Presidents
Report June 2003
Since November
last year PEC has been actively involved in advocacy and committee
work with committees in DET. PEC has been invited to be on the
"Primary Education Development Committee", led by
Phil Lambert and the "School Leadership Reference Group",
led by Rob Randall; two valuable working committees which are
helping to develop future policy, commitments and concepts.
Our continued
membership on the board of directors for PTC, the Professional
Teacher's Council, has also enabled us to convey our concerns
and values to several meetings with the Minister of Education
and the President of the Board of Studies. The close involvement
with PTC has also enabled us to contribute to surveys and feedback
for the interim Committee for the Institue of Teachers. Throughout
2003 I have on your behalf addressed issues on Public Education
values, future leadership strategies and assisted in the implementation
of the Deputy Principal's Induction Program for 2003.
The limited
opportunities for training and development, the promotion of
colleagues on the board and the inability of some directors
to commit to PEC has challenged the planning and future direction
the PEC needs to take for 2003. The planned AGM has to be moved
to August and more information on this very important event
will be posted soon. There will be opportunities for all interested
members to be involved in some positive changes, innovative
ventures and a more inclusive association. The DET restructure
and the redirection of TAD funds has given us the challenge
to be innovative and focussed on the important needs of leadership
and TAD.
President's
Report June 2002
This is my first report for Primary Executive Council for the
2002/ 2003 year. I hope that everyone is fit and well and no
doubt you are all working very hard at this time of the year.
Reports, assessment, profiling, interviews and other important
activities are taking up time energy and effort. I hope the
flu hasn't knocked you down.
PEC
has had a very busy start to the year. I have represented the
Primary Executive Council in a meeting with Rob Randall, Director
of Training and Development, discussing the needs of primary
school executives. In many ways, the injection of funds to school
districts for training and development has realised the needs
of colleagues around the state. Hopefully the funding and the
district's organising committees continue to work with colleagues.
This important "innovation" from the Department of
Education and Training should be applauded and I urge you to
take full opportunity of district courses. Find out who are
the shakers and movers in your district and have an input into
training and development in your area.
I
was also fortunate enough, as a member of a working committee
for the Professional Teacher's Council of NSW, to meet with
the Minister for Education, Mr John Watkins. We discussed the
importance of the Department to consult and refer to member
associations, including the Primary Executive Council of NSW,
when changes and policy implementations effected colleagues.
We also discussed with Mr Watkins the value of professional
associations such as our own as untapped resource of skilled
and effective practitioners who were willing to support and
encourage fellow colleagues in their own professional growth.
Our
new PEC Board for the 2002 and 2003 has been working very hard
also. A draft Action Plan has been devised which will assist
in guiding us throughout the duration of our tenure as well
as a list of "professional interests" has been compiled
which will help us to become more proactive and responsive to
sudden demands placed upon associations to provide feedback
or contribute personnel to working committees and surveys. If
you, as a member of the Primary Executive Committee have an
interest in special topics or KLA's and would like to contribute
to surveys or be a members of a committee please contact me.
Board
members have contacted colleagues in districts for information
regarding district training and development activities, reports
and establishing new networks and contact people. If you know
of something wonderful going on in your district contact us
here at PEC. News, leadership programs and training and development
information is valuable for everyone.
This
week for example, four members of the board will be attending
an emergency feedback session to the Vinson Report. As this
newsletter goes to print we are actively involved in information
gathering for PEC members. What we find out will be published
next newsletter.
Finally
, please come along to our next evening/ dinner meeting. Robyn
Whalan, Fairfield District Guidance Officer will speak about
Stress Management- a topic we all need help with and Marilyn
Parker, the Daily Telegraph Educational Columnist will speak
to us about "The Public's Perception of Schools."
See the accompanying Flyer.
No
doubt you will have a very busy term, will be madly planning
for next term, have many stressful encounters with "things",
feel unwanted, overworked and underpaid but we all love it !
Good luck and I'll see you at the dinner early next term.
Wes Chia
February
2002 Newsletter
Presidents
Report
2001 has been a very promising year with new contacts in both
existing and new PEC networks across the state. Our first Leadership
Award was a great success as great executives are being recognized
for the work, which they do above and beyond the call of duty.
The web site has been updated under the management of our new
Web Master Janette Ortlepp. Hedley Mooney assisted many middle
managers in the preparation of effective CVs. 2002 is shaping
up to be another successful year. We look forward to hearing
from your network.
Network Reports
It is great for us to share what is happening within our district-based
networks and we thank the contributors for their input to this
newsletter.
Bondi
Bondi District network are holding a whole day conference on
12 June. Robert De Costella speaking about a sports kit, which
he has developed, will open the conference. Other topics include
Consistency Of Teacher Judgment and Effective Leadership.
