Principals traditionally come from the teaching ranks, although the pathway from teacher to principal can vary considerably.
The transition from teacher to principal can be challenging as classroom experience sometimes fails to develop the required knowledge, skills and leadership abilities necessary.
Therefore, developing aspiring principals’ leadership capacity to undertake the role is crucial.
Widespread consensus exists among practitioners, researchers and policy makers that professional training and development has an impact on aspiring principals by improving leaders’ knowledge, skills and dispositions.
With this in mind, the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office has created a program called the Outback Principals’ Development Squad (OPDS).
It is designed to help aspiring principals transition from being a teacher to a leader and manager who can deliver on their education system’s strategic objectives and plans.
The squad’s aim is to give aspiring leaders an insight into the role in rural and remote schools so they experience both the contextual complexities, as well as the intrinsic rewards it can provide.
It allows them to understand if they have the required dispositions, capabilities and mindsets to be a leader.
Squad members immerse themselves in the core dimensions of Toowoomba Catholic Schools (TCS) leadership – religious and educative leadership, as well as supporting the staff and community, strategic and organisational leadership.
The aspiring principals also experience living in a rural and remote setting for a short time, shadowing the existing principal and attending all relevant related activities in the school and community.
Recently within TCS there have been many staff movements where the squad has been invaluable in providing future leaders to fill vital roles.
Mary Porter, principal of St Joseph’s School in Tara, has taken seven weeks leave in term one, with Kylie Williams assuming the role of acting principal.
Mrs Williams is currently an assistant principal religious education (APRE) and middle leader at St Patrick’s School in St George.
She participated in the Outback Principals’ Development Squad in 2022, where she worked alongside Ms Porter.
Ms Porter said the Outback Principals’ Development Squad was a wonderful initiative that supported the development of principal leadership capabilities.
“Interested leaders volunteer to take part in learning to develop their ability to think clearly, engage others, lead and inspire and deliver outcomes,” Ms Porter said.
“As part of the process, Kylie Williams, a member of the squad, visited St Joseph’s School in Tara, a small rural P-6 school to shadow and walk with me as a principal for a week,“ Ms Porter said.
“Kylie experienced the unique culture of the school and became familiar with the community, establishing relationships with the students, parents, staff and the parish priest during her visit, which is essential to the process.
“It is reassuring to have someone ready to take on the principal leadership role in outback schools.
“The Outback Principals’ Development Squad process is working well.“
Mrs Williams said she was delighted to be given the opportunity to lead St Joseph’s School and said:
“The OPDS allowed me to have a small insight into the workings of small rural and remote schools.
“Even though I am currently in a leadership role in St George, it gave me the opportunity to see the complexities of a smaller school.
“I certainly believe that participating in the OPDS has given me the confidence to accept acting principal opportunities, which become available within the Toowoomba Diocese.“
Also, as part of this program, David Anderson, a teacher at Holy Name Primary School in Toowoomba, has enthusiastically accepted the acting position at St Patrick’s School in St George to replace Mrs Williams during this time.
Mr Anderson also participated in the Outback Principals’ Development Squad in 2022 and deputised at St Patrick’s School in Mitchell during Term 4 2022.
The 2023 OPDS program will occur in Term 2 this year.
