I’m pleased to have launched a statewide program in partnership with Qld Assn State School Principals (QASSP) for 2025. Staff and leader well-being are obviously key issues in schools. We have partnered to offer high quality leader and staff professional development in all QASSP branches across Queensland in term 1 2025. Whilst it isn’t the leader’s job to ‘fix’ staff well-being, leadership is important and does have a significant impact.…

I’m a great fan of the work of Simon Sinek. He gained widespread recognition with his 2009 TED Talk, "How Great Leaders Inspire Action," which became one of the most viewed TED Talks of all time. He is best known for his best-selling book, "Start with Why." In it, Sinek advocates starting with the question "Why?" to inspire innovation and purpose-driven leadership. His work has influenced leaders across industries, helping them foster trust,…

We are excited to launch a NEW look for the Happy School articles. The refresh makes the articles MORE eye-catching and even EASIER to read. They are still ONLY ONE PAGE as we know staff in schools are busy and need high quality and relevant information in an easy-to-consume format. To celebrate the launch, we are offering a mega giveaway! One lucky winner can score their choice of; 12 months…

2024 has been another massive year for school leaders. The end of term break can’t arrive quickly enough. Hang in there! It is vital that school leaders take the opportunity to take a break, disconnect and do whatever they need to do to recharge their batteries and fill their cups. Here are 10 things school leaders should do to improve their own well-being during the coming break. Take responsibility for…

Competition for Superstar teachers has never been hotter! In today’s educational landscape, school leaders face the dual challenge of not only attracting and recruiting top-tier teaching talent but also retaining these educators, particularly those with leadership aspirations. As the educational environment evolves, so too must the strategies used to build and maintain a strong teaching staff. It’s important to position your school as an employer of choice. Here are some…

Leadership in schools has never been more important. The impact of a school leadership team is well researched and is evident to every teacher in the school.Highly effective School Leadership Teams have an impact on student learning outcomes through building a positive School Culture. It is vital that School Leadership Teams are effective and aligned. Is your school leadership team effective? Do you know your teams strengths and areas for…

Your automatic, habitual response when people ask, “How are you?” is a telltale indicator of your attitude and energy. I was fortunate to hear Patricia Cameron-Hill present at a Principals conference many years ago. At that time, the most common responses were, “Not bad!” or “I’ve been worse!” Neither of these show a positive upbeat and optimistic attitude. Cameron-Hill recommended changing your auto response to something more upbeat and optimistic. Whilst she recommended saying,  “TURBO CHARGED!”…

Leading change is one of the key roles of leaders as we constantly look to implement school improvement strategies in our school. Our ability to lead a change process has a significant impact on our effectiveness as a leader, the stress levels of our staff and the likelihood that the change will be successful. Try to avoid the following 7 Sins of Leading Change. Announcing the change is NOT the…

Teachers know Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is important in the classroom. We understand that addressing students' needs at the base level is important to enable them to progress to higher levels of motivation. This leads to more progress and development. I really like the work of Dr Brad Johnson in applying this psychological theory to teachers as well. This hierarchy of needs really resonates with me. Alarm bells start ringing when…

Now more than ever, your staff needs you to be positive and upbeat as they come to the end of the term. The leader’s attitude is contagious and your staff need you to give them some energy (and love) at this time of the year. Nelson Mandela is attributed with the saying, “Be the Change You Want to See in the World!” If you want to see your team finishing the term…

WARNING This is probably NOT politically correct but it is still good advice. Last week I really enjoyed presenting a keynote at the Qld Secondary Principals’ Association state conference at the Hilton Hotel in Brisbane. The set up was awesome! At the conference Principal Lou Oberholzer provided some feedback that one of the videos in our School Leadership Sprints series had really resonated with his leadership team. The video highlighted…

Clearly it is tough working in schools. Staff shortages, tight budget, student and staff well-being and mental health are massive issues that make the work of leaders more important than ever. Leaders set the tone in a school through their attitude and their actions. It is important to resist the temptation to ‘pile on’ to the negative messages. As difficult as it is, staff need leaders to be calm, supportive…

(no it’s not on PISA!) I’m a proud Aussie. I love our lifestyle, our “can do” attitude and how we bat above our averages in many, many areas. For example, I am looking forward to the Olympics to see some awesome performances by some great aussie athletes. I am confident that we will achieve great results for a relatively small population. There is no way Australia will rank 140th on…

The vast majority of people believe that things are getting worse, not better. People everywhere think the world is more frightening, more violent and more hopeless – in short, more dramatic – than it really is. This belief is fueled by the news media. Contrary to this popular belief, the World is actually getting better. Despite what the media would have us believe, we have reason to be optimistic. Step-by-step, year-by-year, the world is improving. Not on every single measure, every single…

Resoundingly the answer is a very strong “NO!” In the bustling halls of schools nationwide, an essential ingredient often overlooked in the pursuit of academic excellence is the element of fun. While the focus on rigorous learning is crucial, integrating joy and playfulness into the school environment can significantly enhance the overall educational experience. It's time for school principals and other leaders to lead the charge in fostering a culture…

There are many expectations placed on school leaders. Setting the direction. Supporting staff. Managing student behaviour. Dealing with unhappy parents. Managing the budget. Recruiting great staff (a heartbeat is a good start in the current environment). I believe the following quote from Kenneth Leithwood captures a key area. Leaders provide the direction and create the environment that promotes good teaching and consistency across the school. I would argue that all students in a school…

I am blown away by the hype surrounding Taylor Swift. The interest in this year’s Super Bowl, her potential influence on U.S. politics and the impact on the Australian economy (60 additional flights from Brisbane to Sydney) to name just a few examples. Here are some leadership tips inspired by Taylor. Embrace Change: Taylor Swift is known for reinventing herself with every album release. As a school leader, embrace change and…

The core principle of the 80/20 rule states that roughly 80% of your outputs come from 20% of your inputs. This can be applied to various aspects of life. If you owned a business, 80% of your sales come from 20% of your customers. 80% of food ordered at a restaurant comes from 20% of the items on the menu. 80% of your results at work come from 20% of…

Attached are FIVE resources to support brand-new graduates in their first five weeks. The resources come from our brand NEW Happy Teacher - Early Career program. This advice is for FIRST year graduates. We also have specific advice for early career teachers in their 2nd and 3rd years as well.  Simply click to download each resource. 1 Congratulations On Becoming A Teacher 2 Setting Up For Success 3 The Keep it Simple Guide to Classroom Management 4 Plan For…

We all know that term 4 is ballistic! It is always a hectic time of the school year and we are inevitably running low on reserves. However, saying or doing something dumb in term 4 wipes out all of the good work that you have done throughout the year. The mantra of all staff in schools, especially leaders, needs to be FINISH STRONG! Attitudes are contagious, especially the leaders. If…