Port Jackson
Port Jackson District PEC Network will be holding their first
meeting this year on Wednesday 6th March 2002 4:00pn - 6:00pm
at the State Equity Centre, Erskineville. At the meeting executive,
who have recently been relieving as principal will share their
expertise on "WHAT TO DO WHEN THE BOSS IS AWAY". This
should be great support to all executive, who move into relieving
positions throughout the year. The SEOII / T&D will also
be outlining the District Staff Development Day which will be
providing a range of activities and seminars to meet a wide
range of needs of primary teachers within the district.
Parramatta
Anne Forbes, Deputy Principal of Matthew Pearce PS has held
a survey to ascertain the needs of the district. Activities
will be developed as a result of this survey. Contact Anne if
you would like to be involved.
Western Sydney
Graeme Roberts, Windsor Public School, organizer for this district,
is currently underway in planning for a full day conference
at Penrith Panthers on 22 May 2002. Details will be available
on our website as they come available.
PEC Coordinating Committee
The Primary Executive Council of New South Wales coordinating
committee meets each month to plan Training and Development
activities, coordinate the website and write the newsletter.
Maintaining links with district networks is an integral part
of the committees' responsibilities. If you would like to organize
conferences, contribute items for discussion or raise issues
or present items for inclusion in the website please contact
our Vice President, Janette Ortlepp at Eastwood Public School.
Ph: - 98741600 prior to the meeting dates. The coordinating
committee will meet at Balmain Leagues Club in The Legends Room
from 4.00 to 6.00 on the following Tuesday evenings: -
19th March
30th April
28th May
25th June
30th July
27th August
24th September
22nd October
26th November
Please feel free to attend if you would like to participate
at the state level. Contact: - PEC President, Kim McTernan
at Chatswood PS
Ph: - 94196127
WEB SITES
The Primary Executive Council of New South Wales
www.pa.ash.org.au/pecnsw
Your LEADERSHIP FORUM
www.egroups.com/list/pecnsw
Treasurers
Information
Some Districts have expressed an interest in utilising PEC's
ABN Number and GST Accounting System to help their own organisation
of financial management. If your Network is interested please
contact
Wes Chia at Smithfield West Public School. (02) 96043161.
Two districts have availed themselves of the facility now provided
by PEC to meet financial legalities of GST requirements. Both
Bondi and Port Jackson networks sent all monies through the
treasurer of PEC NSW. The ease in which GST requirements were
met indicates that the GST guidelines of cell networks (PEC
networks) accessing the principal body (PECNSW) to meet their
GST responsibilities works satisfactorily. Therefore there is
no need for network groups to be intimidated by the GST as funded
conferences and workshops can still occur as for pre- GST as
PEC NSW has an ABN. The decision last year for PEC to acquire
an ABN has proven to be the right one.
Membership
Drive
The Primary Executive Council of NSW has the potential to be
the largest professional teachers' association in New South
Wales. As such it would be in a position to have a significant
impact on the future directions of education.
Encourage your executive colleagues to join and contribute to
the profession. Please pass on the attached membership form
so that we can grow as an association and be more effective
in our role as decision makers within the educational arena
Executive
Response Survey.
The unhappiness and disappointment in your jobs expressed in
the responses to the last newsletters survey indicates the overall
level of professional frustration and difficulties experienced
by us all. Not one survey indicated a level of satisfaction
that would be deemed acceptable.
More survey responses are needed if PEC is to follow up on this
project. PEC NSW or your local PEC network or similar professional
association surely needs members who wish to make a difference
to our profession. Join, participate and be heard.
We all know our job is difficult and much is expected of us
in this profession. At the AGM all positions will be spilled
and new people will be asked to come forward to be part of an
association that has a position on the Professional Teacher's
Council.
Generalisations of responses to the survey were: - 1- half to
one day per week is required to meet administrative duties and
responsibilities.
2- 3- extra RFF can be obtained through the use of other programs
such as Community Languages, buying extra RFF time through employing
casuals and supplementing DET funding for executive release.
4- salary increases ranged from $5000 to $20000.
5- Overall feeling of being unappreciated, overworked, underpaid,
undervalued and a constant battle between classroom responsibilities
and duties as an executive in an administrative role.
Complete
the survey and have your say.
Annual
Conference and AGM
The annual conference and AGM provides opportunities for delegates
from every district across the state to come together to discuss
issues for middle managers, share ideas and successful practices
and participate in professional development. The PEC subsidises
travel costs of delegates from remote areas to encourage representation
of all districts.
