President's Message

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President’s Message

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Dear Colleagues

As Term 1 draws to a close, I hope that all has gone well for you and your community as we step our way through the pandemic towards greater new “normalcy”.

I am sure there has been much happening recently in your community to acknowledge the compassion and pain of Christ’s sacrifice, culminating in the new life that Easter brings, with  celebrations of the Easter season. I hope you and your community have been able to celebrate Easter and its true meaning for us as people of hope.

At the end of March our CaSPA Treasurer and Director, Frank Pisano, completed his tenure on the Board. Frank has served the CaSPA Board and his Tasmanian Principal Association (CaSPA Tas) with great commitment, service, integrity, leadership, innovation  and passion. On behalf of the Board, I thank Frank for his five years of dedication and wish him and his family every happiness in the future.

In farewelling Frank, I would also like to take the opportunity to welcome Craig Deayton, an experienced leading Principal from CaSPA Tasmania, to the CaSPA Board. This will be Craig’s second time on the Board and I thank him for taking on the Director role again.

Recently, you would have received an email regarding the launch of the Coalition of Australian Principals (CAP) publication “Broadcast”. This is an exciting step forward for CAP as a united voice for all Principals in Australia. I hope you will be able to find time to register and read the articles. In the future there will be a publication of Broadcast each term. Please use this link to access the first publication. https://broadcast.schooltv.me

Another project involves AITSL Red Tape Review, which entails developing a Toolkit. This will be to initially consult with school leaders on elements of the UK’s Toolkit and what it would look like in an Australian context. This phase of consultation will address the processes and practices within schools that take time away from teaching and learning and is relevant to Australian schools. AITSL is planning to contact Principal Associations for input and gathering interested parties.

An interesting study on Principals and their impact on whole school learning was recently published – I thought you might find this worthwhile to consider.

“Across six rigorous studies estimating principals’ effects using panel data, principals’ contributions to student achievement were nearly as large as the average effects of teachers identified in similar studies. Principals’ effects, however, are larger in scope because they are averaged over all students in a school, rather than a classroom…………….. Principals Do Matter. Indeed, it is difficult to envision an investment in K–12 education with a higher ceiling on its potential return than improving school leadership.” (How Principals Affect Students and Schools - A Systematic Synthesis of Two Decades of Research  Jason A. Grissom, Anna J. Egalite, Constance A. Lindsay,2021,Wallace Foundation)

Initial Teacher Education is always high on our agenda, and currently the terms of reference for a National Review by DESE, under  Federal Minister Tudge, are being constructed and feedback sought. Issues suggested to address in the terms of reference include:

  • Attracting high-performing students to the profession
  • Admissions, degree requirements and recognition of prior experience, particularly pertaining to attracting people from other fields
  • ITE Completion Rates
  • Increasing diversity in the profession and workforce supply
  • Ensuring ITE Providers are evidence based and the course accreditation offers education students better practical placements and better readiness for the classroom, utilising Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers (HALTs) effectively

The review will commence April 2021 and will be delivered to the Minister for Education by the end of October 2021. Any comments re the terms of reference should be forwarded by Friday 9 April to Jessica.Mohr@dese.gov.au.

All of you would be familiar with 2021 Australian Of The Year, Grace Tame. During the week Griffith University hosted an interview of Kerry O’Brien with Grace, and it was excellent to be able to join online. Kerry O’Brien was very sensitive, but cleverly explorative in his questioning, to empower Grace to speak so openly about her experience, its individual and societal impact. Grace spoke of the power of the predator and how  “ the predator makes you feel responsible and deserve the pain, instilling self -hatred, so that the patterns of abuse and violence would continue”. She also expressed that to heal it is important to “lean into the love around you”. Grace advocated for the 19 Dominoes theory of leading change and effects. Kerry spoke of the current change that is occurring, as accentuated through the political arena. Grace responded in discussion, citing rage to propel action, the importance of empathy training, history being the greatest learning resource, and calculated distraction posing as action, being at the forefront often in processes. Kerry O’Brien commended Grace for her bravery, candour and clarity. I would recommend the viewing of this interview, as it provides a segway into many conversations - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=polv_i-9oek

Lastly, the planning for the CaSPA Conference is progressing well. I hope you will be able to join us on 10 – 12 July in Perth next year.

Blessings to all,

Ann Rebgetz

CaSPA President