Category Archives: school administration

Don’t take yourself too seriously!

Posted on June 28, 2016 by mwalker

Each year the students set the school leadership a dare challenge if they raised significant funds for the school in the annual walkathon. I was reminded of this when I stumbled on the photo of one challenge they set me … Continue reading →

Posted in Leadership, school, school administration | 16 Comments

The Wounded Leader

Posted on May 31, 2016 by mwalker

Recently I recalled a book I read a few ago called The Wounded Leader by Ackerman and Maslin-Ostrowski. In the book they suggest schools have leadership resistant architecture typically “the conspiracy of busyness: where there is little time for leaders to … Continue reading →

Posted in China, professional learning, reflections, school administration, Sister School, Uncategorized | 13 Comments

Prioritising your workload

Posted on February 29, 2016 by mwalker

I recently read a short article in the January ASCD “education update” by Elena Hegland, an English teacher in New York, on the topic of prioritising work. It got me thinking about principal’s priorities. Elena lists her top 5 priorities as Student … Continue reading →

Posted in reflections, school administration, Teaching, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Is the metaphor a leader is like a parent valid?

Posted on April 13, 2015 by mwalker

I have been contemplating a leadership metaphor used by Simon Sinek on a recent Ted Talk: “great leaders are like parents wanting to give their children (employees) opportunities to try and fail in safe ways and to discipline when necessary”. … Continue reading →

Posted in Assessment, school administration, Teaching | 1 Comment

Speaking at the Monday School Assembly: A Principal’s Message.

Posted on March 2, 2015 by mwalker

First of all I should say I’m invited by our year 6 leaders who run the weekly assembly to speak. I’m allotted about 5-6 minutes in a busy 25 minute program that has students singing the national anthem, reciting the welcome … Continue reading →

Posted in school, school administration | 1 Comment

Data Stars

Posted on August 11, 2013 by mwalker

At a recent staff meeting we were busy celebrating some new data which showed improved student learning results for the first semester this year. This clip shows a small part of those celebrations and I think the importance of humour.

Posted in Assessment, Data Wise Program, Leadership, school administration, Video Clips | 4 Comments

Recruitment Videos

Posted on January 3, 2013 by mwalker

I got this clip on the best and the worst of recruitment videos and thought if I made a clip about recruitment at school what might it contain (the challenge and reward of the ahh moment in teaching, the support … Continue reading →

Posted in school administration | Leave a comment