May 05, 2024

E90 | Fostering Empathy and Personal Growth with Simon Shepherd, Principal at Westminster School Adelaide

58 minutes

In this episode of the ‘Ed Leaders’ podcast, Luke Callier and Mathew Irving are joined by special guest Simon Shepherd, principal at Westminster School Adelaide, who shares invaluable insights on fostering empathy and personal growth within leadership roles.

Learn about the transformative experiences at Westminster School Adeliade, where empathy is championed and a culture of growth is cultivated. Simon emphasizes the importance of preparing students with essential life skills, focusing on emotional intelligence and practical tools beyond academic knowledge.

Discover how the future of education is shaped by the integration of AI technology and the advocacy for micro credentialing. Delve into topics such as empathy in education, the significance of professional development for growth, and the often-overlooked contributions of maintenance teams within schools.

Don't miss out on this enlightening discussion that celebrates the power of empathy and growth in shaping leaders for tomorrow's world. Tune in now!

Highlights:

(02:08) Simon Sheppard's diverse educational journey.

(06:29) Benefits of experiencing different leadership styles.

(08:43) Importance of continuous learning and empathy in education.

(14:45) Evolution of staff coaching and collaboration within the school.

(18:19) Council approval of an unlimited number of highly accomplished lead teachers.

(21:52) Proposal of measuring success based on graduates' outcomes seven years after school.

(24:27) The importance of relationships in teaching, and the challenge of allowing appropriate discomfort for growth.

(28:26) Introduction of "adventurous education" in the school's strategic plan, empowering students to pursue subjects they are passionate about despite potential challenges.

(34:49) Emphasis on making oneself redundant as a school leader by empowering the team, focusing on humanity and humility in education.

(36:33) Striving to ask more questions than making statements, empowering others to make decisions, and the importance of using third-party guidance.

(40:39) The relationship between principals and school councils, blending the idealized model with reality.

(47:31 ) The future of education, focusing on emotional intelligence and application of knowledge.

(49:24) The micro-credentialing and providing practical life skills to students.

(51:22) Reference to professional development experiences and the importance of understanding leadership concepts.

(51:46) Advocacy for national teacher registration and a unified curriculum.

(52:01) Recommendation of the book "Humble" by Darrell van Tongren.

Links:

Website: Westminster School Adelaide

LinkedIn: Simon Shepherd

You can also connect with us personally at LinkedIn:

Luke Callier - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ljcallier/⁠

Mathew Irving - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathew-irving-b6b91430/

Special thanks to our partners:

People Bench - https://peoplebench.com.au/

Paperly - https://paperly.education/

Head on over to edleaders.com.au to hear more about our journey. If you'd like to know more about being a guest or would like to sponsor our show - check out https://www.edleaders.com.au/collabs

Signup to the Edleaders Newsletter: Head on over to edleaders.com.au to hear more about our journey. If you'd like to know more about being a guest or would like to sponsor our show - check out https://www.edleaders.com.au/collabs

As always if you have questions, feedback, or a suggestion from a leader you'd like to hear from - send us a message! Please remember if you have a spare minute, please leave us a review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player which will help more like-minded school leaders discover us.

Go Well.

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By Luke Callier and Mathew Irving