Managing complex cases in collaboration with Legal Services
Directorate
Margaret and Lynne will share their insights and experiences in managing complex cases including:

Defining what constitutes a complex case

Role of Legal Service Directorate in working with Directors PS NSW

Managing complex cases such as: o Student/staff death o Child sexual assault cases – Royal Commission o Australian Human Rights commission o DDA cases o Coronial inquiries
Discussion with participants will include:

Seek input on types of support/checklists Directors need in managing complex cases

Sharing of strategies used to manage complex cases
Productivity apps which assist in the work of the role of a
Director.
Margaret Baker
Senior Legal Officer
Lynne Irvine
Director
Public Schools NSW
Port Hacking
Principals Network
There are many apps available that can be used to increase productivity in our work. Using the right app can reduce frustration, seamlessly link to computer applications and generally save you time. Vicki and Peter will share their knowledge and insights around the apps and features of the iPad they use in their everyday work. Paid, free apps and built in features will be covered in the session.
Ways to acknowledge, share and grow educational leadership success through social media, letters and networks.
Discussion and examples of effective strategies that support and encourage educational leaders to connect, collaborate, create and share. Looking at how social networks influence the spread of innovation and great practice to support creating optimum learning environments to enhance opportunity for student growth, development and success.
Vicki Kempton
Director
Public Schools NSW
Deniliquin Principals
Network
Peter Harvey
Director
Public Schools NSW
Bathurst
Principals
Network
Jan Green
Director
Public Schools NSW
Bankstown
Principals Network

Coaching/Mentoring in Practice – stories of experience
Mentoring new and aspiring Principals

Supervisor Mentoring – The difficult balance

Peer Mentoring – Stories of success and failure
Coaching

Individual Principal Coaching – Director and External

Group Coaching – Collegial Learning Circles
Principal / School Executive Professional Learning

Coaching – Growth Coaching International

School Executive Coaching

Strategic Questioning
Effectively supporting principals to manage critical incidents.
Minute by minute, hour by hour: a Director’s response to events of a critical incident in supporting the principal. At the beginning of the school day, a tragic incident occurred which resulted in the death of a child following a car accident outside a school.
Dean White
Director
Public Schools NSW
Warringah Principals
Network
Karen Bryant
Director
Public Schools NSW
Parramatta
Principals Network
‘How best to support experienced Principals’
During this discussion I would like to explore the strategies that can be used for professional development with and supervision of experienced
Principals. How can we differentiate the types of discussions we have and the strategies we use for Principals who are experienced and highly effective?
‘Developing systems leaders’ – the role of Director
Sometimes passionate principals can start to focus just on their school.
Competing for enrolments not just with private schools but starting to also see other DEC schools as competitors. Some might even start to feel a separation from DEC.
How often have you heard colleagues say, the Department did this, or the
Department knocked back my applications for a support class or maintenance works?
How do we build system cohesion where every officer is part of and proud to be a contributing member of not only their school but also a community of schools, a network and especially the Department of Education and
Communities?
As Directors what can we do?
Managing vexatious complainants
This Roundtable will explore advice from the Ombudsman’s Office which relates to the management of interactions with complainants whose conduct is identified as vexatious and unreasonable. The Roundtable will also consider aspects of best practice in managing complaints using the departmental Complaints Handling Policy Guidelines.
Meredith Ash
Director
Public Schools NSW
Ku-Ring-Gai Principals
Network
Mark Youngblutt
Director
Public Schools NSW
Hastings Principals
Network
Rod Leonarder
Director,
Public Schools NSW
Canterbury Principal
Network

The Strength of Networking in Empowering Principals
Facilitated discussions and sharing around empowering Principals through successful networks.
Case studies of four highly successful diverse networks and their positive impact on the Principals’ leadership development will provide a basis for these discussions.

