Coaching in Education Podcast Series

Stories from the Coaches with Gray Ryan

March 04, 2024 21:57 - 27 minutes - 21.9 MB

I’m delighted to share with you the second episode in our podcast mini-series called ‘Stories from the Coaches’. In our first episode we turned the spotlight on our very own Dan Steele who shared some fascinating insights into coach training from the other side of the slide deck. In this second episode I’m joined by another member of the GCI team – Gray Ryan. Gray is highly regarded for his integrity, professionalism and outcomes focus. His motivational and engaging style and highly attuned ...

Jo Camozzato: Coaching through Growth

February 08, 2024 22:24 - 43 minutes - 35.2 MB

As this issue of CoachEd Update goes live there is great excitement and anticipation at Bemin Secondary College in Victoria as the doors are opened for the very first time. Join me in this episode where I’m in conversation with Principal Jo Camozzato. Jo shares some of her fascinating journey in education so far and provides some valuable insights into how she has applied a coaching approach to her leadership roles over the years. This is a must listen episode.

Justine Smyth: Coaching through Change

December 15, 2023 03:15 - 37 minutes - 30.4 MB

In this latest episode of our ‘stories from the field’ series, my guest conquers a whole new level of challenge when developing coaching in a school. To date, most of my guests have shared their experiences within one specific setting – a primary school, a post primary school, a state school, or a private school and maybe even an international school amongst others, but no-one has yet to share a story of developing a coaching culture in three separate schools – at the same time. Join me in c...

Stories from the Coaches Dan Steele

November 09, 2023 22:48 - 34 minutes - 27.3 MB

This episode is the first in a new mini-series called ‘Stories from the Coaches’ where we're shifting the spotlight on to those who train the educators to become exceptional coaches. Join me as I sit down with some of our own GCI team to explore their unique perspectives on implementing coaching cultures in schools. Let’s learn from their experiences of empowering school leaders and teachers to bring about positive change and transformative coaching practices in schools. To kick things off i...

Coaching at Salesian College

October 16, 2023 23:57 - 36 minutes - 29 MB

In this latest episode of the Coaching in Education Podcast, host Richard Reid is joined by three members of the team at Salesian College Sunbury in Victoria, Australia. Listen in as we learn about the early stages of their coaching journey where staff shared a vision of wanting to have ‘better conversations’. Find out how the team, led by Ammie Franklin (Director of Staff Learning), took courageous steps through a consultative approach to introducing coaching at Salesian College. Listen ...

The British School of Brussels: Part 2

September 25, 2023 22:57 - 21 minutes - 17.2 MB

In this second episode Melanie Chambers joins Richard Reid once again to discuss further the coaching journey at BSB, gathering some great insights into the details of that journey through the eyes of one of BSB’s professional learning partners – Emma Vlaeminck. Emma is a teacher of German, French and Humanities at BSB and co-ordinates the Bilingual Programme. Emma has had a lead role in developing the BSB ‘Vision for Coaching’ and gives us a flavour of both the challenges and the benefits c...

The British School of Brussels: Part 1

September 06, 2023 00:54 - 23 minutes - 18.5 MB

An international learning community for children aged 1-18 and currently the only school in Belgium independently ranked as one of the best schools in the world. In this first of two episodes I’m joined in conversation by Melanie Chambers – deputy head and whole school lead for professional learning. Listen in as Melanie shares how BSB has experienced a significant shift over recent years in the whole area of professional learning. Hear how they have navigated the barriers and roadblocks alo...

Instructional Coaching with Jim Knight and Chris Munro

August 31, 2023 03:47 - 48 minutes - 39 MB

Instructional Coaching – What does it mean to do it right? Join me in conversation with none other than Dr Jim Knight, senior partner at the Instructional Coaching Group and Growth Coaching International’s executive director Chris Munro as they both provide some clarity around the following aspects of Instructional Coaching: The Partnership Principles The place of the expertise and knowledge of the instructional coach Teacher practice goals vs student focused goals The Impact Cycle ...

