Hands On Heads Literacy Coaching
Dear Principals,
What a fabulous Friday it was at the Australian Principals Federation 2025 AGM & Seminar. It was an opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces and establish rapport with new colleagues.
Following the theme, Leading with Vision and Impact, I shared how the impact we make as leaders doesn’t change, even though the vision may look different.
When I was first in the classroom, my vision (my goal, dream, objective, intention) was to be a classroom teacher, so that I could impact my students, directly, to do what was best for them and to help them become the best versions of themselves.
When I was a Middle Leader, my vision was to build the curriculum capacity of my team, especially in literacy, data, instructional practices and assessment. The impact I wanted to make didn’t change- I was indirectly helping students become the best versions of themselves by making decisions that were best for the students. Much like your work as Principals, before you were gifted the responsibility of principalship, you had a different vision in your role- perhaps as an AP or Leading Teacher or Learning Specialist. But I imagine that the goal/dream/objective/intention= the vision hasn’t changed- you still want to do what’s best for your students.
Now, as an Instructional Literacy Coach and Leadership Coach, my vision has shifted again, but the impact has not. The goal/dream/objective/intention is to build the literacy capacity of teachers and the leadership capacity of middle leaders to impact student literacy achievement and engagement. The impact I want to make has remained the same- to help students become the best versions of themselves, by making decisions and taking actions based on what’s best for them.
What’s on your Vision Board in 2026? (The literacy goal on Your School Improvement Plan/Annual Action Plan) What impact do you want to make on your students and their learning?
If there is a literacy objective, goal or statement on your 4-year school plan, I invite you to schedule a Level-Up Literacy Call to discuss how I can help you impact what’s best for your students.
Multidimensional (literacy) Magic PODCAST
In a space that can often be polarising and contentious, I’m committed to bridging literacy perspectives—to better understand what truly impacts student learning. I’m hosting this podcast to shine a light on literacy practices that are grounded in evidence, inspired by research and informed by practice- regardless of the approach to literacy.
On this Podcast, I sit down with teachers and leaders to share their authentic stories of literacy success- however success may look for their context. Each episode is a safe space built on curiosity, not judgement- where educators from various sectors and contexts share and celebrate literacy success stories. The very first episode with Tania Hunter, AP at Mount Waverley Primary School, is live. Listen here
To your literacy success,
