Let Your Leadership SPARKLE:
Reflections on My First Year as ACEL WA Branch President
As 2025 draws to a close and I complete my first year as ACEL WA Branch President, I’ve found myself looking back with equal parts gratitude, pride and deep reflection (along with a touch of weariness, if I am honest!). This year has been full of stretch moments, luminous learning, unexpected challenges, and most importantly, countless opportunities to see the brilliance of educational leaders across Western Australia.
What stands out most for me is not the events, the meetings, or the milestones themselves, but the people and the connections, along with the collective commitment to lifting education in this state and beyond. It has been a privilege for me to serve others through a role that continually asks me to step outside my comfort zone and grow, to listen intently and to show up with purpose.
Through this year of learning and leading, my thinking has crystallised into something I’ve begun calling The Leadership SPARKLE; a personal framework shaped by my work in schools (and adapted from my STEM SPARKLE that I shared many years ago whilst still a science specialist teacher), my doctoral studies, my roles in ACEL, and the human-centred, purposeful leadership I believe our profession both needs and deserves.
The Leadership SPARKLE is not a model or a checklist, but rather it’s a compass that reminds me how I want to lead, how I want to serve, and how I want people to feel when they experience my leadership around them. Below is a short reflection on each element of SPARKLE(S), drawn from the presentation I was invited to share with a small collegiate group of school leaders earlier this term. Every slide in this presentation reminds me of what this year (and the years preceding that) has taught me and what I hope to keep modelling moving into 2026.
S – Self-awareness & Strength: The Foundation Star
This year has reinforced that leadership begins with knowing who you truly are, knowing what your values and beliefs are (and the things you aren’t willing to back down on) and owning it. It’s about showing up, not as the polished version of yourself, or the version you feel others want you to be, but the real version of you and fighting for the things that matter most to you. Leading ACEL WA has stretched me to examine my values, my beliefs, my boundaries, and the impact I want to have. Self-awareness has helped me lead with clarity instead of reaction, and strength has meant holding true to what matters even in busy, high-stakes moments.
P – Presence & Purpose: The Light that Grounds Others
If this year has taught me anything, it’s that presence is power. As leaders, being visible, listening deeply, and showing up with intentionality has helped build psychological safety in our school, across our network and within ACEL WA. And purpose has been the anchor reminding me that this role is ultimately about service, stewardship, and elevating leadership across every corner of our state.
A – Authenticity: The Warm Glow
Authenticity has been the most freeing part of this year. When you are stepping into a role that is being vacated by an exceptional leader, you can tend to think you need to be like them to be successful, but I’ve learned that you can step into a leadership role without stepping out of yourself, and you can be true to yourself and lead in a different way that is still valuable. Sharing my vulnerabilities, admitting what I don’t know, and being genuinely ‘me’ has strengthened relationships, dismantled hierarchy and helped others feel safe to be real too.
R – Relationships (+ Boundaries): The Gravity that Holds Everything Together
Relationships are the heartbeat of leadership. This year has been full of coffees/wines, conversations, partnerships and human moments that have shaped our direction as a branch and my roles outside of ACEL. But over the year, I’ve also needed to learn the importance of boundaries by protecting my time, energy and space through saying ‘No’ so that I can show up fully for the work that matters most. I often talk about being both ‘Warm + Demanding’ (having high expectations matched with high levels of care) and I whole-heartedly believe that we need to be both of these things to be an effective leader and to create a culture that thrives.
K – Kindness (with Clarity): The Twin Stars of Compassion and Accountability
As I shared in a recent newsletter, this year has highlighted the difference between “being nice” and “being kind.” As Brené Brown wisely shares, “Clear is kind. Unclear is unkind.” I have been working to be a kind leader who steps up into challenging moments, rather than a nice leader who avoids discomfort. This simple truth has shaped how I’ve communicated with our members, partnered with our committee, and navigated the complexities that come with leadership in my various roles, and life more generally.
L – Learnership: The Moving Star
My doctoral research, ACEL book clubs, our Hot Topics, Innovation Networks, conferences, and the everyday experience of listening, learning and leading with exceptional educators have reminded me of something powerful: The best leaders are the best learners. We need to lead with curiosity, humility and a focus on growth as we can always do things better and a spirit of learnership keeps leadership alive and relevant.