Westminster School: Part 2

August 22, 2023 02:31 - 27 minutes - 23.6 MB

‘Coaches are human, humble and works in progress’. In this second part of the Westminster coaching story, Richard reid is in conversation once again with Director of Teaching Angela Phillips who introduces us to one of Westminster’s HALT teachers and coaches – Ali Barr. Ali gives us a fantastic insight into the detail of what coaching looks like on a day-to-day basis and shares her thoughts on what it means to be ‘human, humble and a work in progress’. An insightful listen for both experienc...

Westminster School: Part 1

August 02, 2023 23:02 - 28 minutes - 26 MB

‘The coalition of the willing. Coaching is a precious in demand resource. Don’t fret about those who have not opted in yet.’ In this episode I am delighted to be joined by Angela Phillips, Director of Teaching at Westminster School in Adelaide, South Australia. Join me in the conversation where Angela walks us through how coaching has developed at the school over recent years. Listen in to Angela sharing highlights from the recent HALT 2023 Conference in Melbourne where she talks about ‘Co...

Sam Crome

May 31, 2023 23:33 - 25 minutes - 20.6 MB

In this episode I’m delighted to be in conversation with Sam Crome, Deputy Head of St Peter’s Catholic School in Surrey, England and more recently the Director of Education for a Multi Academy Trust. In this episode Sam shares his interesting journey into education, highlights how his research on staff wellbeing introduced him to the world of coaching and gives us a little insight into how he sees the role of coaching play out in the complexity of the teams within our schools. For further in...

Howick Coast Kãhui Ako

May 15, 2023 23:02 - 36 minutes - 29.6 MB

In this episode of the Coaching in Education podcast I’m in conversation with Mark Keenan and Jane Ginders from New Zealand who share the findings from a recent case study of the seven schools in Howick Coast Kãhui Ako as they developed individual coaching models over the last number of years. Listen in to hear the benefits and the challenges of a ‘cluster’ approach to developing a coaching culture. Find out how individual schools can benefit from the collective experiences of a Kãhui Ako’ (...

Start with One (Part 2)

January 12, 2023 02:37 - 31 minutes - 30 MB

Welcome to part 2 of the coaching journey at St Andrew’s Cathedral school in Sydney, Australia. In part one I was in conversation with senior learning coach Elle Smith who shared with us the fascinating story of getting a coaching culture off the ground starting with one coach, way back in 2015. In part two I’m pleased to have Elle join me again and this time she has brought along one of her colleagues - Anthony Sharman. Anthony is a learning coach at St Andrew’s and through this episode he ...

Start with One (Part 1)

December 19, 2022 23:42 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MB

When introducing a new initiative in a school setting it’s always an advantage to have ‘buy-in’ from a number of colleagues right from the start. You could claim there is safety in numbers, be encouraged that we’re all in this together, or rely on the fact that a crowd draws a crowd. However, it’s not always the case, so when you’re the only advocate for starting a coaching culture in your school what do you do? – You Start With One. Join me in this episode where I’m in conversation with E...

Coaching Way of Leading: Chris Munro, Claudia Owad and Roma McKinnon

October 30, 2022 21:47 - 26 minutes - 21.2 MB

In 2022, school leaders from around the globe can reflect on a two year period which saw the most significant changes and challenges they have ever had to embrace. There were no guidebooks nor case studies to refer to. So, when faced with both significant changes and challenges how do school leaders best support and grow the capacity, motivation and wellbeing of their team? How do they improve relationships and ultimately how do they improve outcomes for students? What is the most effective ...

A Coaching Way of Leading: Chris Munro, Claudia Owad and Roma McKinnon

October 30, 2022 21:47

In 2022, school leaders from around the globe can reflect on a two year period which saw the most significant changes and challenges they have ever had to embrace. There were no guidebooks nor case studies to refer to. So, when faced with both significant changes and challenges how do school leaders best support and grow the capacity, motivation and wellbeing of their team? How do they improve relationships and ultimately how do they improve outcomes for students? What is the most effective ...

