Leadership Learning

Written by Mr James Phillips (Executive Director: People and Culture)

03 February 2026

 

Aitken College’s focus for the year is Improving Learning Outcomes. This theme transcends not only student learning but also staff learning, to ensure our staff have access to the latest educational trends to facilitate best practice learning and teaching.

Before the return of students, all staff who have leadership responsibility attended our annual Leadership Development Day.

We were privileged to have Jill Lange-Mohr OAM, a former principal of independent schools, as well as a distinguished corporate career, facilitate workshops on managing and embracing change. We also had Madelaine Imber from MI Consulting who is recognised as an educational strategist who regularly works with key leaders in schools to support their development, specifically focusing on driving student learning. Madelaine’s session focused on coaching essentials to support leaders coach teachers and school support staff. In addition, the entire leadership begun co-creating leadership principles, to document and articulate how we lead as a group and individually.

While taking part in the day herself, Principal Josie Crisara OAM, was able to also reflect on her own leadership but commented “how terrific it was to see leaders at all levels of Aitken College working together for one common purpose; our students”, continuing by saying “it is very powerful when leaders reflect on their own impact and the part they play to bring out the best and grow everyone they interact with”.