The Art of Teaching

I’m joined today by Professor Viviane Robinson, one of the most influential thinkers in educational leadership. This is the second time that I have the privilege of speaking with her. Viviane is the author of Student-Centred Leadership, a book that has quietly but powerfully reshaped how school leaders around the world think about their work. At its heart is a deceptively simple question: What lea...

John Goh is an educator who has never been afraid to question the way schools work, or why they work that way at all. Across his career as a principal and system leader, John has led bold changes around time, space and learning culture, always with a clear focus on what helps students thrive. Known for opening walls, rethinking routines and building strong partnerships with families and industry,...

Next is a conversation I recently had with Casey Ellis , a global leader in cybersecurity and the founder of Bugcrowd . Casey has spent his career thinking deeply about risk, trust and what happens when you invite smart, curious people into complex systems. Through Bugcrowd, he helped pioneer crowdsourced security, connecting organisations with ethical hackers from around the world to find problem...

With over fifteen years of experience as a teacher in special education, John has worked across Schools for Specific Purposes (SSPs) and support units in primary schools within public education. Now serving as an Assistant Principal Special Education, he is deeply committed to building the confidence, knowledge and capacity of colleagues and teachers, so inclusive practice is not an add-on, but a...

I’m joined today by Dr Vanessa Urch Druskat, a leading organisational psychologist whose work has reshaped how we think about emotional intelligence in teams. Together, we explore what helps groups think clearly, collaborate well and stay steady under pressure. We talk about trust, shared norms and the often invisible emotional work that underpins strong teaching teams and healthy school cultures....

If you ask ten people what instructional leadership means, you’ll probably hear ten different answers. At its heart though, it’s the everyday work of helping teachers grow and helping students learn in ways that are intentional, evidence-informed, and grounded in trust. It isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about creating clarity, building shared purpose, and keeping everyone focused on the...

Today’s episode is something a little different. I sat down with the amazing Ash from Rainbow Sky Creations for a raw and honest chat, and this time I found myself on the other side of the microphone. It felt a bit strange being the one answering the questions, but Ash has a way of making you feel safe enough to tell the truth about your work, your why, and the messy bits in between. We talked abo...

Today’s guest has spent more than 25 years focused on one big idea, helping learning truly stick. Dr William DeJean is the founder and CEO of Unleash Learning, working with schools and organisations around the world to build professional learning that lasts. His journey began in San Diego, where he taught high school for a decade and was named the 2003 San Diego County Teacher of the Year. He went...

Today’s guest is Nicole Dyson , one of Australia’s most influential voices in future-focused education, youth entrepreneurship, and system-wide innovation. Nic’s journey from classroom teacher to award-winning entrepreneur has reshaped how thousands of young people think about learning, creativity, and possibility. She’s the founder and CEO of Future Anything , an organisation with a bold mission...

Today I’m joined by Glenys Oberg (FHEA), an author, educator and researcher whose work sits at the crossroads of wellbeing, neuroscience and teaching practice. Glenys explores how compassion fatigue, moral injury and emotional resilience shape the lives of educators, and how trauma-aware, evidence-informed approaches can create healthier and more sustainable ways of working in schools What I value...

Today we’re joined by Jeffrey Jordan , an inspiring school leader who’s currently in his third year as an elementary school principal. Jeffrey’s career spans classrooms and continents. He’s taught English Language Arts across primary and secondary settings, led as a vice principal for six years at the second-largest English high school in Quebec, and even taught English as a Second Language in Sou...

Today, I'm talking about something that sits right at the heart of great leadership - wellbeing. Not as a buzzword or a side project, but as the foundation for how we lead, teach, and thrive together. In her new book Wellbeing Leadership, Amy Green challenges us to rethink what leadership in schools can look like when wellbeing isn’t an afterthought, but the starting point. She explores four essen...