Coaching Early Career Teachers with Sue Knight and Tomaz Lasic

August 30, 2022 04:11 - 35 minutes - 28.3 MB

Over the last dozen or more episodes we have heard terrific stories of how teachers, having served for 30 or 40 years, have found renewed enthusiasm for the profession through the impact coaching has had on them. But what if you are just fresh out of teacher training? What if the ink on your teaching certificate is still drying? What happens when you realise you have joined one of the most challenging professions out there? What happens when theory and good intentions meet reality? In this e...

From Surviving to Thriving at University

July 06, 2022 22:52 - 20 minutes - 16.6 MB

From surviving to thriving. A student’s guide to feeling and doing well at university. Join me in conversation with our very own Global Director – Professor Christian Van Nieuwerburgh, where in this episode we take a sidestep into the field of positive psychology to discuss Christian’s latest book, co-edited by Paige Williams. Listen in as we consider how university students can access strategies, insights and hacks from some of the leading academics in the field of positive psychology as th...

River Gum Primary School: Robyn Trzeciak, Amy Parsons & Jordan Warren

June 23, 2022 04:11 - 33 minutes - 26.8 MB

Join me in this episode where I’m in conversation with Robyn Trzeciak, Amy Parsons and Jordan Warren. A group of young educational leaders who have a proven track record of empowering teachers to improve student outcomes. Through a collective, coaching approach, they have been able to build upon the well-established coaching culture at River Gum Primary School and have pushed the school’s learning growth even further, to some of the highest levels in the state of Victoria. This is a great ex...

River Gum Primary School: Roma McKinnon

June 23, 2022 04:07 - 36 minutes - 29.5 MB

Building a high performing team using a coaching approach to leadership. With over 40 years of experience in education, 20 of those as a Principal, Roma McKinnon is no stranger to developing school leadership teams. In this first of two episodes, Roma shares with us the ‘How’ of developing the capacity of senior leaders using a coaching approach. Learn about the wins and the challenges of Roma’s experience in both her role as Principal of River Gum PS in Melbourne as well as her school impro...

Brittany Rehal: Educators Flourishing

May 09, 2022 03:28 - 30 minutes - 24 MB

‘Educators Flourishing. A term that many school leaders would love to use to describe their team. Join us in conversation with educator flourishing specialist Brittany Rehal from California in the US, as we consider what this concept looks like in schools and how coaching could make a significant contribution to the numbers of flourishing educators in your school. Also in this episode, Brittany talks about the book she is writing on educator flourishing and encourages you, the listener, to c...

Brighton Grammar - Part 2 Raelene Plozza

April 18, 2022 22:17 - 33 minutes - 27.1 MB

This is GCI's second virtual visit to Brighton Grammar School in Melbourne Australia in a ‘double header’ episode of our Coaching in Education podcast series. Join us in conversation with the director of instructional coaching Raelene Plozza as we hear more about their well-established coaching culture but this time with a specific focus on Literacy. Listen in as Raelene shares why she considers Instructional Coaching to be the highest impact role of her career in education. This is an episo...

Brighton Grammar – Part 1 Dr Mark Dowley

April 11, 2022 22:41 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MB

In this first of two episodes based at Brighton Grammar School in Melbourne, GCI is in conversation with Dr Mark Dowley Associate Head of Staff Development and Instruction. Join us as Mark shares the incredible journey of how his school has developed and established a complex and highly effective coaching culture. With a team of fourteen coaches and a healthy mix of coach training from both Growth Coaching International and the Instructional Coaching Group, Brighton Grammar is an excellent e...

Amanda Samson: Hutton Consulting Australia

February 22, 2022 05:46 - 30 minutes - 24.5 MB

Are you an aspiring or emerging school leader? Or are you already in a leadership role and want to expand your reach or maybe consider a move to a leadership role in another school? Maybe you lead an executive team and want assistance in how to best recruit and position your staff? If it’s a yes to any of these then join me in conversation with Amanda Samson of Hutton Consulting Australia and learn about the impact coaching can have on your specific situation. In this episode Amanda shares h...

