Well-Led Schools

In this second part of our conversation with Nichole Williams, Principal of Lavington East Public School, we dive deeper into the topic of compassion fatigue in education. Nichole shares her research findings, personal experiences, and actionable strategies to help school leaders and educators build resilience and foster wellbeing within their teams.   In this episode (Par1 2), we cover: What comp...

Welcome to Season 3 of the Well-Led School Podcast!  We’re starting the year with the first of a two-part series featuring Nichole Williams, Principal of Lavington East Public School, located on the NSW-VIC border. With nearly 20 years of experience in the NSW public education system, including over a decade as a primary school principal, Nichole is deeply passionate about fostering positive chang...

In this episode of the Well-Led Schools podcast, we welcome Tony Cox, founder of Wellbeing Education Solutions, to discuss the important topic of student wellbeing. Tony shares his insights on why prioritising wellbeing isn't just beneficial for students but also makes teachers' jobs easier. When students feel supported, engaged, and emotionally secure, they perform better, reducing the strain on...

In this episode of the Well-Led Schools Podcast, we welcome back Aimee Presnall, a wellbeing consultant and founder of Well-Nest, who has a deep passion for embedding wellbeing at the core of school culture. Aimee brings her extensive experience in education and leadership to the conversation, sharing valuable insights on how school leaders can navigate the complexities of their roles while mainta...

In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Vicky Essebag, a relational communication specialist with extensive experience in both education and family therapy. Vicky has held roles as a teacher, guidance counselor, curriculum consultant, and vice-principal, and she is also a certified solution-focused coach and trainer. She is best known for her work in adapting Solution-Focused...

In this episode of the Well-Led Schools Podcast, we sit down with Katrina Bourke to explore the importance of leading authentically in education. With over 20 years of experience as a teacher and school leader, Katrina emphasises the significance of human skills in leadership. Authentic leadership, marked by self-awareness, vulnerability, and groundedness, is crucial in Education today. Katrina sh...

Educator burnout is becoming increasingly common, to the point where many celebrate being so busy as if it's a badge of honor. However, this relentless pace and lack of rest can lead to significant mental health challenges. In this episode, we emphasize the importance of taking a step back and building supports to help us feel resilient and well. Join us as we sit down with Meg Durham, a former pr...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Karen Caswell, an experienced senior teacher, wellbeing enthusiast, blogger and podcaster.   Join us for an honest and vulnerable conversation where we reflect on the essential qualities of effective leadership and explore the concept of leading without an official title, emphasising the importance of relational and interactional leadership appr...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Rosie Connor, a leader in the field of education and not-for-profit leadership development. With over twenty years of experience, Rosie has dedicated her career to empowering leaders to excel and make a significant impact in their organisations. As the founder of BTS Spark, Rosie has pioneered innovative approaches to leadership coaching and dev...

In this episode of the Well-Led Schools Podcast, we welcome back Dr. Paul Teys, an expert in educational leadership with over four decades of experience. Following his discussion on the foundations of effective educational leadership earlier this season, Paul returns to explore the vital topic of staff consultation.    Effective consultation is key to building trust, fostering collaboration, and e...

In this episode of the Well-Led Schools Podcast, we welcomed returning guest Corey Tavella, principal of Thomas More College in South Australia— a large co-ed school with almost 1,100 students that has grown over 30% since his time as principal.   Corey recently completed his Master's degree, focusing on measuring effective school leadership using an autoethnographic method. In this method, he act...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of diving into the world of Positive Psychology with our guest, Chris Daicos, an experienced educator and consultant with over 40 years of experience in the field of education.    Chris's expertise lies in leveraging Positive Psychology interventions to foster personal and organisational flourishing. As she eloquently explains, Positive Psychology isn't merely a...

In this episode, I had the honour of chatting with Kathy Bowers, a parenting coach with over four decades of experience working with children and their families.    Why a parenting coach on a teacher wellbeing podcast? Much of our work with students relies on the relationships we have with parents. In this partnership, they can often lean on us for advice for ways to connect with and engage their...