Motions for the AGM
At the 2002 AGM, the following motion will be presented for
discussion and vote: -
"That the PEC NSW offer to schools a "School Membership"
fee of $75 which will enable all of the school's executive to
be admitted to PEC functions as financial members for the current
year."
PEC
Newsletter - October 2001
President's
Report
We
are fast coming to the end of another year where we have tried
to cram as many things into the school year as possible. You
are all to be commended on your ingenuity and time management
skills in accommodating the additions to the already crowded
curriculum.
Members of the PEC Board have been busy this year advocating
the position of Executives in schools through the Joint Council
and through Professor Tony Vinson. He is coordinating a study
into Public Education the results of which will be tabled in
Parliament. He is visiting schools and also taking submissions
from teachers, schools and community groups. Here is a chance
for us to be heard and to further our cause.
HAVE
you visited the updated Website
http://www.pa.ash.org.au/pecnsw
(thanks to Janette Ortlepp)?
Thanks to the many delegates in all the Districts who have organized
Professional Development for the many Executives in their area.
It
is important that District bodies provide us with information
of any Training and Development activities so that we can promote
them on the Website and the Newsletter. Visiting the Website
will also allow you to express views and participate in forums,
which will help us in the representation of the Primary Executive
on many other Panels and Forums.
The Forum on the Website, Education and the Future of Schooling,
is a chance for you to give feedback on the needs as perceived
by you of Executive and schools. It is an opportunity for us
all to engage in public dialogue.
Are
you currently getting enough Release Time? Do you get Executive
Release?
We
have attached a survey to this newsletter
to help in our correlation of information in regards to Executive
release - a contentious issue in many schools. It is a must
however if we are to function effectively in the school. We
intend to take this issue to Joint Council and to Parlimentary
Representatives in an effort to gain time to carry out our administrative
duties
Leadership
2001 Award
Part of the PEC role is to recognize the contributions that
Executives and Executive Teams make to their school. Each school
will receive a nomination form through the school Email. Nominate
someone who you feel fits the criteria. Submissions will
be judged and winners will be announced at the AGM. It is just
another way of promoting the brilliant work done by all Executive
and help to further enhance Public Education.
On
behalf of the PEC board I would like to wish you all a Merry
Christmas and wish those going for Promotion the best of Luck.
Report
on Anyone For Promotion?
Anyone for Promotion Conference.
Balmain Leagues Club
11th September 2001
This,
being my first published report in the PEC Newsletter should
start with a really big beginning.
It
was a dark and stormy night...... the flickering lights of the
pokies and the aroma of the Hahn Lites wafted in the air as
the buxom blonde entered the room. Suddenly, the colt 38 fired.....
No,
the Anyone for Promotion Conference?@ was more exciting than
any detective novel.
Our
fellow executives met at Balmain Leagues Club for a dinner conference
on 11th September. Judy Doherty, Deputy Principal from Eastwood
P.S, Bill Bird, Principal from Croydon Park P.S. and Mr Hedley
Mooney, Superintendent from Fairfield District, were the speakers
on the night. They shared their experiences and strategies with
us.
Their
knowledge was valued and appreciated by all. Their experience
in applying for executive positions was shared in workshop size
groups. Handy hints, listing key words, phrases and writing
styles were given out as handouts. Questions were encouraged
and anyone who was feeling disheartened about the process certainly
found out that they were not alone. All those who apply for
positions know of the frustrations, heartache and difficulties
in unsuccessful application.
Hedley,
Bill and Judy all stated that the process of completing your
application is difficult, long term and requires constant rewrites.
The interview itself is again, difficult to reach, difficult
to succeed in and requires feedback from the convenor. It is
essential that all unsuccessful applicants get feedback, as
this is the only way to get information.
Hedley
made the point that when an individual embarks on the journey
of applying for promotion,
make sure that that is what you really want to do and to keep
going, always refining and changing you application to reflect
new ideas and to use the information gleaned from the panel
convenors.
After
flowers, gifts of appreciation and words of thanks were given;
a lovely dinner, desserts, drinks and wine were had by all.
Balmain Leagues certainly provides excellent service and makes
a marvellous venue for future conferences.
There
is no term four PEC conference, but remember to keep your ears
open for the AGM meeting in term one next year. Everyone who
participates in the conferences goes away with information,
knowledge and a network of support.
....the silver bullet flashed past her wispy blonde locks. Her
red lips curled into a curious smile. AWhat the ! A she thought..............
District Reports
Ryde
District
On 18th September Ryde District held an executive seminar on
Staff Welfare, Staff Development and Staff Management. Approx
30 executive attended this afternoon. Topics covered assisted
participants to: Promote a collegial and cooperative culture
in your school, Support team effectiveness, Encourage individual
development, Clarify the Duties of School Staff, Ensure staff
appropriately exercise their responsibilities and Share and
lighten the load.
