Case Studies

A group of primary principals wanted an external facilitator for the process of endorsing their professional practice certificates.  In their extremely busy and often stressful role, attending to this obligation was just another pressure. They needed something simple but robust, aligned with other leadership priorities, and delivered by an experienced facilitator with senior school leadership experience. The Ahead Associates model was a good fit.  The self-selected group meets off-site once per term for a two-hour session.  The session is designed and facilitated to include elements of:

• Professional networking with trusted colleagues
• Professional knowledge: consideration of current or emerging leadership issues in education – researched by the facilitator according to relevance and preferences of the group
• Peer group mentoring of the individual annual Professional Growth Cycle of each principal – signed off by an endorser colleague in the last session of the year.

These principals appreciated such a ‘hassle-free’ approach to the process. It allows them to connect meaningfully with their professional colleagues while ensuring they meet the endorsement requirements of the Teaching Council.

A principal of a neighbourhood high school was finding her leadership role exciting and rewarding, but also demanding and lonely. A principal is on their own when it comes shouldering responsibility.

While she had a positive relationship with the Board Chair, and networked with several other principals, she was looking for professional support that was separate from the day-to-day engagement with colleagues.

Now, mentoring has become part of this principal's problem-solving and decision-making process, and she also links the mentoring conversations to her own professional growth cycle reflections.