Good day
I hope that term four is progressing well for you. In this newsletter I will share some reflections about events this year and make an announcement about changes coming up in the ACEL WA team.
Leading Innovation in Education Network
We held a fabulous Leading Innovation in Education Network meeting this term at the new Western Australian Space Science Education Centre (WASSEC) – what a wonderful new resource for students and educators in our state. Liz Smith, Principal at Joseph Banks Secondary College, where the WASSEC is located, shared with us the story of translating vision into action with the establishment of this unique new educational resource centre – and we got the opportunity to explore these new learning spaced firsthand. Next, Gaile Racey from Hale School shared with us the process of establishing a ten-week project-based entrepreneurship program where high school students learn to solve problems, to collaborate, to fail, to succeed, and to foster compassion by making a tangible contribution to their community. Mitchell Bristow and Lisa Italiano from St Gerard’s Catholic Primary School explained that sometimes a new playground can become a vehicle for bringing about cultural transformation in a school where more than 75 languages are spoken at home, none of them English. They shared how their definition of culture, “people like us do things like this”, was used to not just develop a whole-school Vision for Learning, but an Action for Learning. Finally, Adam Selwood, Head of Sport Development and Performance at Perth College shared the innovative steps taken to build a high-performance sporting culture, centred around engagement, participation and performance development, and offering students multiple pathways for development. I always enjoy the diversity of perspectives at these events, which provoke us to Grow, Connect, Lead and Reflect.
National Indigenous Education Summit
ACEL WA also participated in the National Indigenous Education Summit this term.
Branch Executive Member, Maree Whiteley, reflected on her experience: “What an incredible privilege to be invited to attend the 5th National Indigenous Education Summit, and be in the presence of so many inspiring and courageous leaders today. It was an opportunity to hear from Aboriginal school leaders from around Australia. Reflecting on my 14 pages of notes, there were so many highlights, from Tanya Peeler’s opening keynote Reimagining Education Approaches at Worawa Aboriginal College delivering the Australian Curriculum with an Aboriginal Education overlay; to Brendan Hodge, Principal of Yakanarra Community School delivering a passionate message imploring the need for all Aboriginal children to learn their language and identity first, before imposing a Western curriculum devoid of empathy and humility; and Ngutu College students who are encouraged to embrace and express their cultural identities, as told by Founding Principal, Andrew Plastow, empowering students to find their own core language, which might be the language of dance, movement or music to share their stories. We can learn so much from Aboriginal Leadership, the personal stories of challenge and resilience that drives these school leaders to do better.” Thank you for sharing your insights, Maree.
Change Afoot
There are some changes afoot in the ACEL Western Australian Branch Executive team. I will be stepping down as President at the end of November since I will be moving to Victoria to take up the Executive Principalship of a school in Geelong in January. The branch will be left in very good hands, under the leadership of Rachael Lehr, Associate Principal at Dayton Primary School, ably supported by the rest of the branch executive team.
I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude and reflect on the incredible journey we have shared. Being part of the ACEL WA Executive team has been an honour and a privilege, one that I have embraced with great passion and dedication. I often describe joining ACEL as finding my educational tribe. I joined the ACEL branch executive team in 2018 and took on the role as WA President in 2021. I have been constantly inspired by the unwavering commitment to education and the wider profession shown by ACEL members and particularly the branch executive team who work tirelessly (on top of busy educational leadership roles), to serve the wider educational leadership community in WA. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together.
Building on the strong legacy of those who have gone before, our branch team set out to create a space for educational leaders from all sectors, phases, levels and roles to Grow, Connect, Lead and Reflect, expressing our goals as follows:
- Grow: We hope that ACEL will challenge us to deepen our existing knowledge of educational leadership and enable us to move beyond our comfort zones.
- Connect: We want to create inspired opportunities for educational leaders to connect with other like-minded individuals, maximising connections across sectors, phases and roles. We also aspire to connect theory to action.
- Lead: Our focus will be on leading learning, improvement, innovation and change at all levels of education: classroom, department, school, system and profession.
- Reflect: Our desire is to leverage local expertise and create opportunities to share authentic practice. To achieve this, we invite all members to reflect: how can I contribute, share, empower and recognise others?
As I step into new adventures ahead, I remain committed to these ideals as foundational to grow our profession. I am confident that ACEL will continue to champion opportunities for educational leaders to Grow, Connect, Lead and Reflect, and that we will all be richer for it.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve and for your endless support and encouragement. I look forward to seeing all the wonderful things that lie ahead for ACEL WA under Rachael’s leadership.
With deep appreciation and warmest wishes,
Mathilda Joubert
ACEL WA Branch President