Our Intrepid Journey - Principalship 101

MICHELLE: After a good breakfast we worked a little on the blog and podcast set up.  We ran a dummy talanoa about our purpose behind this trip and what we hoped to take back to our schools.  We practiced recording, listening back to see if the structure of discussion was sharp, to the point - holding interest.  The blog is set up and profiles added...now all we need is a picture. We discussed how were are going to post the podcasts, when we were going to post them, how we would link them to the blog.  There's a lot more to it than just record and post, we need to work on our editing skills. We took a break from set up to head to Universal Studios (can't come to LA and not do a theme park!).  By about the 3rd ride, motion sickness set in so I pretty much spent the rest of our time there "people watching" with Nardi while Mary covered every inch of the park.  I was in awe of the studio tour and how clever film makers are at using a variety of sets and effects...

MICHELLE: The 12 hour flight was a little cramped and we all got some sleep...but not alot.   I was seated next to Greg from Antarctica on his way to Fresno.  He has been on the ice from October last year and works as a telecommunications specialist.  It was fascinating listening to his stories about life on the ice, growing up in New York, school life for him and what inspired him to get into telecommunications. With very little sleep we arrived round midday and after finding our rental car we headed to our hotel where we settled into our rooms and had a quick swim before dinner.  Before we left for dinner, we made our way downstairs in the hotel for 'happy hour' where we got to meet a few of the patrons and get a bit of a feel for the place.  People here are very friendly...maybe a tipping system helps! We decided on a little sight seeing and ventured out to the Santa Monica Pier for dinner at Bubba Gumps - delicious!  After dinner and a walk along t...

The news that all primary principals would be receiving a coaching and wellbeing support fund through the 2023-2025 collective agreement allowed principals to examine a range of options to develop their leadership through PLD that is tailored to their own individual needs.  Upon news of this funding, our emails were flooded with 1:1 coaching programmes, PLD workshops, wellbeing retreats and overseas conferences.  There have been many discussions across the sector for the 'proper' use of the fund, which when first released was heavily focussed on the well-being.   To a certain degree, this offering has caused added stress to some principals because the goalposts moved from wellbeing to professional learning.  Initially, there needed to be more clarity on what's appropriate and what isn't.  There were different expectations between the now two unions and an element of resentment between the allowances given with the fund. Through our Professional Growth Cycle...

After 12 months of talking about it, the Principal's Intrepid Journey is finally up and running.  This blog is an offshoot of the "Our Intrepid Journey: Principalship 101 podcast.  It is the story of leadership and principalship - who we are as leaders, what we're doing, why we're doing it and hopefully a wonderful resource of readings and conversations for all principals to tap into, whatever their needs or interests.   We are a trio of principals who gravitated together early in our principalships.  In very much a case of 'finding your people', each of us lead primary schools in similar communities, we catch up regularly and always bounce ideas, glean advice and information from, and often lean on each other when we need a shoulder.   Our careers in education span decades and we are still confounded by the constant fluidity of change and the immense amount of change happening at the same time.  Through our experiences in leadership and as princi...