Talking out of school

Loretta Piazza

Being a school principal is the best job in the world, but it's not for the faint-hearted. It takes a huge amount of technical acumen, resilience and emotional regulation, and most importantly, the ability to maintain a work-life balance. Experienced principals, leaders and experts come together to share their experiences, stories and advice, designed to help principals, assistant principals and aspirants stay ahead of the game.... read less
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Principals, refuse to be afraid......
21-12-2022
Principals, refuse to be afraid......
'Principals, you can control the emotional temperature of your schools by not buying into the desire of those who employ you to make you afraid.....' says Jane Caro, a woman known for saying what's on her mind. Her low-boredom threshold level has seen her embrace many careers; she is a novelist, lecturer, mentor, social commentator, columnist, workshop facilitator, speaker, broadcaster and award-winning advertising writer.  Jane also has strong opinions on private schools and wonders why parents feel compelled to select their children's social groups.  'It's all about that bling, pushing the prestige and glamorous and brand private...'

Episodes

Principals, refuse to be afraid......
21-12-2022
Principals, refuse to be afraid......
'Principals, you can control the emotional temperature of your schools by not buying into the desire of those who employ you to make you afraid.....' says Jane Caro, a woman known for saying what's on her mind. Her low-boredom threshold level has seen her embrace many careers; she is a novelist, lecturer, mentor, social commentator, columnist, workshop facilitator, speaker, broadcaster and award-winning advertising writer.  Jane also has strong opinions on private schools and wonders why parents feel compelled to select their children's social groups.  'It's all about that bling, pushing the prestige and glamorous and brand private...'
The Victorian education system, schools and who's influencing the decision makers?
14-12-2022
The Victorian education system, schools and who's influencing the decision makers?
Why is it that we have this compulsion to fix things in our schools that don't need fixing? Take the early years, for example. Victoria is the highest performing state in Australia when it comes to reading. Naplan tells us this.  Misty Adoniou is a respected expert in the field of language and she says the gaps are in the middle years, not the early years. The overwhelming majority of kids in the early years are doing well and don't need to be taught using a 'deficit' approach.
The graduate teacher who has a powerful message about the job.
07-12-2022
The graduate teacher who has a powerful message about the job.
Rosie hasn't been teaching long but she knows it's not a job that promotes work-life balance. And university didn't prepare her for the administrative tasks, curriculum planning, and challenging relationships.  She loves the work with students, but needed much more support to navigate and manage the workload, which is overwhelming.
The education system and the class teacher who is expert at filing.....!
23-11-2022
The education system and the class teacher who is expert at filing.....!
Experienced teacher Rob McDonald loves teaching, loves his kids, and knows his craft. But what he doesn't like are the endless administrative tasks, the never-ending collection of data and the things that take him away from what he needs to do - teaching. In this interview, Rob reflects on the job's highs, but also what is driving him to seek out a new career .....
Schools, principals and transforming the teaching of reading Part 2.
09-11-2022
Schools, principals and transforming the teaching of reading Part 2.
I call Diane Snowball the reading guru.  With more than fifty years experience under her belt, which includes a lengthy consulting stint in New York, her knowledge about how children learn to read is outstanding. In this second episode, Di talks about the importance of building world knowledge, scaffolding learning and the philosophy behind flexible small group teaching. Di urges teachers to steer clear of reading programs; it's understanding how learning takes place and what it looks like in reading that makes all the difference.
Classroom libraries: schools, principals and transforming the teaching of reading. Part 1
26-10-2022
Classroom libraries: schools, principals and transforming the teaching of reading. Part 1
Kids just love books about bums and farts! They also love to read about dinosaurs, planets and animals. This is why the humble classroom library is a must in all schools.  Reading expert, Diane Snowball, talks about the importance of exposing children to a range of reading material that stimulates curiosity, builds vocabulary and has them craving more. Principals, get the cheque book out because this is just the beginning in how to transform reading......
The principal, no bullshit and the importance of knowing your alphabet.
12-10-2022
The principal, no bullshit and the importance of knowing your alphabet.
Retired principal, Deborah Patterson, calls it like it is. If her recently published book 'Passion, guts & leadership: an A-Z for the unconventional educational leader' is anything to go by, she can teach us a great deal, not just about the school principal's job, but about life in general.
The principal, school improvement, and making sure the numbers add up.
28-09-2022
The principal, school improvement, and making sure the numbers add up.
Teaching mathematics is no simple task. It requires some real shifts in pedagogical thinking and making sure students are at the centre.  According to Peter Sullivan, educational consultant specialising in the teaching of mathematics,  kids learn best when they work on problems that they do not yet know how to solve. Peter's research shows that many students do not fear challenges in mathematics, but actually welcome them. However, to get to this point, principals need to be sure the numbers add up.
