There is always a sense of hope and optimism in beginning a new year. Perhaps this is found in the inspiration we draw from each other, our colleagues, and our students in both reflection and recognition of progress as we look to the year ahead.
We are fortunate for the leadership legacy of those in our profession who we have had the privilege of learning with and from. In particular, as the Australian Council for Educational Leaders, we thank Dr Briony Scott for her sustained, considered and truly inspirational leadership. A remarkable tenure as President for ACEL, we thank Dr Scott for her stories, humility, intellect and thoughts shared. For her encouragement and resolve to challenge for better, a significant contribution that sees us in an enviable position to continue to have such a positive impact on the future landscape of education.
As the Australian Council for Educational Leaders, we are a community of educators, in the broadest sense possible. We represent the entire ecosystem that is education, from across all sectors and all spheres of education, from early childhood, school to tertiary settings. We have clarity on our purpose; to support, develop and strengthen educational leadership in current and future leaders across Australia and beyond. Our vision: to influence educational thinking contributing to a vibrant professional learning community, founded on a shared commitment to improve the quality of learning for all. It is a vision for a future that encourages educators to take action, embrace challenge, and have the agility to navigate the shifting landscape of our future. Our strength lies in the diversity of membership across branches in each State and Territory. We are thankful to those people who provide connection for educators through thought-provoking conferences, workshops, leadership programs, in-house publications, and online resources. During this year we look forward to learning with emerging leaders, strengthening and expanding networks whilst creating capacity to stimulate thinking, policy and practice.
In this first edition of AEL for 2025 we consider aspects of “Future Leadership.” Leadership is the ultimate team exercise, one of connection, community and compassion. The words, future leadership, are a prompt to consider the profoundly human nature of our profession, whereby we lead to elevate human potential. Future leadership understands human motivation, interaction and performance. It is characterised by emotional intelligence, diverse thinking, values-led strategic planning, strong ethical frameworks, reflection and purposeful goals. It is the leadership of self and others, in order to create environments that equip, enable and empower diverse individuals, teams and systems. It is a contribution that ensures a purposeful education so every child has the opportunity to make informed choices about who they want to be, what they want to do, and where they want to go.
In considering sub-themes of future leadership we may ask:
-
How has our understanding of leadership evolved in recent years?
-
If leadership is an action or series of behaviours, not a formal role or position, what can we learn from leveraging the diversity that exists in teams?
-
For those in formal positions as emerging or middle leaders, how will we understand the uniqueness of these positions with relevance in professional learning offerings?
-
Sustainability of leadership in our profession is inextricably linked to wellbeing, how then will we continue to establish cultures that value and normalise respectful and positive relationships?
Future leadership also understands the importance of storytelling as a timeless and transformative tool that bridges the gap between information and action. Our construction of the public narrative (the story we tell ourselves, about ourselves) of education and educators is fundamental to any possibility of positively influencing the narrative of our profession as reinforced in society. With narratives created around individual schools and institutions remaining a prominent feature in all forms of media, rather than focusing on individual schools, how might we consider a narrative that explores our profession as a collective? One that is informed, promoting positivity and unity without the need for uniformity. What are the stories that we tell, share, affirm and encourage?
Future leadership provides for the fundamental need of humans to feel safe and belong. Owen Eastwood, in his book, “Belonging: The Ancient Code of Togetherness” (2021), writes
... for we have had passed down to us a culture that immerses us in deep belonging. We feel safe and respected. We share beliefs and a sense of identity with those around us and this anchors us. We share a purpose with them. We share a vision of the future. Rituals and traditions tie us together. The experiences and wisdom of those who walked in the light before our time are passed onto us. (p. 19)
As the current custodians of our profession, it is our actions and words that enable each other to belong. The future leadership of education is the responsibility of each of us. Regardless of which sector or system, we all belong to the noble and very human profession of education. Let us support, believe in, and encourage each other creating our narrative of positivity with strength in community.
On behalf of our ACEL community, we trust that this issue of AEL provides moments of insight and reflection.
Reference
Eastwood, O. (2021). Belonging: The ancient code of togetherness. Quercus Books