicultural communities, from south-west, western and northern Sydney areas. Margaret has supported principals and leadership through coaching and mentoring in her role as Principal School Leadership Throughout her principalship she has beencommittedtoenhancingtheleadershipcapacityofcolleaguesto beempoweredleaderswithintheirindividualschoolcontexts. Margaret has held the position of Professional Learning Officer with the NSW Primary Principals’ Association. She has been active within the NSWPPA at both Area Council and State levels Margaret’s passionforgrowingeffective leadershasseenhercontribute toauthenticleadershipdevelopmentforPrincipalsandleadershipteamsacrossNSW.Hercommitmenttothe NSWPPAandthedevelopmentofeffectiveleadershasbeenrecognisedthroughtheawardoftheACELNSW LeadershipAward,theJohnLaingAwardforProfessionalLearningforPrincipalsandLifeMembershipofNSWPPA