Reflections of School Leaders

In this episode, I welcome Aaron Johnston, who opens up about the real challenges of educational leadership and the transformative power of vulnerability in building stronger teams. Aaron shares his experience navigating the relentless pressure of constant policy changes while resisting the urge to become everyone's "saviour." He discusses how self-doubt and perfectionism created a...

In this episode, I'm pleased to welcome Hayley Taylor, Principal of Canning Vale Primary School, who shares her candid insights on the evolving complexities of school leadership and the reality of building positive culture in educational communities. Hayley opens up about the expanding scope of what schools are expected to deliver beyond traditional education, and how demographic shifts add l...

In this episode, I am delighted to welcome Joel Copeland, Principal of the ACT Instrumental Music Program, who shares his authentic journey of building unity and trust across a geographically dispersed team that spans more than 80 schools throughout the ACT. Joel opens up about the reality of leading a team that only comes together in person for two hours each week, revealing how he navigated the...

In this episode, I am pleased to welcome Glenn Forbes, who shares his practical journey of building high levels of shared belief within educational teams and overcoming the persistent challenges that fragment collective action. Glenn opens up about confronting the real obstacles that undermine team effectiveness: blame, magnitude, fragmentation, and isolation. He discusses how these forces create...

In this episode, I am delighted to welcome Penny Curran-Peters, Principal of Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College, who shares her honest journey of navigating the difficult transition from beloved mentee to independent leader. Penny opens up about the challenge many young leaders face when they've built their skills in a supportive environment they love, only to realise they must leave that comfor...

In this episode, I am delighted to welcome Matt Pitman, Head of School (Senior) at Catholic Regional College in Caroline Springs, who shares his profound insights on leading meaningful cultural change in educational systems that often default to standardisation. Matt shares his approach to leading cultural change in education systems that often default to standardisation, discussing his work refra...

In this episode, I am delighted to welcome Kalea Haran, Principal at Penrhos College in Western Australia, who shares her inspiring journey of building trust and encouraging bravery among staff as a vibrant new leader in the school community. Kalea shares her approach to connecting with staff who are still getting to know her supportive, judgment-free leadership style. She shares her successful st...

In this episode, I am delighted to welcome Ben Will, Principal at Holy Spirit in Western Australia, who shares his extraordinary experience of leading a school community through the devastating impact of Cyclone Seroja and its aftermath. Ben reveals the immense challenges he faced in maintaining educational continuity while supporting traumatised students, concerned parents and dedicated staff dur...

In this episode, I am delighted to welcome Ceanlia Vermeulen, who shares her challenging experience of supporting a demanding parent during the unprecedented difficulties of COVID-19.  Ceanlia reveals the delicate balance she maintained between meeting this parent's needs while also caring for their child, supporting her teachers and addressing the concerns of other families during a time of...

In this episode, I’m excited to welcome Phil Hart, Head of School at the British International School of Wroclaw. Phil shares his challenge of leading in an environment where the prevailing narrative suggests that things are broken and hopeless...a culture where transformation leadership becomes particularly daunting because change seems almost unattainable.  He candidly shares his frustration wit...

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Mitchell Bristow, a school Principal who shares his experience of navigating a challenging leadership position where he couldn't fully be himself. Mitchell talks openly about the strain of working under intense micromanagement and the importance of authentic leadership. We dive into the unique challenges of middle leadership in schools - w...

In this episode, I have the pleasure of chatting with Lisa Thorpe who shares her candid story of leading a school in crisis early in her career. In that previous role, Lisa found herself guiding a team through challenging times, from low inspection ratings to behavioural issues, requiring a complete reset of the school's approach. We talk about her battle with imposter syndrome and the emotio...

In this episode, I am joined by Donna McNeight, a dedicated Numeracy Learning Specialist and Classroom Teacher, who shares her candid journey of implementing sustainable change in mathematics education.  We dive deep into her experience with the EMU (Extending Mathematical Understanding) program and the real challenges of maintaining momentum amidst constant interruptions while keeping staff engag...

