Professional Culture and Growth
Professional Learning and Development - Janine Stratford – Coaching Conversations
On Wednesday 20 November 2024, Marist-Sion College hosted a Position of Leadership Formation and Development Day in the Ratisbonne Building for nominated POL4 and POL3 holders commencing their Leadership position at the College in 2025. Through Professional Practice Reflection Meetings and other sharing opportunities, POL holders have expressed a need for targeted Professional Learning regarding managing conflict with greater confidence.
In 2022, Michelle Lilford (Director of Junior Learning) and in 2023, Jeremy Anderson (Head of House – Loreto) engaged with Coaching Focus – Elevating Leadership Program and provided positive feedback regarding Janine Stratford and her delivery of the specific modules, with particular reference made to the practice skills enhanced through the Managing Conflict with Greater Confidence module. A conflict management training course by a Professional Behavioural Analyst and specialist in conflict management using Restorative Practice and coaching.
In 2024, James Mazzolini (Director of Staff Development), in consultation with Georgie Beekhof (Deputy Principal – Professional Culture and Growth) contacted Janine to arrange for an onsite Professional Learning Day in November when the College had the capacity to host this event. This day would be provided to assist new and existing POL 3 and 4 holders commencing in 2025.
Janine Stratford
Janine Stratford is the Founder of Coaching Focus. She is a Leadership Coach, Career Strategist, Coach-Trainer, and Facilitator of professional development programs, working with schools across Australia and New Zealand. Her career in education spanned 28 years as a teacher and senior leader, leaving her role as Deputy Principal, to start Coaching Focus in 2015.
Janine assists educators and school leaders to enhance their leadership capacity and advance their careers through leadership development programs, team and individual coaching, and coach-training programs. She strongly believes in the principle, "You can’t be what you can’t see," and therefore helps school staff serve as role models for students, staff, and parents in their communities.
Janine is an experienced educational leader, a trusted advisor and leadership coach to principals, and school leaders. She is a Coach – Trainer and has been awarded Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coach Federation. Janine is also a Certified Professional Behavioural Analyst using psychometric assessments to support leaders to better understand themselves and their impact and influence on others.
Janine is well-networked across the education sector, providing her with a deep currency in the challenges facing education today and a wide awareness of initiatives taking place in schools. She is sought after to assist executive teams to set and meet strategic targets, manage large scale change projects, provide leadership direction, and make sustainable culture improvements. Janine has recently been recognized by The Educator as 2024 Most Influential Educator.
Staffing and Recruitment
We are in the final stages of our recruitment process to recruit for subject teachers and Positions of Leadership for 2025. We are very excited by the calibre of applications we are receiving at this time of the year, not only experienced teachers, but also graduate teachers entering their first year in this very rewarding vocation.
In the November edition of Emmaus, we welcomed a number of new staff to the College for 2025. In addition to that list, we would also like to welcome the following staff to our community:
| Mr Harshit Bhayana | Teacher – Humanities and Food Technology |
| Mr Mitchell Diston | Teacher – Health and Physical Education |
| Mrs Samantha Halm | Wellbeing and Data Leader and English Teacher |
| Mr Mitchell Tomkins | Teacher – Health and Physical Education and Religious Education |
| Mr Jayden Madeira | Teacher – LOTE: Japanese |
| Mr Dillon De Waal | Head of House – Joseph and English/Science Teacher |
| Mr Matthew Berend | Teacher – Mathematics and Drama |
| Miss Abby Gregorovich | Teacher – Science and Physical Education |
On Tuesday 10th December we held our New Staff Induction Day. It’s one of my favourite days of the year to hear the buzz in the room and to see all our new staff to get to know each other and meet their teams that they will be working with. Thank you to James Mazzolini – Director of Staff Development for putting together and excellent program for our new staff.
Teacher Appraisal and Recognition Process
The Term 4 focus for our teaching staff has been their Appraisal and Recognition process. This is an important part of the Professional Learning of teachers and is also a requirement of our AITSL standards. The process involved teacher to reflect on their year in terms of:
- Pedagogical Practice (Teaching Sprints)
- Professional Learning
- Team Based Culture
- Goals for 2025
Each teacher has a 30 min Professional Practice Reflection Meeting to discuss their year, celebrate their success and discuss their goals for 2025. The feedback from our meeting facilitators has been very positive and it really highlights the wonderful work our teachers do in the classroom to support and improve student outcomes. Thank you to our facilitators for leading these important conversations.
I’d like to take a moment to wish all of our staff, students and their families a Merry Christmas and a happy, safe and joyous New Year.
Georgie Beekhof
Deputy Principal – Professional Culture and Growth