Griffith University's new teacher leadership program

A new teacher leadership program has been developed by partners of an innovative school-based program, with a particular focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teaching.
The Investment in Leadership Futures: Leading quality Teaching and Learning in STEM strategy was launched by the Teacher Education Centre of Excellence (TECE) – Benowa Cluster earlier this month.

The TECE – Benowa Cluster is a school-based partnership program between Benowa, Helensvale and Merrimac State High Schools, and the Griffith School of Education and Professional Studies.
The TECE – Benowa Cluster aims to enhance capabilities of pre-service teachers, and offers professional development for mentor teachers.
The quality of this partnership has recently been recognised in the 2015 South-East Coast Regional Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools, where they took out the award for Excellence in Industry Partnerships.
Their new program aims to support and develop those aspiring to leadership positions—both an elite group of STEM teachers who are (TECE) – Benowa Cluster alumni, as well as teacher mentors who are developing their instructional leadership potential.
Benowa State High School (SHS) Executive Principal Mark Rickard says the new program will assist these high achieving alumni and mentor teachers to begin the next stage of their careers.
“It’s recognised that improvements in student outcomes depend on an alignment of effort—by students, teachers and school leaders—to enhance the quality and effectiveness of day-to-day teaching and learning,” Mr Richard says.
“Scaffolding and developing the leadership capacity of both these sets of educators will embed continuous improvement practices for teachers, and quality outcomes for students.
“It will also advance a cultural shift to a more active instructional leadership style in state schools.”
Merrimac SHS Principal Chris Tobin says developing effective instructional school leadership will also promote connectedness with staff and the wider school community.
“Making schools a place where all students and their parents feel welcomed, valued and safe is one of the key components in building a student’s resilience and increasing their chances of surviving the most difficult of life circumstances,” he says.
Helensvale Executive Principal, Mark Blackshaw, says another key outcome of the program is building a shared responsibility for student learning and success.
“An effective instructional leader develops a professional team of highly able teachers, who have the knowledge, skills and drive to then take an active leadership role in and beyond the classroom,” he says.
The program will involve face-to-face sessions led by an established leader held throughout the year, extended sessions to address specific aspects of the promotional application process, and matching with a mentor leader.
Speakers would be filmed or recorded to enable teachers outside of the Southeast Queensland region opportunity to participate.
Students completing Griffith’s Graduate Diploma of Education – Secondary degree may have the opportunity to complete professional experience in the TECE – Benowa Cluster’s program.

Griffith University School of Education and Professional Studies

The School of Education and Professional Studies is one of the largest teaching areas at Griffith University. The school is part of the Faculty of Faculty of Arts, Education & Law, and offers undergraduate, postgraduate and higher degree research for more than 3,500 students.
Building on a 40-year history of teacher preparation, the Griffith School of Education and Professional Studies brings this experience into a dynamic unit that operates across three campuses: Gold Coast, Logan and Mt Gravatt. The school and its staff and students are leaders in teaching and learning in the networked world, utilising innovative technologies and offering flexible program design.
Program: Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary)
Location: Gold Coast & Brisbane, Queensland
Semester intake: January/February
Duration: 1 year
Program: Master of Teaching (Primary)
Location: Gold Coast & Brisbane, Queensland
Semester intake: January/February
Duration: 1.5 years

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Would you like more information about the Griffith University School of Education? Contact OzTREKK’s Australian Teachers Colleges Admissions Officer Rachel Brady at rachel@oztrekk.com, or phone toll free in Canada at 1-866-698-7355.