E – Empowerment: The Star That Helps Others Shine
Perhaps the most joyful part of this year has been supporting and celebrating others. Empowerment has meant stepping back so others can step forward, building capacity rather than dependence, trusting people to grow and resisting the urge to rescue. This year has reminded me that leadership is collective work, not individual output, and we simply cannot do this important work alone.
S – Spark Moments of Joy! The Twinkle
Even in the busiest times when my calendar has been flooded with events (award nights, school visits, planning days, member events, newsletters to write!) joy has been essential. Tracey Ezard often speaks of ‘joy bubbles’, and it’s in the most stressful moments when we are feeling buried in things to do and our capacity to act doesn’t feel matched to the tasks at hand that we need to look for joy bubbles. We need to relish moments of laughter and connection, share stories, celebrate wins, and take moments to breathe and just absorb the sunshine. These are not “extras”; they are vital nourishment for the most important work we do.
A Year of SPARKLE
Looking back, this year has been a constellation of moments; bright points of connection, challenge, courage, learning and hope. Together, they have formed a clearer picture of who I am becoming as a leader and what I want to contribute to ACEL WA in 2026. My greatest takeaway from this first year is a strengthened conviction of my belief that ‘there is room for everyone to sparkle’.
And moving forward into the new year my commitment is simple: Shine with purpose, lead with heart, create space for others to sparkle. And continue building a leadership community in WA where authenticity, courage, joy and collective growth are not the exceptions, they are the norm.
Thank you for being part of my first year. I can’t wait to see what we create together next.
COMPNOW PRIZE
At our recent Awards evening, the fabulous team from Compnow not only supported the evening, they also offered an amazing HP laptop prize to one of the attendees. I want to wish a BIG congratulations to Ray Rose from Iona Presentation College for being the lucky recipient of this prize. We love being partnered with Compnow and look forward to working together with Al, Farryl, Laura and Kate in 2026 and beyond!
THANK YOU TO OUR WA EXECUTIVE TEAM
Recently, our executive team (sadly sans Ray and Vince) enjoyed a day of BBQ, bowls and banter as a lovely way to wind up a year of leading and learning together as the ACEL WA executive branch. I want to give a shout out to them all; an amazing team of passionate and dedicated leaders who give so much time, on top of their already hectic day jobs, to organise all the events for ACEL here in WA. It was a real joy to just unwind and relax together and celebrate an excellent year!
Thank you to Vince Bellini, Ray Boyd, Phil Collins, Carol Daniels, Tamara Doig, Eleanor Hughes, Krystal McKnight, Kathryn Netherwood, Jette Oksis, Gary Racey and Maree Whiteley for your support and leadership this past year. The WA branch of ACEL Australia is made up of an incredible group of superstars and it’s a privilege to work with you all! 🤩
JANUARY ACEL WA LEADERSHIP BOOK CLUB
As has become our tradition, we will have our next ACEL WA Book Club session during the January holiday break on Thursday 22nd January 2026 at 10am-12pm (venue TBA). I have yet to send out the survey to choose our next book, so if any interested readers could let me know via the below link which book you would love to make part of your holiday reading schedule. I will keep the survey open until Saturday 6th December, and then will share via email and social media our choice.
Book Selection for January Book Club – Fill out form
New ACEL WA Members
As we round out the 2025 year, we celebrate that our membership in WA continues to grow and we heartily welcome the below new (or reinstated) members of ACEL. We look forward to connecting with you at an event in 2026.
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Lisa Corbett, Iona Presentation College
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Maree Whiteley, Bloom – The Centre for Youth Innovation
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Keralee Radi, Guildford Grammar School
ACEL WA Executive Team Spotlight – VINCE BELLINI
This month our ACEL WA executive member spotlight shines on our final team member, Vince Bellini, who is the Principal of Our Lady of Mercy College. Vince is a valued member of our ACEL WA executive team, and he helps brings a regional Catholic education lens to our team. Vince exemplifies his favourite quote in all he does, being open to both learn from others and lead as needed. [“I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.” - St Teresa of Calcutta]
Vince’s profile is below for you to learn a little bit about his varied teaching and leadership experience, along with his vision for the future of education and recommended reads.
I wish you all the strength to make it through these last few weeks of the year in your roles, wherever you lead and learn. Relish the moments of celebration and take time to acknowledge how hard you have worked and the difference you make. And, when the holiday break arrives, lap up every joyful moment of relaxation and rejuvenation and have the most merry of festive seasons.
I am reachable by email if you have any questions, comments or just want to connect.
Rachael Lehr
ACEL WA Branch President