ASPIRING LEADERS: A NEW VENTURE

By Kaitlyn Delaney

History Teacher – Senior School

Earlier this year, I was selected to participate in the CGS Aspiring Leaders Course 1 programme. Course 1 is designed to build the knowledge, skills, and capabilities of teachers who are looking to enter Associate Director, Head of Department, or Head of Student House roles. The programme is approximately 18 months in length and involves teachers from both the Primary and Senior Schools.

When the programme was first introduced earlier this year, I was immediately interested. At the time, I was in an Acting Assistant Head of House position and had just finished my first year at CGS. I was thoroughly enjoying the experience of being an AHoSH; the collaboration with my HoSH, engaging with students, and having a say in the Pastoral Programme were all aspects of the role I relished. However, what initially led me to the CGS Aspiring Leaders programme was my desire to explore other areas of leadership.

I had always considered myself a ‘pastoral person’ due to my background in Inclusive Education and the satisfaction I gained from my Acting AHoSH role. However, during my first year at CGS, I had the opportunity to mentor a UC Education Practicum student and assist with departmental planning and curriculum creation—experiences I enjoyed immensely but that were outside the pastoral care space. This ultimately motivated my application to the Aspiring Leaders Programme; I wanted to learn and explore all aspects of leadership, rather than being confined to the area I felt most comfortable in.

So far, we have completed Module 1, which involved engaging with various academic articles. We reflected on our leadership practice within our specific context in relation to what we learned from the articles. This module certainly challenged some of my preconceived beliefs about leadership, but I learned a lot from each article. I reflected on how different ideas, leadership styles, and management systems can positively influence the classroom and the broader school community. I also found the discussions with the other course participants valuable; we all took something different from the readings, which was beneficial to hear and learn from.

We are about to complete Module 2, which involves meeting with leaders in various contexts. We are preparing to visit Tumbarumba to explore leadership in an Indigenous context, which is a critical component of effective and impactful leadership. Later in the term, I will be attending another ACT school to speak with a Head of Department about their leadership style and learn how they manage their team in a context different from CGS.

I have personally benefitted significantly from the course. Engaging with fellow teachers to further build my leadership capabilities has been invaluable, and I felt that my contributions provided valuable insights for the other participants. One area I want to work on professionally is confidence, both in leadership and in my everyday role as a teacher. I believe the programme will continue to help develop my confidence by empowering me with the skills to lead a team and enact positive change. Furthermore, the programme has influenced how I approach different scenarios and challenges in my role. I frequently refer back to the qualities and strengths of effective leaders and try to employ them when needed.

The CGS Aspiring Leaders Course 1 has been a wonderful experience so far, and I am excited for the rest of my journey.