|
Background
There is an abundance of research both at a national and international level that describes the need for succession planning to ensure the effective leadership of schools. Many jurisdictions, including all Australian states are experiencing downward trends in those seeking promotional positions within the school sector. Zellner, et. al indicate that: ”In an era when confidence in public education is falling, recruitment for school leadership roles is becoming more difficult”.
Sachs’ and Blackmore’s research (2004) outlines that in the period 1995-2003 the “right” people are not applying for principals positions in Australian schools. This pattern is also widespread in the USA and New Zealand both of whom have introduced structured and comprehensive Principal preparation programs and ongoing professional developmental support for the life cycle of the principalship.
This project, which aims to address the learning / leadership development needs and support of aspiring principals in Queensland schools and as such begin to address some of the aforementioned issues is a collaboration between Eidos Partners - 6 Queensland Universities (Queensland University of Technology, University of Southern Queensland, & Griffith University with support from James Cook University, Sunshine Coast University and Central Queensland University); 3 private sector consultants, and the schools of Queensland through their representative organisations such as Queensland Association of State School Principals and the Australian Council of Educational Leaders.
All contributing universities are experienced developers and deliverers of post-graduate educational programs including leadership, management and mentoring programs specifically designed for teachers and principals. The consultants nominated as facilitators for the program are highly experienced and regarded across the public sector for their capability; and each have extensive backgrounds in the education arena.
Project Concept
The concept of this project is to research, design, develop and deliver a learning experience that develops the leadership capability of aspiring leaders and supports a mentoring culture across the Department. The Enhancing Leadership for the Future (ELF) project provides development opportunities for a group of aspiring principals from Education Queensland and develops the mentoring capability amongst experienced principals. Through its e-learning modules it enables any staff member of EQ to gain increased leadership capacity and capability. Promotion of articulation pathways into post-graduate study will be established through this program in negotiation with participating universities and thus provide a linear program of higher education and professional development for participants.
The project is designed around a lead agency/project management approach that will facilitate a process of consultation with a project steering committee and specific working parties in order to not only ensure that the best information available informs the process and deliverables of the project, but that the best personnel available from the collective partners are utilized according to their areas of specialty.
In this way, the customer can be assured that in all 5 stages of the project, the best intellectual capital and experience are being sourced and utilized from across all partners in the project.
By taking a collaborative / lead agency approach through the Centre for Leadership and Management – the customer will have one point of contact for all communication and invoicing. All accountability for achieving milestones will be through the Project Manager, CLME reporting to the Steering Committee. All invoicing, expenditure and payments to partners will be transparent and approved by the steering committee. All programs and products will be developed through the Steering Committee and working parties according to need at each stage of the project. The lead agency/project management approach will also provide members of the steering committee and partners with a central point of contact and organization although the project itself will be delivered through a decentralized model. The DEA designated project officer will be invited to be involved at all levels of the project.
Project Team
Project Team members include:
- Associate Professor Brian Delahaye (Queensland University of Technology)
- Dr Sarojni Choy (Queensland University of Technology)
- Dr Lisa Ehrich (Queensland University of Technology)
- Dr Tricia Fox (Queensland University of Technology)
- Professor Frank Crowther (University of Southern Queensland)
- Dr Dorothy Andrews (University of Southern Queensland)
- Dr Marion Lewis (University of Southern Queensland)
- Dr Liz Mellish (Mellish & Associates)
- Ms Sue Shaw (Ibis Consulting)
- Ms Julia Zimmerman (Zimmerman Consulting)
- Professor James Skinner (Griffith University)
- Professor Richard Bagnall (Griffith University)
- Professor Neil Dempster (Griffith University)
- Professor Peter Renshaw (Griffith University)
- Associate Professor Debra Hayes (Griffith University)
- Dr Sue Thomas (Griffith University)
- Ms Ruth Gatehouse (Griffith University)
- Mr Jim Tunstall (Griffith University)
- Dr Phil Bretherton (Central Queensland University)
- Professor Rob Gilbert (James Cook University)
- Dr Jennifer Nayler (University of the Sunshine Coast)
- Professor Claire Wyatt-Smith (Griffith University)
|
