Blogs

Message from the CEO, Term 3 2023

By Barbara Watterston posted 30-08-2023 09:47

  

Here at ACEL, we are in celebration mode: 50 years of leading, learning, and shaping the future together. So far, we have had an incredible year of acknowledgement and recognition of our professional association; an association to which all of you are an integral part. 


As I write this piece, we have launched our online community, the ACEL Members’ Lounge.  The engagement and commentary are already indicative of high levels of connection at the deepest level that a platform like this provides. We have received very positive messages of congratulations, support, and endorsement. The quote below captures some of the strong affirming sentiments that underscore the purpose and intent of the new community platform: 


Thank you, Barbara and the ACEL team, for making this online community platform available. What a wonderful way for ACEL members to keep the connections alive and learn from others on a continual basis. I have just begun to dive into all the elements of this new platform and can see the huge potential to add to my knowledge and understanding whilst connecting and discussing ideas with others both near and far. This is such a benefit to regional or remote based members who may not always have as many opportunities to meet face to face with others. A brief look at the Leaders’ Library has opened up a huge resource that is easy to navigate, is relevant, and provides recommendations based on the reading I have selected. [It is] ... a wonderful addition to the many benefits of ACEL membership. 


It’s been gratifying to see that contributors to the Members’ Lounge are keen to provoke and respond to thoughtful conversation regarding educational issues of great importance with conversation threads designed to stimulate discussion and reflection. For example, “are we asking the rights questions” about … teacher shortages, career pathways, initial teacher education, esteem of the profession? My feeling is that from these conversations, new ideas, insights, and practices will emerge.


And speaking of new, we have launched our ACEL Net Gen initiative taking the lead in highlighting diverse millennial voices from across all parts of the country. This initiative caters for early career teachers and leaders from all sectors performing a variety of roles representative of a range of educational settings. We value the incredible work they are doing and are keen to find avenues for them to contribute to our future as a profession. Launched in time for the conference this September, we are looking forward with much enthusiasm to see how this collaboration with ACEL will contribute to and inspire conversations around the future of the teaching profession across Australia. Perhaps it might also allow us to ponder what the face of educational leadership will look like in 50 years’ time?


We have recently completed the election process for branch executives and presidents and I was enormously impressed by the proactive engagement of ACEL members in the nomination process signalling the positive and enthusiastic esteem held for the ACEL community. There is no doubt that our branches play a significant role in their local contexts including profiling the voice of the profession which is critical to informing decisions made in the service of education and educating. In choosing to nominate to serve on an ACEL branch committee, I feel confident that our new and returning committee members will contribute to ACEL’s work both locally and nationally.  A heartfelt congratulations and warmest welcome to our incoming branch executives.  


Congratulations to those who have received branch awards, together with our recently announced National Award winners and New Voice Scholars who will be acknowledged and celebrated during our Awards Ceremony at the conference. Sincere gratitude goes to the ACEL Awards Committee for the diligence and care with which they undertake the selection and recommendation process, and their enormous commitment to and professional generosity in ensuring the Awards maintain the highest level of scrutiny and honour of our profession.  As a recipient of one of our Branches highest awards wrote,


Thank you for bestowing upon me this great honour, something deeply significant to ACEL and the educators whose ideals it represents. Initially trying to absorb the enormity of it, and descending sense of responsibility; it is such a rare gift to experience. 


To acknowledge the milestone 50 years of our wonderful professional association, the theme of this issue of AEL links directly to our conference: Celebrating 50 years: Leading, learning, and shaping the future together. Emeritus Brian Caldwell sets the scene well drawing upon key themes from his recently published book, Reimagining Schools and School Systems. In his provocative lead article, he encourages leaders to engage in strategic thinking and reimagining their institutions through contingent and resilient leadership in order to create high-performing systems.  Nicole Mockler’s acceptance speech of the Dr Paul Brock Memorial Medal is a worthy addition to the issue. She highlights the ongoing importance of teacher professionalism and the need for leaders to be advocates for teachers. Three of the articles in the issue are connected to the recently created Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO). Jenny Donovan, CEO of AERO, is the focus of the issue’s interview where she provides a comprehensive discussion of the purpose and current work of AERO, while officers from AERO - Emily Pearson and Charleen Chiong, and Adam Inder - share insights regarding the need for strategic plans in schools, and using evidence to support secondary students’ literacy and numeracy skills. 


Five very different articles constitute the rest of the issue. Phil Cummins outlines the work of the Centre for Innovation, Research, Creativity and Leadership in Education where he maps the world of school to the world of work. Three papers focus on school improvement. Linda Bendikson and Frauke Meyer’s paper presents a methodical and practical approach to school improvement while Hannah Remon, Peter Taylor and Adam Kuss’s paper puts forward a critically transformative approach to school improvement. Penny Ludicke identifies the challenges faced by leaders when they attempt to balance improvement priorities and initiatives. Taryn Moir’s paper is connected to classroom practice as she underscores the need for teachers to encourage student engagement and motivation for reading. The issue concludes with an insightful student voice section where three University of Canberra Senior Secondary College students share their views about their schooling experience and the skills and knowledge they believe they need for the future.  


All of us at ACEL are very excited about the conference this year which has a wonderful line-up of speakers, panel sessions, and  conference presentations by delegates. An important publication that will coincide with the timing of the conference is a monograph written by Frank Crowther (Patron) that tells the inspirational story of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders. I’m very grateful to Frank for all of the time, effort, and meticulous research he undertook in putting together such a fascinating and compelling read. Sincere thanks, Frank.  I am sure all of you who read the monograph won’t be disappointed. 


The theme of the conference dinner this year is a touch of gold. You all have it! And with pride and admiration, so too does the fabulous ACEL national team that well and truly punches above its weight. Hope to see you at the conference! 

0 comments
20 views

Permalink