Broken Hill-Schools and other government and non –government agencies

E2- a stage 6 curriculum collaboration which has “morphed” into a
Professional Learning network for executive and aspiring executive, led by the secondary Principals

Pre2-a primary collaboration that shares Professional Learning, student curriculum enrichment and extracurricular experiences

OSSA-Teaching Principals networking to provide student experiences and professional support and learning.
From Difficult To Constructive – Some tools to use when managing conversations
If you were to rate yourself between 1-10 with 10 being the highest, how would you evaluate yourself with the following questions?
I am consistently successful in persuading other people what to do.
I am good at handling my own strong emotions in conversations.
I am good at handling other people’s strong emotions during conversations.
I am always well prepared for difficult conversations.
I am good at staying polite when provoked.
On a daily basis we have a lot of conversations. At times we would be aware that some conversations are more effective or more constructive than others.
A constructive conversation is any conversation in which you make progress. Even a difficult conversation can be a constructive one. If you change the conversation, then there is every chance you’ll change everything that surrounds it.
OOSH 101 for Directors
The DEC has committed to having formal agreements in place with all
OOSH providers by end of May 2014. Approximately 450 OOSH services do not have a current or approved agreement. This imperative will impact on the work of Directors and this discussion will provide an introduction to this area.
Discussion will focus on:

Key understandings and terminology from the policy,

The process from AMU that will be applied to all OOSH services without a current approved agreement,

Some best practice principles,

Some possible pitfalls (forewarned is forearmed) and

Important contacts.
Maree Angus
Director
Public Schools NSW
Orange Principals
Network
Marian Grant
Director
Public Schools NSW
Queanbeyan
Principals
Network
Sue Cran
Director
Public Schools NSW
Woronora River
Principals Network

Instructional Practices Inventory (IPI)
In this roundtable we will discuss a process in understanding what student cognitive engagement looks like across a school, stage or faculty. The IPI process is a profiling tool to assist leaders and teachers begin critical conversations and reflections. The IPI process provides formative data on student engaged learning. The IPI profiles are highly valuable for primary and secondary schools, and in this session we will discuss case studies.
14. HSC Accountability
Discussion and case study –
Successful approaches used to support the management and accountability of a breach in HSC processes / procedures.
Managing poor performing Principals
This workshop will look at two cases of principal underperformance and the strategies used by the director to manage the situation.
Networking Ideas so far
The discussion will be about the existing diversity of networks that exist in my ‘patch’, the ones we have planned for 2014 and others’ ideas on what we could also consider. A brief outline of one strategy that has resulted in networks developing which we call “meetings of excellence’.
Supporting the Principal and School in managing a sudden student death in the school community
This ‘round table’ will go through the highly charged emotion of an unexpected student death in a school community. The first steps, the immediate priorities, the management of all competing emotions and reactions, the communication strategy and media management, interactions with the police, family relations, community anger and response and the aftermath. We will examine how backing the Principal’s voice, intuition, knowledge and standing in their community is central to the success. The
Director’s role in identifying and navigating the best, supportive solutions for thei r Principal will form a key part of this intriguing ‘round table’ discussion.
Effective Feedback as part of Effective Coaching
This roundtable discussion will provide an opportunity to share understandings about the elements of effective feedback from a coaching perspective. Learn about and share coaching tools and strategies to enhance the impact of feedback-oriented conversations that lead to the development of self and others in our roles as Directors, Public Schools
NSW.
Ros McCallan-Jamieson
Assistant Director
Early Learning & Primary
Education Directorate
Lisa Muir
Director
Public Schools NSW
Wyong Principals
Network
David Cullen
Director
Early Learning and
Primary Education
Janet Wasson
Director
Public Schools NSW
Hornsby Principals
Network
Tim McCallum
Director
Public Schools NSW
Dural Principals
Network
Maria Serafim
Director
Public Schools NSW
Glenfield Principals
Network

‘Connected Communities – Making a Difference’
Connected Communities is a whole of government, long term commitment to working in partnership with school communities to create the generational change needed to see students achieving consistently better outcomes at school and also accessing stronger pathways from school into further learning and employment.
The Connected Communities strategy marks the beginning of an exciting period in education reform where the process will be inclusive and will involve the community, school staff, Government and Non-Government agencies, local Government and the business, TAFE and University sectors.
Michele Hall
Executive Director
Connected
Communities
Peter Sheargold
Principal
Kotara High School