Alison Spence, Principal at Kohia Terrace School - Talking about Student Coaches

December 21, 2021 00:20 - 19 minutes - 17.1 MB

Enhancing the quality of conversations in educational communities. A key objective in the work of Growth Coaching International. For many of us we think immediately of adult conversations in staff meetings or board rooms, maybe even in the school corridors but what about conversations at student level? How do we enhance the quality of conversations between our students? In this episode of the Coaching in Education podcast series I’m in conversation with Alison Spence, Principal at Kohia Terr...

Alison Spence, Principal at Kohia Terrace School - Talking about Student Coaches

December 21, 2021 00:20

Enhancing the quality of conversations in educational communities. A key objective in the work of Growth Coaching International. For many of us we think immediately of adult conversations in staff meetings or board rooms, maybe even in the school corridors but what about conversations at student level? How do we enhance the quality of conversations between our students? In this episode of the Coaching in Education podcast series I’m in conversation with Alison Spence, Principal at Kohia Terr...

Mark Keenan, Principal of Maraetai Beach School in Auckland, New Zealand

December 20, 2021 23:49 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MB

In this episode I’m joined by Mark Keenan, Principal of Maraetai Beach School in Auckland, New Zealand. Join me in conversation with Mark as he shares the incredible coaching journey he and his staff and students have been on in the last three years. Mark emphasises the importance of a strategic approach to developing a coaching culture in a school and the need to regularly revisit the question of ‘Why?’. Mark gives us an insight into his theory behind starting small, building trust and rela...

Howick College - Paul Bennett

October 01, 2021 04:50 - 34 minutes - 27.8 MB

In this episode of the coaching in education podcast series we hear how Paul Bennett, Assistant Principal of Howick College in Auckland New Zealand, upscaled coaching in his school to a very impressive level. Paul shares how his initial attempts 'bombed' but with sheer determination and an eye on the research from schools around the world, he managed to turn things around. Howick College now boasts a coaching system where 12 specially trained coaches support an incredible 134 teachers on a f...

Ian Dickinson - Pigeon Mountain Primary School

August 26, 2021 23:12 - 45 minutes - 40.2 MB

In this episode I'm in conversation with Ian Dickinson, Principal of Pigeon Mountain Primary School in Auckland, New Zealand. Listen in as Ian shares many of the wins as well as some of the barriers he has experienced over recent years developing a coaching culture. Join me as I learn how video peer coaching has provided a wonderful vehicle for improving the quality of conversations as the school aims to provide an 'Education with a Heart'.

Janice Lenarduzzi - MacGregor State School

June 25, 2021 02:09 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MB

In this episode GCI speak with Janice Lenarduzzi, Deputy Principal at MacGregor State School in Queensland, Australia. Janice shares with us the successes and challenges of introducing a coaching culture in a large state school of over 50 staff and 1300 pupils. Starting out with only two coaches Janice invests time and energy in unpacking what coaching is, succeeds in convincing 50% of the staff to take a risk and sign up and then shares with us the impact coaching has on both teaching prac...

Alison Spence - Kohia Terrace School

June 07, 2021 04:55 - 32 minutes - 26.4 MB

In this episode I talk to Alison Spence, Principal of Kohia Terrace School in Auckland, New Zealand. Alison shares the highs (and lows) of establishing a coaching culture in her school. From a challenging first few years Alison has successfully developed coaching to a level where the majority of her staff are now trained coaches, an amazing sixty students have been trained as coaches and she herself spends time coaching leaders from neighbouring schools in the Kohia community. In Alison's o...

GCI Coaching in Education Podcast Re-Launch Episode

May 06, 2021 23:17 - 19 minutes - 18.7 MB

In this ‘re-launch’ episode of the Coaching in Education podcast, GCI Managing Director Chris Munro introduces our new podcast host Richard Reid and interviews him about his own coaching journey. As you will hear, Richard is a school leader who has experienced and witnessed the benefits of coaching in school settings. Richard continues to work as a Principal in County Down, Northern Ireland and is a podcasting enthusiast in his ‘spare’ time. He brings the warm and humble perspective of teach...