This episode’s a little different. Instead of me asking the questions, I’m the one being interviewed. Highly Accomplished teacher Andrew Cornwall and I sit down to talk about teaching, accreditation, and what it means for all of us to be expert practitioners. We dig into how great teaching grows through shared practice, honest reflection, and the everyday work we do alongside our colleagues. It’s...

What is the purpose of education? It’s one of those questions that sounds simple but cuts right to the heart of what we do as teachers and school leaders. Too often, it’s pushed aside as though it’s already been settled. My guest today, Tom Mahony, doesn’t accept that. He’s a teacher, leader, and educational researcher who believes that revisiting this question isn’t a philosophical indulgence—it’...

Every teacher and every school want their students to achieve and thrive. Through his leadership, innovative approaches, and dedication to learning, Cameron Paterson, Director of Learning at Wesley College in Melbourne, is helping students and teachers do exactly that. Cameron Paterson is an educator who has never stopped learning. A History teacher for more than 30 years and now Director of Learn...

Up next is a conversation with Jen Buchanan, the proud Principal of Think Global School , the world's first travelling high school, where students study in eight countries throughout their two years, experiencing truly global, experiential education. With extensive experience leading innovation across international progressive schools and organisations, including Green School in Bali and as Direct...

Today on The Art of Teaching Podcast, I’m joined by Amelia Martin , Senior Education Advisor for Middle Years with Brisbane Catholic Education. Amelia works passionately to deliver on a powerful vision — that every child deserves to feel a sense of belonging, connection, and success at school. With experience across primary and secondary settings, Amelia has dedicated her career to supporting teac...

Today I’m joined by Dr Nathaniel Swain - a teacher, instructional coach, researcher and writer with a deep passion for language, literacy and learning. Nathaniel is dedicated to helping teachers create effective and engaging learning for every student. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in Learning Sciences and Learner Engagement at La Trobe University’s School of Education. He is also the founder...

Today, I’m joined by Claudia Owad, Director at Growth Coaching International. With over 30 years of experience across education, corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors, Claudia is a Master Practitioner with EMCC Global and has served on the board of the International Coaching Federation Australasia. A former school counsellor, Claudia is passionate about helping people flourish through t...

In today’s episode, we explore Elevated Conversations, Dr Simon Breakspear’s new book that helps educators turn meetings from weary talk into purposeful dialogue. Drawing on years of work with schools worldwide, Simon shares seven practical tools designed to spark fresh thinking, deepen connections, and make the most of limited collaborative time. It’s a playbook for lifting the quality of our pro...

Today I’m joined by Michael , an experienced educational leader with more than two decades working across the primary, secondary and adult education sectors. His career has been shaped by a passion for coaching, digital technology, and the Performing Arts, where he’s made a real impact on both teaching and leadership. Michael is currently the Deputy Principal at John Paul College in Frankston, Vic...

Today I’m joined by Jamie Gerlach , an educator and leader who believes in the power of deep learning to build human agency and sees access to rigorous play as a basic right for all. For over a decade, he has designed and led professional learning in embodied literacy, 4C learning and school transformation, working with teachers and leaders across Australia and internationally. Jamie has also lect...

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Ange Rogers , a teacher, numeracy leader, consultant and researcher whose work has helped countless primary teachers feel more confident in the maths classroom. With more than twenty years of experience across teaching, coaching, and research, Ange has a real gift for turning evidence into simple, practical strategies that work. Her passion lies in building teache...

Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Brendan , a proud public education principal with deep roots in his community. Brendan now leads in the very place he once attended as a student, driven by a passion to expand opportunities for rural and remote students. His journey began early, when he revitalised the Riverina Industrial Arts Network to strengthen skills teaching across the region. He continues...

What if the key to thinking more clearly, feeling more connected, and even solving problems... was movement? In this episode, I sit down with Dr Peter Lovatt psychologist, dancer, and founder of the world’s first Dance Psychology Lab, to explore how moving our bodies can transform our minds. Whether you're a teacher, leader, or lifelong learner, this conversation will prompt you to think (and mayb...