Education Leaders

Shane Leaning discusses his new bestseller focusing on finding solutions within school communities. He highlights a confidence crisis in education, where schools often look outside for answers. Instead of prescriptive solutions, the book offers 40 thought-provoking questions to unlock community wisdom. This approach embraces the complexity of change, fostering genuine buy-in by engaging both heart and mind. With community-centered strategies, it encourages educational leaders to reclaim their agency and drive meaningful transformation.

A Call Across the Pond- Guest AppearanceShane Leaning appears as a guest on another podcast.Time zones don't matter when the conversation is this good! This bonus episode features Shane Leaning as a guest on "A Call Across the Pond: Transforming Relationships at School, at Home & Beyond" with Tara Gretton and Vicky Essebag.Episode Highlights:Why most professional development doesn't lead to lasting change in schoolsHow the outsourcing of knowledge has led to a crisis of confidence in schoolsThe four key stages of effective, community-led changeWhy "buy-in" is the wrong approach to school changeThe importance of seeing challenges as perceptions rather than factsHow my podcast journey has evolved and the incredible lessons I've learnedThe critical need to restore respect and status to the teaching profession globallySubscribe to their podcast:A Call Across the Pond: Transforming Relationships at School, at Home & BeyondThank you for tuning in, and if you found this episode useful, please share. You can find me on LinkedIn and Bluesky.Shane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports international schools globally. Passionate about empowering educators, he is currently co-authoring 'Change Starts Here.' Shane has extensive experience in the UK and Asia and is a recognised voice in international education leadership. Learn more at shaneleaning.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christina Hidek, an expert in parent engagement and founder of PTO Answers, shares her insights on the transformative power of parent communities in schools. She explores how engaged parents can enhance student experiences, moving beyond traditional roles like bake sales to strategic collaborations. Christina emphasizes the importance of open communication and mutual goal-setting between schools and parents. She highlights real-world examples of successful partnerships and the vital role school leaders play in fostering these positive relationships.

When you announce a new initiative, do you ever get "that sigh" from your experienced teachers? You know the one - followed by "Isn't this just that thing we did back in 2005?" Today we're looking at the inevitable cycle of change in education and how to lead through it with integrity and purpose.In this bite-sized leadership episode, Shane explores why education seems to move in cycles, with approaches and methodologies appearing to come back around under new names:Why education moves in cycles: Our system is obsessed with change, there are only so many fundamental ideas in education, and new leaders often feel pressure to make their markEvolution vs cycles: The most productive way to view educational change is as an evolution rather than disconnected cyclesPractical leadership advice: Rethink change for change's sake, connect new initiatives to what came before, focus on evolution not revolution, and honor institutional knowledgeEpisode PartnerThe International Curriculum Association: Learn moreThank you for tuning in, and if you found this episode useful, please share. You can find me on LinkedIn and Bluesky.Shane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports international schools globally. Passionate about empowering educators, he is currently co-authoring 'Change Starts Here.' Shane has extensive experience in the UK and Asia and is a recognised voice in international education leadership. Learn more at shaneleaning.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neil Renton, headteacher at Harrogate Grammar School and author, joins HR Director Julie Wellacott to delve into flexible working in education. They discuss how giving teachers control over their hours and workload can enhance retention. Neil shares how his school has embraced 'part-timeness' for 50 educators. The duo also emphasizes the need for supportive school cultures and highlights 'reason-neutral' approaches to flexibility. Their insights illustrate that small changes can foster significant shifts in teacher well-being and job satisfaction.

Are you overwhelmed by tasks that others could tackle? Discover a transformative delegation framework that helps leaders reclaim their time. Explore the nine levels of delegation, emphasizing clarity and tailored approaches based on task complexity. Learn how cultural factors influence delegation dynamics and how to progressively develop your team's skills. Plus, take on a challenge to clarify your delegation style in your upcoming conversations. Transform your leadership and boost your team's confidence!

Shane Leaning and Chris Scorer discuss the launch of a new community platform for educators, focusing on trust and connection. They highlight challenges posed by digital saturation for both students and educators and stress the need for balance in productivity. The conversation emphasizes the importance of creating both online and offline spaces that foster authentic engagement. Insights into navigating the complexities of leadership and evolving concepts of masculinity in education are explored, promoting meaningful dialogue and collaboration.

In this engaging conversation, Ross McGill, a globally recognized educator known as Teacher Toolkit, shares his innovative perspectives on feedback in education. He challenges outdated marking practices by presenting a framework involving nine feedback approaches that prioritize student trust and actionable insights. Ross emphasizes the importance of communication and relationships in effective feedback. He also explores strategies to reduce teacher workload while advocating for systemic changes to enhance mental health and teaching effectiveness in today’s landscape.

Grades give us comfort and numbers feel concrete. But what if our obsession with quantifying learning is actually getting in the way of understanding it? Today, we're rethinking assessment.Shane Leaning speaks with Amarbeer Singh Gill and Jennifer Curran from Ambition Institute about assessment in education. The conversation challenges our reliance on grades and numbers, exploring the limitations of traditional assessment methods and offering insights into more meaningful approaches to understanding student learning.Key Topics DiscussedThe difference between attainment and progress, and why they require different assessment approachesWhy grades can be misleading without shared understanding of their meaningThe false sense of security that numerical scores can provideThe importance of ongoing formative assessment in the classroomFinding the right balance between measuring learning and facilitating itHow school leaders can evaluate and improve their assessment practicesGuest LinksAmarbeer Singh Gill (Singh): @SinghAmarbeerGJennifer Curran (Jen): @jennimc_dResourcesProfessor Becky Allen's blog on progress Daisy Christodoulou's book "Making Good Progress"Article by Singh and Jen on assessmentEpisode PartnersThe International Curriculum Association's Global.Learn.Connect Netherlands: Learn moreThe University of Warwick's International Programmes | Learn more at warwick.ac.ukThank you for tuning in, and as always, if you found this episode useful, please share your experience. You can find me online on LinkedIn and Bluesky. My website is shaneleaning.com and email address is shane@shaneleaning.com.Thank you for tuning in, and if you found this episode useful, please share. You can find me on LinkedIn and Bluesky.Shane Leaning, an organisational coach based in Shanghai, supports international schools globally. Passionate about empowering educators, he is currently co-authoring 'Change Starts Here.' Shane has extensive experience in the UK and Asia and is a recognised voice in international education leadership. Learn more at shaneleaning.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explore the essential role of sustainability in change management within education. Discover how continuous transformation can be embedded into an organization's culture. Uncover the importance of human connections and community support in making change last. Learn to normalize failure and foster experimentation to enhance resilience. Reflect on past initiatives to build stronger foundations for future growth. Finally, find strategies to integrate change into daily routines, making it a seamless part of the educational experience.