DoE Principals' Conference
Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 127 No 8, 2 November 2022, page no. 19
In October, 1,400 state school principals and senior education leaders travelled from across Queensland to Brisbane for the first in-person Principals’ Conference since 2019.
Education Minister Grace Grace opened the conference by announcing that targeted consultation would begin on the department’s new Equity and Excellence Strategy: Realising the Potential of Every Student, a vision for the future of education in Queensland. The Director-General of Education, Michael De’Ath, then outlined the new draft strategy. Day 2 of the conference provided the opportunity for principals and senior education leaders to attend workshops to discuss this strategy and provide feedback.
The focus of the draft strategy
Educational achievement – having a common goal that every student achieves at least one year of learning growth each year and having clear expectations for schools and helping them to differentiate support, so every student realises their potential.
Wellbeing and engagement – knowing each student and understanding what works best for them, as well as recognising the importance of engagement and wellbeing for staff and students in achieving learning outcomes.
Culture and inclusion – embracing diversity by creating welcoming, inclusive, and accessible educational settings and valuing the student, community, and stakeholder voice in approaches to teaching and learning.
The system initiatives outlined in the draft strategy
Educational leadership and teaching expertise – empowering educators and leaders to build professional expertise across their career through high quality, targeted development opportunities.
Digital innovation in teaching and learning – embedding future-focused learning practices that connect students and teachers across Queensland.
Education performance and support – setting system priorities and differentiated support targeted to each school’s context and needs.
Integrated responses and education precincts – integrated planning, design, and delivery of education across schools, early years services, and community partners, to respond to the changing needs of communities.
Revitalised educational infrastructure – driving sustainable investment to optimise and renew education infrastructure across the school network.
The QTU held a series of online forums with school leaders in the month after the conference to gather feedback to inform our response to the department.
The QTU has been a major sponsor of these conferences since their inception, as we see this as an important opportunity to engage and network with our school leader membership. The QTU values our school leader members, and this conference gives us a chance to hear the issues affecting them, and consequently affecting all members in schools. The QTU believes that the membership of both education leaders and teachers is one of our greatest strengths. By representing both groups, the Union enables greater collaboration.
The QTU exhibitor prize was won by two principals for their school and has a coffee theme.
- Kellie Stanton, principal of Bracken Ridge State School – QTU sponsored coffee van visit for staff
- Stacey Cottam, principal of Byfield State School – coffee machine and pods.
To every school leader who visited our booth – it was great to see you!