Better Conversations with Dr Jim Knight and Gray Ryan

March 16, 2020 03:18 - 18 minutes - 25.5 MB

“Effective communication is an essential skill for a fulfilled life, and we can’t teach it to students if we don’t know how to do it ourselves.” In this podcast, Leigh Hatcher interviews Dr Jim Knight about his new book, Better Conversations Coaching Ourselves and Each Other to Be More Credible, Caring, and Connected. He is joined by Gray Ryan, our Senior Consultant based in Victoria. Jim explores the beliefs and habits that are necessary to promote better communication leading to pos...

The School as a Conversational Community

December 02, 2018 22:01 - 11 minutes - 13.3 MB

In this podcast, Leigh talks to John Campbell, GCI Executive Director, on the topic of schools as conversational communities. John talks about conversational contexts in schools and where the coaching style conversation could make a difference.

Students as Peer Coaches

October 12, 2018 01:10 - 15 minutes - 20.9 MB

Do students have the emotional intelligence to coach their peers? And what would some of the other key considerations be for schools interested in implementing a student peer coaching program. In this short interview, we talk to Ben Calleja, Co-Director at GCI WA, SA & NT, who explains what others have found in this exciting new area of coaching.

Case Study - Laing O'Rourke

August 21, 2018 02:47 - 16 minutes - 22.8 MB

Over the last 18 months GCI Director, Annette Gray, helped initiate and embed a coaching culture to improve safety at Laing O’Rourke, a multinational construction company. Laing O’Rourke is a quite a different setting to the education sector that GCI mostly works in. But in this conversation, Rob and Suzy share a lot of transferrable insights for educators. Listen to how taking a different approach to safety and changing the conversation to be more solution-focussed has helped Laing O’Rourke...

Instructional Coaching and Growth Coaching International – New Partnership

July 02, 2018 20:00 - 15 minutes - 21.4 MB

Growth Coaching International (GCI) is excited to announce a new partnership with Dr Jim Knight and the Instructional Coaching Group (ICG). This partnership will enable GCI to deliver the world-leading instructional coaching programs to educators in Australia and New Zealand. In this interview, we talk with Jim about his work and what he’s discovered in over twenty years’ of studying professional learning.

Case Study Santa Maria College WA

June 29, 2018 00:37 - 20 minutes - 28.5 MB

Staff and students at Santa Maria College in Western Australia are encouraged to focus on growth. In this interview, Anthony Phillips and Shani Andrews share practical implementation tips and discuss the significant benefits of the Teacher Growth and Development Framework (GROW) program, a program designed to develop a culture of improvement with coaching and feedback in education.

Case Study - Hale School, Perth, WA

June 29, 2018 00:23 - 18 minutes - 25 MB

Schools are complex environments faced with unique issues. In order for staff and students to flourish, relationships within the school need to be really highly connected. Hale School in Perth WA has embraced coaching as a platform to enable people to connect more deeply, to talk about professional practice and to be able to rely on one another's opinions when challenged with complex issues. In this interview, Richard Goater, Director of Staff Development, explains how Hale uses a coachi...

Building Capacity, Cooperation and Confidence through Coaching

June 04, 2018 04:10 - 18 minutes - 25.5 MB

Peter Macbeth is passionate about building belief in young people. At the core of this drive to meet the needs of young people in their context is the focus on building relationships and on good communication, something which can be challenging in the far-flung areas of the Far West of New South Wales, Australia. In this interview, Peter explains how coaching has become a key strategy in the way in which they build the capacity, cooperation and confidence in the Far West.

Impactful Transformation Begins With Small Steps

May 24, 2018 01:59 - 18 minutes - 25.8 MB

Change happens from very small steps - those small steps can make a huge impact. This is a follow-up interview with Elena Joli, a science teacher who went to Antarctica to help make an impact on climate change and in the process discovered a new, more personal understanding of the concept of ‘leadership’. You will hear how Elena, with the encouragement of coach Annette Gray, dared to step out of her comfort zone and explore her own resourcefulness, taking her transformation beyond the ex...

