South Australia Branch Messages

Time flies! It’s hard to believe we are already at the end of the year. It’s been an exciting year for ACEL SA especially with the hosting of the national conference . Other highlights for 2024 have included: The Professionals Network & National Conference Launch, featuring Barb Watterson, Pasi Sahlberg, Glenn Savage, and Anne Dunstan who explored the theme of reimagining the profession. Hot Topics with Dr. Selena Fisk and Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath. The SA Schools Equity Summit, in collaboration with sector heads and the Minister for Education. The ACEL SA Awards Night. A heartfelt thank you to our enthusiastic ACEL SA Branch Executive ...

Dear ACEL Members, I hope you had the opportunity to attend the ACEL National Conference in Adelaide this week. It was a remarkable event, sold out and filled with engaging discussions and insight. As Associate Professor, Glenn Savage noted, this is the premier educational leadership conference in Australia. A huge thank you must go to ACEL CEO, Dr Barbara Watterston, and the amazing ACEL team she leads. The work they do behind the scenes is incredible to deliver a truly outstanding event. During the conference, Michael Murphy, a member of the ACEL SA Branch, captured and recorded interviews from the various presenters, and we look forward to sharing ...

ACEL SA Annual Awards Celebration On Thursday, August 29, ACEL SA hosted a memorable evening at the Sanctuary, Adelaide Zoo, to honour the distinguished winners of the ACEL SA Awards for 2024. The event provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the remarkable achievements of educators across South Australia. We were delighted to be joined by the Hon. John Gardner, Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Education, Training, and Skills, as well as Kevin Richardson, a long-time supporter of ACEL and former ‘Alby Jones’ Gold Medal Awardee, who graciously presented the awards. As mentioned in the previous newsletter , our ACEL SA Award Winners ...

Dear ACEL SA Branch, I hope you’ve had a fantastic start to the new term. I am delighted to announce the recipients of the ACEL SA awards for 2024: ‘Alby Jones’ Gold Medal Award Anne Dunstan ACEL SA Fellowship Award Warren Symonds ACEL SA Educational Leadership Medal Cezanne Green Paul Belton Yvette Swaalf ACEL SA Media Award Dr. Deborah Netolicky The Pip Field Emerging Leaders Award Matthew Rotolo We are excited to celebrate these outstanding achievements at our awards ceremony, which will take place at the Sanctuary Adelaide Zoo on Thursday, August 29. We warmly invite all our members to join ...

Dear ACEL SA Members, On Wednesday, May 1, we're thrilled to host a Hot Topic event featuring Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath. Renowned as a neuroscientist and educator specializing in human learning, memory, and brain stimulation, Jared brings a wealth of expertise. With experience conducting research and lecturing at Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, and the University of Melbourne, his work has been published in the New Yorker, the Economist, the Atlantic, and the New York Times. We're incredibly fortunate to have Jared join us in person. During this event, he'll share thought-provoking insights into our learning processes, the development of ...

Dear ACEL SA Members, Greetings from the ACEL SA team. I was at a conference last week and I heard a leader describe the school year as four 100 metre sprints. It’s a hard to believe we a halfway through the first sprint! Our recent ACEL SA Professionals Network Event and National Conference Launch, held at the Unley Oval Community Hub on Thursday, February 22, saw a fantastic turnout from both our members and non-members with all sectors represented. Featuring an outstanding panel, including Glenn Savage, Pasi Sahlberg, Anne Dunstan, and Dr. Barbara Watterston, the event delved into the theme of 'Reimagining Education,' with an emphasis on reimagining ...

Dear ACEL Members, I hope you have had a great start to year and you managed to have a break over the summer. As an Executive branch we are really excited about what 2024 holds for ACEL. It is with great pleasure that we announce our inaugural event of the year—the 2024 ACEL SA Professionals Network Event and National Conference Launch. As well as Glenn Savage, Anne Dunstan and Dr Barbara Watterson, we are now honoured to also welcome Pasi Sahlberg. Pasi is a Finnish educator, teacher, and author and has advised schools and education system leaders around the world. He is currently Professor of Educational Leadership at the University ...

Dear ACEL SA Members, It's evident that ACEL SA has once again had another exciting year. We're thrilled to have hosted several well-attended ‘Hot Topics’, featuring presenters who generously shared their insights. Some highlights from our events included: A thought-provoking conversation between Deborah Netolicky and Summer Howarth exploring future alternatives for educational leadership. Bec Clements and Grant Small presenting on leading school improvement and fostering culture change in primary schools. Dr. Brendan Bentley and Conor Keneally shedding light on cognitive load theory and augmented reality in a science classroom. As we look ...

Dear ACEL SA Members, I am honoured to serve as the ACEL SA State President and as a national Board Member. For those who may not be familiar with me, I currently hold the position of Director of Teaching and Learning at Immanuel College. Working alongside me in the SA Branch, I have the privilege of collaborating with a dedicated team that includes Michael Murphy, Christine Haynes, Julie Tarzia, and Brendan Toohey. Together, as a branch, we are enthusiastic about providing opportunities to advance the cause of educational leadership in South Australia. I'd like to take a moment to express my appreciation for the incredible work done by Warren Symonds, our ...

As we find ourselves hurtling through another term, the ACEL National Conference looms on the horizon, offering an invaluable opportunity for educational leaders like you to participate. The conference, as always, boasts an impressive lineup of speakers and provides a platform for networking with peers. However, this year is particularly special, as ACEL commemorates a significant milestone - our 50th anniversary. This occasion prompts us to pause, reflect on our journey thus far, acknowledge our achievements, and, with eager anticipation and curiosity, chart a course for the next fifty years of educational leadership. The conference kicks off on Tuesday, September ...

Welcome back to term 3 I hope you managed to get some well-deserved rest over the holiday period. A Night of Celebration The ACEL SA Annual Awards Ceremony took place at The Sanctuary: Adelaide Zoo on Wednesday, 28 June, where more than 75 distinguished guests gathered to celebrate the brilliance of South Australian educators. The presence of the Honourable Blair Boyer MP, Minister for Education, Training, and Skills, added significance to the occasion, emphasising the valued support our state branch receives from the government. New Branch Executive At the start of September, ACEL SA will be supported by the following new Branch Executives: ...