In this episode, I am joined by the fabulous Dr. Tori Ellis, a Transformational Life and Business Coach and author based in New York City. I had the pleasure of asking Dr. Ellis some thought-provoking questions about her work and insights about her unique approach to working with young people, individuals and organisations, blending the worlds of hip-hop and positive psychology to create a lasting...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of connecting with Megan Corcoran, the Founder and Director of Wagtail Institute. Her mission is to empower schools and complex settings to become trauma-informed wellbeing communities where everyone can thrive. She works alongside leaders, educators and social workers to respond to wellbeing challenges, enhance trauma-informed practice and navigate pathways to...

Social events, morning teas and the one-off wellbeing workshops can only do so much to improve staff wellbeing and school culture. While they’re well-intentioned, these initiatives only target the very surface of the daily challenges school staff face. We need to take a deeper look at the underlying and systemic reasons why staff may be suffering from chronic stress and burnout. Once identified, s...

In this episode of the Well-Led Schools podcast I am joined by Corey Tavella, Principal of Thomas More College in South Australia where, together, we’ll be exploring the guiding principles of ‘Well-Led’ schools.    When adopted and applied, these principles can help schools to “lead with wellbeing in mind,” begin to transform the culture from within and better influence positive outcomes in studen...

In this episode of the Well-Led Schools podcast, we explore the crucial aspects of educational leadership with Dr. Paul Teys, an inspiring leader in the education space with over four decades of experience in the field.    As a seasoned mentor, coach, and expert in educational leadership, Dr. Paul brings a wealth of insight to our discussion. Join us as we explore Dr. Paul's profound wisdom on eff...

In this episode, I am joined by Chantelle Kohn -  educator, facilitator, change-maker, and Founder of The Change Collab, specialising in helping leaders, teams and teachers develop the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes needed to create and sustain thriving communities.  In this conversation, we unravel the significance of "soft skills" in education, exploring their role in leadership, the in...

In season 2, episode 3 of the Well-Led Schools podcast I am pulling this conversation from the vault. I was joined on the podcast at the beginning of last year by Rob Lans - school principal and expert on leading schools with wellbeing in mind.  As we commence 2024, many schools will be focusing on ways to improve staff wellbeing yet, without a carefully planned out and focused approach many will...

This episode is a continuation of Season 2 Episode 1, where Rob Lans and I dove deep into some of the mistakes we see schools make when it comes to addressing student behaviour challenges. If you missed that one, you’ll want to listen to it before diving into this episode, where we unveil and discuss practical solutions that are realistic and relatively simple to implement.   In this episode, we c...

Welcome back to a brand new season of the Well-Led Schools Podcast! We’ve got lots planned for 2024, and to kick off our first episode of the year, I sat down with School Principal and Student Behaviour Management expert Rob Lans, who you might remember from season 1.  For this first episode of season 2, we’ve come together to discuss some of the most common mistakes we see schools make when it co...

In this special season finale of the Well-Led Schools podcast, I share some exciting personal and professional updates. I also reflect on the past season, where I share ten key takeaways that every school leader across Australia should embrace. From nurturing trust to optimising workload and understanding the unique challenges faced by our staff, these insights offer a roadmap to create thriving,...

In order to be great school leaders, we must possess a mix of skills, both academic and personal. But one of the most essential skills any effective leader should have is emotional intelligence.  As leaders, one of our primary responsibilities is to manage people. Without an awareness of our inner world and that of others and the ability to self-regulate and respond to others with empathy,  it can...

In episode 28, I uncover the most essential personal attributes to becoming an effective and inspiring school leader who "leads with wellbeing in mind." Beyond cognitive skills, personal attributes like self-awareness, empathy, and emotional intelligence are essential for navigating the challenges of education and fostering a thriving school culture. As school leaders, it's crucial to adopt a well...