New partnership aims to enhance school leadership skills

A new partnership promises to providing teachers and school leaders with insightful and valuable information they can use to objectively assess and enhance their practices and leadership skills.

Educator Impact (EI), an organisation that provides schools with innovative professional development programs, has announced a partnership with Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ).  

ISQ is the peak representative body for independent schools in Queensland and a respected source of guidance on the leadership and operation of independent schools. 

The partnership will enable 150 school leaders from Queensland independent schools to build their leadership capability with 360 feedback, reflection, and goal setting.

Every year, ISQ delivers a broad range of professional learning services that aim to empower schools to implement sustainable practices to enhance school performance, leadership, teaching quality and student outcomes.

Ken Wallace, EI CEO, said like his own company, ISQ has a focus on building teaching and leadership practice. 

“Schools face many challenges when it comes to providing effective professional development, school leadership initiatives, and improving student outcomes, and ISQ have a track record in delivering great programs,” Wallace said. 

“The partnership will provide both EI and ISQ further ways to highlight the strengths and development opportunities for school leaders.” 

Wallace said a recent report by the Grattan Institute highlighted the importance of a systemised approach to professional development, adding that he believes partnerships like this are “key to having greater impact across the sector”.

David Robertson, ISQ executive director, said the partnership will add “an extra dimension” to ISQ’s specialist programs for teachers.

“ISQ delivers a suite of tailored professional learning programs and services, such as its Great Teachers in the Independent Schools flagship initiative, to support member schools to enhance and build the leadership and teaching expertise of their staff,” Robertson said.

“Feedback and assessment tools like those used by Educator Impact will add an extra dimension to ISQ’s specialist programs by providing teachers and leaders with insightful and valuable information they can use to objectively assess and enhance their practices and leadership skills.”

Robertson said that in turn, these middle leaders will be able to support their teaching teams and colleagues to improve their own approaches and practices with the primary goal being to positively impact student outcomes.