Leading with AI: Insights from Ocean Road Primary School with Dean Finlay and Shane Liackman

In this episode of Trailblazing Schools, Trudy interviews Daniela Falecki from Teacher Wellbeing. Daniela shares insights on balancing compliance and care in education, the evolution of teacher wellbeing, and practical strategies for school leaders to foster a supportive environment amidst rapid technological change. Trudy and Daniela discuss her journey from teacher stress to wellbeing advocate, why COVID-19 was such a catalyse for wellbeing conversations in schools and workplaces the world over, and the power of wellbeing intelligence. Daniela gives listeners an overview of her CARE framework that helps manage cognitive fatigue, and explains why mastering conversations is one of the most impactful skills leaders can develop. Daniela also shares several resources and suggestions for books and sources of inspiration for teachers and leaders on their own professional wellbeing journey.

In this episode of Trailblazing Schools, Trudy shares her innovative leadership programs designed to empower school principals and middle leaders, especially in remote and rural settings. She explores the importance of distributed leadership and how to implement it, the role of peer coaching in leadership development and the challenges of school leadership in remote and rural areas. Trudy also discusses strategies for empowering middle leaders and the impact of leadership programs that involve the whole leadership team.

In this episode of Trailblazing Schools, Trudy speaks with Nick Rose, founder of Curriculum Writers Association of Australia and co-founder of Curriculum Makers. Nick shares insights on the role of AI in education, curriculum development, and the importance of teacher agency in the digital age. Nick and Trudy discuss the power of collaboration in curriculum writing, the impact of technology on educational practices as well as the challenge of authenticity in AI-generated content. Discover how discernment and human judgment will shape the future of schooling and why Nick believes AI will never replace humans.

This episode of Trailblazing Schools explores how school leadership teams can shift from reactive operational responses to strategic leadership that drives school improvement. Trudy shares how 360-degree feedback helps assess team capabilities, and the power of reflecting team practice for collaborative problem solving. She explores the systemic pattern of reactive leadership in schools and gives an ‘ambulance driver’ analogy for reactive leadership. This episode offers practical insights and tools for building a proactive, strategic team capable of lasting impact.

In this episode of Trailblazing Schools, Trudy explores the challenges faced by solo school leaders, focusing on overcoming overwhelm, guilt, and structural gaps. It offers practical insights and solutions to help small school principals invest in their own development and lighten their load. She also shares real stories of principals overcoming overwhelm and finding support through the Leaders Learning Circle.