In this transformative episode, I am joined by Sue Floro, Head of the Preparatory School at Knox Grammar School, who shares her bold journey of reimagining their house system through the lens of belonging and social impact. We explore how her team tackled the ambitious challenge of integrating community connection, vertical care and social justice into a comprehensive framework that would shape th...

In this insightful episode, I am joined by Celia Mara, Deputy Principal at St Martins Lutheran College. We dive deep into the challenges and triumphs of adapting to a completely new educational environment while navigating multiple changes at once. From learning unfamiliar systems and curriculums to finding your place in an established culture during restructuring, we unpack the complex journey of...

Join us for an honest look at what it really takes to start a high school in NYC from scratch. In this powerful episode, I'm joined by William Campbell, Founding Head of Franklin School, USA. We talk about the mix of excitement and nerves that comes with chasing a big dream in the Big Apple. From figuring out how to support students, staff and parents to dealing with those late-night "wh...

In this powerful episode, I'm joined by Dr. Steven Middleton and Executive Assistant Kristine Niven. Together, they share their unique story of navigating the complexities of school leadership through trust, collaboration and shared purpose as Associate Principal and Executive Assistant. Their conversation unveils the dynamics of effective Principal-EA partnerships and offers rich insights in...

In this episode, I’m joined by Courtney Morgan, an insightful school leader who sheds light on the immense pressure faced by teachers today. We dive into the challenges of balancing rising expectations for student performance with the pressing need for mental health and pastoral care support. Courtney shares her observations on how teachers have become more than just educators; they are mentors an...

In this episode, I’m joined by Joel Weekes, the Inaugural Head of Junior School at St Gregory’s College. Joel shares his exciting yet challenging journey of building a new school from the ground up. We discuss the vital importance of finding the right staff, creating a shared vision and fostering a culture that embraces both tradition and innovation. Joel highlights the value of relational trust a...

In this episode, Aimee sits down with Andrew McCausland, a passionate classroom teacher who carved his own leadership path when traditional roles didn’t align with his interests. Andrew shares his inspiring journey of seeking out and creating leadership opportunities, from launching a STEM Club and LEGO League to becoming an Instructional Leader in evidence-based teaching practices. Despite facing...

In this episode, Paul Ainsworth and Aimee delve into the complexities of transitioning from a large, well-established Multi-Academy Trust to a smaller, startup MAT. Paul opens up about the challenge of moving from a secondary setting where he was deeply connected, to a new environment where he had to quickly adapt to primary expertise and build trust from the ground up. Paul candidly shares his fe...

In this episode, Ellen Moffat and Aimee dive into the unique challenges of being a young leader with limited experience. Ellen shares her journey of stepping into leadership roles early in her career and the overwhelming pressures that come with it. She discusses her struggle with self-doubt, imposter syndrome and the relentless self-belief that she had to "prove" herself. Ellen's m...

In this episode, Airlie Washington and Aimee explore how to bridge the communication gap between home and school by engaging parents in supporting social-emotional learning. Airlie shares how transitioning from overwhelming emails and phone calls to a streamlined podcast format has effectively unified the language between teachers, students and parents. They discuss the challenges of acquiring new...

In this episode, Steven Trotter and Aimee tackle the often overwhelming pressure school leaders face to act immediately. They share profound insights on navigating this challenge effectively, emphasising the importance of prioritising the right initiatives at the right time. The discussion focuses on the emotional journey of overcoming the perceived urgency to act and the transformative impact thi...

In this episode, Ione Norris and Aimee explore the journey of self-rediscovery and resilience when Ione decided to embrace her natural hair colour during the 2020 lockdown at the age of 53.  Transitioning from brunette to silver hair was not just a physical change but a significant moment of introspection. The change in her appearance brought about a shift in how she was perceived, impacting her e...