The principal, low SES school and who wouldn't have it any other way.
14-09-2022
The principal, low SES school and who wouldn't have it any other way.
Whilst equity funding to disadvantaged schools is a god-send, the work involved is huge. Principal Phillip Banks doesn't shy away from his tough gig.  The Victorian education system puts an unrelenting emphasis on PISA and Naplan results, but this principal knows that the wellbeing of his students is paramount and he has to get this right before any meaningful instruction can occur. Kudos to principals like Phillip Banks who courageously put first things first.
The principal who has always done it his way....
31-08-2022
The principal who has always done it his way....
36 years is a long time to be in education; but even longer as a primary school principal.  This principal has 'given back' in many ways, not just to his Dandenong North  community, but to state education generally.  Kevin Mackay is a remarkable man, mentor, leader and school principal who started out as one of those rambunctious naughty kids and today leaves a legacy like no other. This is his story....
The principal and no sign of a rotting head.
17-08-2022
The principal and no sign of a rotting head.
School improvement comes in many forms and can be likened to fishes with rotting heads- unfortunately I can't take the credit for this great metaphor!  The big question is: do principals major in majors or major in minors? This principal knows exactly what he needed to major in, so as to be the eighth most improved school in the state....
The principal, school improvement and drawing a line in the sand.
03-08-2022
The principal, school improvement and drawing a line in the sand.
School improvement comes from aligning staff, students and community.  Former principal, David Finnerty, shares his story about how he went 'incognito' into the school he was appointed to, and how drawing a very deep line in the sand was the only way to stop everyone falling in....
The principal and building school culture from the ground up.
20-07-2022
The principal and building school culture from the ground up.
How do you put the foundations in place when your students, staff and community have nothing in common and come together for the first time? For founding principal Pauline Kubat it wasn't hard because she worked with stakeholders to develop the values and guiding principles. Back then, there were about 100 students. Today it's a vibrant school of nearly 1500!
The principal creating great learners, fabulous citizens and distinctive school culture.
06-07-2022
The principal creating great learners, fabulous citizens and distinctive school culture.
In building a strong school culture, there are many overlapping and cohesive actions that a principal needs to consider. But it all begins with connections, core beliefs, behaviours and effective communication.
The principal, school improvement and valuing expertise above experience.
22-06-2022
The principal, school improvement and valuing expertise above experience.
'We're actually very good here in Australia with kids who start below average. But that's often not recognised because there's more money in arguing that we're doing a bad job.'  Professor John Hattie and I talk about school improvement and the issue of putting experience before expertise when it comes to promotion and jobs.  He believes we will struggle to get people to join the education profession if we don't change this. John says he's not provocative. You be the judge....
The principal and the conditions for school improvement.
08-06-2022
The principal and the conditions for school improvement.
What started out as a set of four preconditions for achieving school improvement in 2008 is now a major framework that includes a further two stages linked to the teacher. We now know that leadership, along with its overarching influence, is what makes all the difference.
School improvement, the principal and becoming skilled observers.
26-05-2022
School improvement, the principal and becoming skilled observers.
'If we could get every teacher to move every student in their class up at least one competency level, the overall impact on the system, on the country, would be enormous. Just one level of competency....'  Emeritus Professor Patrick Griffin talks about the importance of moving to a competency-based curriculum and the need for principals to help teachers become skilled observers.
School improvement, regions and the principal somewhere in between. Part 2.
18-05-2022
School improvement, regions and the principal somewhere in between. Part 2.
'Get this region out of the Herald Sun.' These were Minister Lynne Kosky's pleas to newly-appointed Northern Metropolitan Regional Director, Wayne Craig.  What happened during the next eight years involved developing and implementing a courageous narrative of school regeneration and school improvement.
School improvement, regions and the principal somewhere in between. Part 1.
11-05-2022
School improvement, regions and the principal somewhere in between. Part 1.
'Listen girlie...'  A former Regional Director recalls the challenges associated with lifting standards.  In six years, Katherine Henderson took the Western Metropolitan Region from basket case to the highest performing in the state of Victoria.  Here's how she did it....
The principal, authenticity and the glass brimming over.
04-05-2022
The principal, authenticity and the glass brimming over.
My 'partner in crime' opens up about his somewhat problematic relationship with the Department of Education. But he will always be authentic and honest because that is the person he is. This philosophy has stood him in good stead because after many, many years as a school principal, he goes to school every day and continues to give it his best shot.