Our guest this episode, Paul Taylor, shares his educational journey as a learner, leader and innovator, whose passion for creating a better world drives him to seek and implement transformative learning that empowers students, and educators, to be their best selves. He discusses how the two big questions, "Do I understand?" and "How do I do this well?" guide him as a learner and leader. Paul's belief in supporting staff to empower learners to take responsibility for the development of both their own character and academic growth and to contribute to a better world, drives his work as a leader. 

Paul's inspirational, influential and impactful recommendations:

People - Educators outside your own school who do things that you want to know more about

Book - An Ethic of Excellence by Ron Berger

Podcast - John Hattie

Cause - Domestic Violence; Ration Challenge: Raising Funds for Refugees

Dream Travel Destination - Switzerland

Connect with Paul:

Banora Point Primary School - 07 5524 1444 

Twitter - @pdtaylor73 @i_on_the_Future 

Deeper Learning - deeperlearning.com.au 

Paul Taylor is Principal of Banora Point PS (enrolment 590) on the far North Coast of NSW. Over a 27-year career Paul has taught all grades, held all executive roles in NSW DoE schools and worked internationally as a classroom teacher in West Yorkshire.

Paul was fortunate to be the recipient of two NSW Premier’s Teacher Scholarships in 2004 and 2005 and was a state finalist in the 2015 Australian Teaching Awards. Paul was named in The Educator Magazine ‘Top 40 Hotlist’ in 2016 and has sat on the judging panel of these awards since 2018.

Paul is the founder and leader of iOnTheFuture Events. iOTF conferences grew rapidly in the 20 teens, with 900 teachers from 210 schools attending the 2019 iOTF6 event. Over the years the annual iOTF conference has hosted luminaries such as Ron Berger, Larry Rosenstock, Eric Mazur, Scott Hartl, Bob Lenz, Stephen Harris and Mark Scott. For the 2020 year, Paul has moved the focus of iOTF Events away from ‘the why’ of education change and a one day conference, to ‘the how’ with practical three day institutes (in partnership with PBL Works and EL Education) that drill deep down into the learning design and instructional practice required to help students develop ownership of and purpose for learning.

Under Paul’s leadership, the Banora Point PS staff team have transformed teaching and learning, pioneering the introduction of student engaged assessment practices as found in EL Education’s Leaders Of Their Own Learning materials. Through this work, staff have empowered learners to take responsibility for the development of both their own character and academic growth and to contribute to a better world.