ACEL WA August Newsletter
Well, I hope this email finds you staying warm with this chilly start to Term 3!
This month, I have decided to share with you some tips I offered a colleague who was starting in a new school leadership role recently (a massive congratulations to them for this!). They wanted some advice to support them in taking on this new leadership role, and I thought it may be helpful to share with others; whether you're just beginning your leadership journey, have been leading for a while, or are supporting others who are starting their journey, these reflections from my own leadership journey (expanded on below) might serve as timely encouragements.
Stepping into School Leadership: Reflections and Reminders
I have found that when life asks you to step up and lead, it often also asks you to step well outside out of your comfort zone and launch into the unknown. Embrace the uncertainty, the self-doubt, and those inevitable moments of ‘imposter syndrome’ - that is quite ‘normal’ and not a sign that you’re failing, but a sign that you’re growing. My office has a letter board with a quote on it, stating that ‘The truth is, everyone is winging it!’ which heartens me often.
Be Authentically You
Be yourself and believe in yourself. Remember, YOU deserve to be there and YOU were chosen to be there - for your values, your voice, and your unique approach. Believe in that and allow it to assist you to lead with authenticity and integrity. The most powerful leadership comes from being real and genuine, not from trying to be someone you’re not or to try to be like the leader you admire.
Set Boundaries Early
Set clear boundaries from from the start to protect your time and energy (and even sanity!). Learn to say ‘no’ because empowering others doesn’t mean doing everything for them - something I have taken too long to learn. You don’t get a medal for still being at work at 7pm and you’ll be surprised how little people mind when you set limits respectfully and say ‘no’. Make sure you have times where you ‘switch off’ i.e. not checking emails after a certain time of day to maintain a semblance of balance.
Relationships, Relationships, Relationships!
Relationships are the heartbeat of school culture and the relationships you build as a leader are vital to your success. Be warm, approachable, and interested in others, showing that you care; but, at the same time, remember you’re a leader, not their friend (this can be a tricky lesson to learn as a new leader). These clear professional boundaries and established relationships can help if, or when, challenging conversations arise. Also, connect with everyone, not just teaching staff and students, but the front office team, cleaners, gardeners, parents and the broader community. These connections will be important and the relationships will matter more than you know.
Clarify Roles from the Start
If you’re working in a team (especially with multiple leaders with distinct roles), get clear on who is responsible for what and what your role entails. Then communicate this clearly to the whole team. It helps prevent confusion, protect relationships, and avoid unnecessary drama as lack of role clarity can lead to many challenges.
Be Honest About Your Growth
Don’t forget that you don’t need to have all the answers. Lean into vulnerability as this builds trust - be willing to say, “I don’t know… yet.” Own up to your mistakes and ask for help if you need it, as the only silly question is the one you don’t ask. Share what you’re learning as you make mistakes – because you will! And find a mentor or sounding board, whether in your school or elsewhere, it’s invaluable to have someone who ‘gets it’.
Hold True to Your Educational Philosophy
Leadership will test your values so stay grounded in your beliefs about what matters most for students. If you’re ever asked to lead something that doesn’t align with your principles, it’s okay to question whether the role is the right fit. Life’s too short to lead in ways that don’t bring you joy.
Know Your Students
Make it your mission to learn the names of every student. It won’t happen overnight, but it’s worth the effort. Use photo class lists, be visible at the school gate, and spend time in classrooms. These moments matter to students, and to you.
Lead Coaching with Connection
If you’re in a coaching or mentoring role, start by building relationships and trust first. It is about connection before coaching. Spend time in classrooms, observe without judgement, and offer genuine praise. When people feel seen and valued, they’re more open to feedback and growth as part of the coaching process.
Be Present in the Everyday Moments
Try to eat lunch or have a cuppa with staff in the staffroom regularly. Go out on duty and chat with students on the oval. These informal moments help build culture and connection more than any meeting ever could.
Look for the Joy Bubbles
Leadership is rewarding, but it’s also demanding. In the chaos, find small moments of joy, those tiny reminders of why we do what we do. Breathe. Laugh. Soak in the wins.
You’ve got this. You were made for this. And you’re not alone.
REGISTER NOW
October ACEL WA Book Club – Restoring Teaching by Adam Voigt
Restoring Teaching 2.0: How Working Restoratively Unleashes the Teacher Within by Adam Voigt
Are you ready to reimagine what it means to be an educator today?
Join us for our next Australian Council for Educational Leaders WA Branch Book Club, where we’ll dive into Restoring Teaching 2.0, a bold, refreshing call to restore the power, pride and purpose of our profession.
Written by former principal and education reformer Adam Voigt, this book is part manifesto and part practical guide for reclaiming teaching through restorative practices that are relational, real and deeply human.
Whether you're looking for fresh inspiration, practical strategies, or just a space to talk real talk about what it means to teach today, read this book (or part of it!) and join the ACEL WA team and other educators for an Educational Leadership Book Club discussion.
📅 Thursday 9th October 2025
🕒 10:00am to 12:00pm
📍In-person (Urbi, 13 Aberdeen St, Perth) or online via Teams
Steps:
1. Get your free e-book copy of ‘Restoring Teaching’ by Adam Voigt.
2. Read the book (or part of the book) before we meet.
3. Let us know you can join us via the ACEL WA website.
4. Join other educational leaders for collegial conversation and connection.
SAVE THE DATE: TERM 3
Pop these dates on your calendar and keep an eye out for more details of these awesome events coming soon…
• Hot Topic – AI: Beyond the Hype – Real Conversations on AI in Schools; Wednesday 3rd September; 5-7pm Venue and speakers TBC
• Innovation in Education Network Meetup – this has been postponed until Thursday November 6th: time, venue and speakers TBC
NEW ACEL WA MEMBERS
As usual, we want to extend a very warm welcome to our new (or reinstated) ACEL members in WA who joined this past month - we look forward to connecting with you during the rest of the year and hope to see you at an event soon!
• Gavin Nancarrow, Fairbridge WA Incorporated
• Lana Swanepoel, Peter Moyes Anglican Community School
• Jon Butcher, Bold Park Community School
• Mark Ashby, Kennedy Baptist College
• John Stewart, St Mark’s Anglican Community School
• Hilary Saunders, Leadership Institute, Department of Education WA
• Kathryn Netherwood, Edith Cowan University
ACEL WA EXECUTIVE TEAM SPOTLIGHT – PHIL COLLINS
This month our ACEL WA executive member spotlight shines on Phil Collins who is a Manager of Curriculum and Improvement at AISWA. Phil’s profile is below for you to learn a little bit about him and he has shared his thoughts on Balancing the Load: The Promise of Reflective Practice and Executive Coaching in School Leadership in a blog post in our Member’s Lounge. Please comment on his article and answer his provocations to open up a conversation on this important topic. You may wish to connect with Phil also via his LinkedIn profile.
We hope to see you at our Hot Topic AI Conversations event later this term, and our Book Club on the holiday break. Also, it will be great to connect at the National Conference for those of you making their way there for this amazing event. If you haven’t registered yet, go to the website to check out the incredible line up!
I am reachable by email if you have any questions, comments or just want to connect.
Also, you can connect with us at ACEL WA via:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/98840083/admin/dashboard/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ACELWesternAustralia
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acel_wa/
• Twitter: https://x.com/ACELWA
Rachael Lehr
ACEL WA Branch President