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Learning to Lead - a framework for better educating communities

Collaboration between the Australian Catholic University's Flagship for Creative and Authentic Leadership and nine schools representing four Catholic Education Offices in NSW has been instrumental in bringing about real change. The 'Leaders Transforming Learners and Learning' (LTLL) project has been successful on two levels. The partnership forged between the University and the Catholic Education Offices of Sydney, Parramatta, Wollongong and Newcastle and extended to the participating schools continues to reap benefits for all parties. The positive outcome for the students and staff in the participating schools has highlighted the value of cooperative engagement across all sectors of education.

Under the leadership of Associate Professors Michael Bezzina and Charles Burford of the Flagship, the project aimed to investigate the linkages between leadership and learning with a particular emphasis on moral purpose. Unlike many similar research projects which are driven by the university personnel, LTLL established a management committee consisting of representatives of all partner groups to oversee the pilot. Its first task was to develop a conceptual model on which to build the project, one that captured the emerging consensus in the relevant literature that a shared values base or moral purpose is fundamental to transformative learning.

In the pilot, leadership teams were established in the five primary schools and four secondary Catholic schools. Their role was to test the model through their experiences of developing and leading individual projects for improved learning in each of their schools. Each leadership team was made up of the Principal and three other teacher leaders.

Communication among all partner groups was supported and developed through regular face to face meetings as well as through a web site that provided relevant material as well as project developments and shared learnings. It also enabled the management committee to monitor progress and provide additional support when needed. The web site became a permanent record of the project.

The international involvement of Professor Jerry Starratt of Boston College was complimented by the research, presentations and visits to participating schools by Professor Steven Gross of Temple University, Pennsylvania, Father Gerry Gleeson of the Catholic Institute of Sydney and Professor Paul Begley, of the Centre for Values, Pennsylvania State University.

At the Conference held at the conclusion of the pilot project, schools presented qualitative and quantitative evidence of the impact experienced within their school communities. All schools expressed excitement at the outcomes evident in their schools and a commitment to continue to pursue the goals of the project beyond the pilot.

The pilot project, 'Leaders Transforming Learners and Learning', has contributed to the development of understandings and processes which empower school staffs to engage with one another in ways that have positive impact on the provision of learning for both staff and students. The results have been so encouraging that LTLL2 is now under way with 13 schools from six dioceses.