Using a Coaching Approach to Grow the Capacity of Beginning Teachers

May 08, 2018 01:20 - 15 minutes - 21.1 MB

Exposing graduate teachers to models of good practice involves navigating along the conversational continuum between mentoring and coaching. This is a school-based story about how using a blended approach to mentoring and coaching, as needed, supports beginning teachers. In this interview, Sue Richards, a former school leader with 40 years’ experience and current GCI coach, explains how she changed her default approach from mentoring beginning teachers to coaching them, allowing them to t...

Case Study - Woonona High School NSW

April 22, 2018 22:59 - 16 minutes - 23 MB

A coaching approach underpins the Woonona High School approach to professional learning, resulting in significant improvements in student learning outcomes. In this interview, Belinda Wall, former Principal at Woonona and, since 2018, a Director with NSW public schools, describes how staff embraced coaching as a way to engage in a rich dialogue around their professional practice, and how students are being supported in a way that encourages them to accept responsibility for their learning ...

How your Professional Conversations can Lead to New Learning

April 22, 2018 22:19 - 15 minutes - 21.6 MB

Learning how to effectively conduct professional conversations can achieve real change. Since the release of an important publication from AITSL, written by Professor Helen Timperley and focusing on professional conversations and improvement focused feedback, a lot of people are thinking more deeply about the term ‘professional conversations’ and what this means. Dr Kristine Needham, Emeritus Consultant to GCI, believes it's important to get some clarity on these terms and what they mean t...

Performance Development Conversations

March 02, 2018 05:47 - 17 minutes - 23.7 MB

Performance Development conversations are usually ‘cascading conversations’ which can set the direction for Peer Coaching conversations. In this interview, we talk to Grant O’Sullivan about how a coaching approach is useful in these types of conversations and we explore how, and why, effective schools establish a viable link between Performance Development conversations and the Peer Coaching conversations.

How Coaching is Helping a Science Teacher Achieve her Antarctica Dream

March 02, 2018 05:45 - 12 minutes - 17.5 MB

As a child, Italian science teacher and physicist Elena Joli (Ph.D) dreamed about visiting Antarctica. In this inspiring interview, Elena, and her coach Annette Gray, explain how she has finally been able to achieve this goal as she heads off on the adventure of a lifetime with a ground-breaking year-long Women in Leadership program which is developed by Homeward Bound and aims to empower women in STEMM to influence climate change. You’ll hear how Elena came to be involved in this project ...

Using a Strengths-Based Approach in Education and at Home

March 02, 2018 05:40 - 20 minutes - 28.7 MB

As teachers and parents, how can we put the new scientific insights into using a strength-based approach into practise to help build resilience and optimism in children and teens? In this inspiring interview, Professor Lea Waters shares practical tips on how we can identify, grow and call forward strengths in real-life situations at school and at home.

Case Study - Churchlands Senior High School WA, Australia

March 02, 2018 05:37 - 16 minutes - 22.3 MB

Kate Grayson feels fortunate to have been coached by some wonderfully supportive people very early in her school career. Going through that process inspired her become a champion of coaching in her role as Deputy Principal at Churchlands Senior High School in WA. In this interview, you will hear how Kate uses a coaching approach to inspire the development of others so that they can confidently meet the demands of their rapidly growing school community.

Getting Started With Coaching in Your Schools

March 02, 2018 05:33 - 17 minutes - 23.9 MB

You’ve completed your coach training and are keen to start implementing coaching in your school. But where to start? In this short interview, Chris Munro, Growth Coaching Senior Consultant, gives us some practical tips on what happens after the workshop – moving from learning about coaching and how to do it, to actually enacting it in your local context.

Using a Solutions Focus Coaching Approach in School Improvement Strategies

March 02, 2018 05:28 - 17 minutes - 23.4 MB

Maria Serafim is a Director with NSW public schools where she has worked for more than a decade and currently supports 32 Principals. Maria is well-known to many in the field of education leadership, in particular for her application of a ‘Solutions Focused’ coaching approach to strategy and planning. Maria’s story is an important one in terms of engaging, learning and growing for impact and improvement in education.

Coaching in Education Podcast Series

Episodes