Principals and other school leaders have a responsibility to help each other to grow professionally, and education becomes much more effective when this happens purposefully. It should happen at a local level as well as at a regional, Territory, State, national and international level!
One of the most enjoyable ways of helping each other grow professionally is at the local level, assuming that one is in a location where contact is possible with other principals. I have been the principal of two high schools in country towns and in both places I have formed collegial groups with district principals. The first one was at Tumut in the South West Slopes of New South Wales. Four secondary school principals from four towns and 14 primary principals joined together as a mutually supportive group in 1990, firstly for social reasons but out of that grew significant professional sharing. My second collegial group was formed in 2001 when I became the principal at Moss Vale High School, in the Southern Highlands of NSW. This group was based on my school and the 10 partner primary schools. This also started for socially supportive reasons but grew into an effective professional group. The sharing of professional development days also brought teachers together and allowed for learning activities to be developed across the primary/secondary boundary. Although I am no longer the principal at Moss Vale, I am still in contact with my local colleagues and share professional publications.
A growth area in NSW in recent years has been the development of learning communities or communities of schools. Many of these have grown out of principals forming their collegial groups, and this has led to the realisation that many educational benefits can result from schools working together. The NSW Secondary Principals’ Council has been instrumental in supporting the growth of these communities, and the NSW Department of Education and Training has also given support to their formation. So school leaders at the local level can help each other to grow professionally this way while improving the educational provision in their area.
Regional activities also enable principals to help each other to grow professionally. In NSW, the Secondary Principals’ Council has ten regional groupings, and these meet once a term in various locations. The principals determine their agenda for each day, and this includes SPC business sessions as well as professional learning activities and workshops. New principals really benefit from the support this provides, and they are encouraged to take on roles within the group so that they can contribute, not just be passive participants. I have seen really wonderful friendships grow out of these meetings, and school leaders can develop professional ‘buddies’ as a result (someone you can ring in confidence when you need advice, when you have stuffed up or when you just want to download – something you can’t do in your school).
The advice I would like to give new school principals is to involve yourself in your State or Territory’s principals’ professional association as soon as you become a principal. Don’t wait until you feel that you have settled into the role; do it immediately. This way you will receive the support of other principals, the opportunity to reflect on your own practices, and ideas on how to access professional development, but you will also be able to contribute to the professional growth of your colleagues – you don’t have to be an experienced expert principal to do this.
The professional development activities created by principals for principals can be amongst the most effective, and they give the opportunity for principals to grow together in the profession. The NSW SPC conducts state-based programs every term, as well as an annual conference, and these are always highly-rated by participants for their value (other states and territories have similar ones). The thing that stands out from these is that they generally involve workshops conducted by principals, using their knowledge, experience and expertise, and all school leaders can contribute to these. Participating can very quickly lead to contributing, and doing so ensures the satisfaction that comes from helping with the professional growth of others.
Being part of the governance of a principals’ association also gives an opportunity to help others. Frequently this occurs when a colleague taps one on the shoulder and seeks a volunteer for a role; occasionally positions can be hotly contested. Either way, taking on a function with a policy development group, leading a reference group, liaising with the bureaucracy or a minister, standing for elected office and so on are all significant ways to help the growth of fellow leaders.
Leadership associations are another avenue that enables school leaders to assist with professional growth. I can particularly recommend the Australian College of Educators (ACE) and the Australian College of Educational Leaders (ACEL). Both of these conduct a range of professional development programs and conferences at local, state and national level, and they encourage school leaders to contribute to their activities and their publications. ‘Principal Matters’ is a great publication, and school leaders can help other by writing articles that contribute to professional knowledge.
National associations such as the Australian Secondary Principals’ Association (ASPA) also play an important role for school leaders. Principals can contribute to ASPA through being on its executive, attending the annual delegates meeting and annual general meeting, or attending the annual conference (it is held in a different state or territory every year). School leaders are able to design workshops for these conferences and so help other principals. ASPA is currently forming ‘virtual’ reference groups, with representatives from across the country joining together using the latest technologies to develop policy positions to support the profession in important areas such as Aboriginal education and rural education. The ASPA website is one of the best education ones. Go to www.aspa.asn.au. The conference pages are first class!
School leaders need not be limited by their imagination or by national borders. The International Confederation of Principals conducts a biennial convention (last held in Australia in 1995, 2007 was in Auckland, and next year’s is in Singapore) and this gives principals the chance to meet up with a couple of thousand like-minded people from all parts of the globe. It’s a great time to learn from each other, and there are always opportunities to contribute. Check out the ICP website at www.icponline.org.
So, no matter what your school leadership position is, or how long you have been in it, there are many ways you can contribute to the professional growth of others. Now, go ahead and do it!
Discuss presentationABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mr Jim McAlpine is President, NSW Secondary Principals' Council &
Deputy President, Australian Secondary Principals' Association.