Educational leaders with proven track records in facilitating
personal and professional growth in staff led discussions on
management models and evaluated best practice pedagogy.
Contact: Darlene Arkanstall, Ryde D.O.
Albury
- PEST
The Albury Network will be holding its bi-ennial conference
for middle executive in 2002. At present the co-coordinators
are in the planning phase and are seeking interest re topics
from local members. The Primary Principals Council in relation
to speakers and sponsors has supported them. At the last PEST
meting two local teachers spoke about their extended practicum
projects. Elaine Kirk from Tabletops P.S. described her HSIE
resource collection, which included lots of relevant internet
sites. Karen Armour from Hume P.S. spoke about her project in
PD, Health and PE, which extended the Get Skilled Get Active
resource, to all stages.
The research projects are possible as part of Charles Sturt
University Year 4 Practicum. Teachers supervise student teachers
for the first two weeks then take three to four weeks to complete
an approved research project.
Contact: John Dent, Lavington East P.S.
Batemans Bay / Queanbeyan
Early in 2002, Queanbeyan Network will
be hosting a middle executive conference.
On 22nd June 2001 Batemans Bay hosted a conference on Quality
Schools. Colin Walters, District Superintendent spoke about
what is happening in Education generally and Batemans Bay District
specifically. David Brown a consultant from the Deadening in
Victoria spoke about how middle executive can support teachers
through the process of engaging students. (highly recommended
speaker) These activities were highly appreciated by the participants.
Contact: Sue Britton, HSIE Consultant, Queanbeyan D.O.
Teacher Education and the Future of Schooling
Dr Jim McMorrow - PTC conference AGM.
The
following is a set of notes recorded at the AGM of the Professional
Teacher's Council, NSW. On current scenarios of educational
systems prepared by the OECD.
Notes themselves are not necessarily valuable unless you are
present at the conference but they are here for your information
and what you can get out of them.
Wes Chia
OECD-
recent policy of the future of education announced several scenarios
for the future of schooling and teaching as a profession, which
have direct impact, and implications for teachers.
- Someway the OECD announcement links in with the Ramsey Review,
which has a medium to long-term futurist viewpoint.
Overall there are three categories-
- maintain status quo/ extend
- reschooling
- deschooling
0f these three groups there are six scenarios that education
systems are pursuing.
1- Robust Bureaucratic School system features: - strong bureaucracies
resistant to change, limited resources for schools, emphasis
on curriculum, external assessment, focus on credentials.
Implications: - teachers as public servants, industrial relations
are the focus of communication between employer and teachers,
professional status and reward is problematic.
2- Extended Market Model features:- reshaping of public funding
to Achoice@ and encouragement of private investment, market
currencies, indicators and benchmarking, public monitoring and
regulation decline, greater diversity and inequity, govt=s role
is to foster dissatisfaction among consumers.
Implications:- less distinct teaching face, new range of teacher
professionals, new professionals available in area of residential/market
opportunities, flourishing trade in training and accreditation
of professional training.
3- Schools as Care Centres features: - high levels of public
trust/funding, schools as centres of community and social capital,
greater diversity of social equity, greater resource equity,
school autonomy and shared roles.
Implications: - core of high status of teaching profession not
necessarily a full life time career, varied conditions, but
significant increases for all, prominent role of other professionals,
community and parents.
4-Schools as Learning Organisation features: - high levels of
public trust, schools and teacher networking as learning organisations,
strong quality and equity, quality standards rather than accountability
measures the primary means of control.
Implications: - high status of teaching profession, greater
mobility, varied conditions; focus on quality and innovation,
networking among teachers.
5- Deschooling features: - rejection of organised systems, non-formal
learning, communities of interest, serious inequalities.
Implication: - community blur, no distinct role of teaching,
new learning professionals emerge, new centres, hotlines, home
visits..., teachers focus on technologies and materials rather
than direct control between teacher and learner.
6- Deschooling- Teacher Exodus- Meltdown features- ongoing teacher
profile- returning from retirement, teacher shortage, retrenchment,
conflict, falling standards, some innovation, uneven, serious
inequities.
Implications: - teacher rewards for some, teacher conditions
worsen, ineffective attempt to bring back teachers (especially
retired teachers), home tuition market flourishes well.
The
Teaching Profession.....
-needs to network- we need one body that will express its core
values
-don't panic
-2000-2010 govt teachers- approx 12000
non-govt teachers- approx 18000
-ugly competition for teachers/ students
-increase in home schooling
-meltdown is a serious issue
-best scenario is 1,3,4
-teachers need to accept responsibility for their own system.
