A program designed to address a serious pipeline issue within the Catholic education system just took a big leap forward.
A newly announced partnership between the ACU and the National Excellence in School Leadership Institute’s (NESLI) means that teachers who complete the Catholic Schools Middle Leadership Program through NESLI will be eligible to apply for 10 credit points of unspecified credit towards ACU's Master of Educational Leadership and Master of Education.
The six-month program was designed to enable help teachers to build their leadership capabilities and to help ensure there is a strong pipeline of leaders in Catholic schools who are ready to take the next step into deputy principal or principal roles.
“Australia needs a new generation of Catholic school leaders,” Paul Mears, General Manager of NESLI Asia Pacific, said.
“These leaders will need to reconcile important issues around what quality education in the Catholic tradition really means.”
The program is delivered part time through a blend of webinars, course work, coaching and face to face workshops.
Program themes include; ‘Leading in the Catholic Context: Examining Self, School & System’, ‘Leading Community’, ‘Leading Learning Designs’ and ‘Leading for Sustainability and Dynamic Change.’
Mears said the current era is “politically and economically fraught” in terms of funding and enrolments, adding the next generation of Catholic school leaders are charged with a “very significant mission”.
“It’s vital that we give them the appropriate training and support they need,” he said.