Skye Staude is a dedicated educator and leader, with over a decade of experience driving instructional improvement across independent, government, and Catholic school sectors. As Principal at MacKillop Education in Geelong - a specialist setting supporting young people impacted by complex trauma and disrupted schooling - Skye champions literacy as a foundation for equity, engagement, and lifelong learning.

Holding a Master of Instructional Leadership from the University of Melbourne and a Diploma of Community Services Work, Skye is Dare to Lead™ certified, having completed Brené Brown’s research-based program on courageous leadership. She recently completed the Women in Schools Advanced Leadership Program, further strengthening her commitment to gender equity and inclusive leadership in education. Her work is grounded in evidence-based literacy practices and the belief that language and literacy are central to connection, belonging, and wellbeing.

Skye has presented extensively on trauma-informed and inclusive literacy strategies, focusing on building educator capacity to support vulnerable and at-risk students. Her leadership promotes whole-school approaches that dismantle barriers to learning and create environments where every student can feel safe, belong and thrive.

In 2020, alongside Megan Corcoran from the Wagtail Institute, Skye founded the RewirED Leadership Network- a collaborative community of leaders from flexible, specialist, and alternative education settings committed to professional learning, networking, and problem-solving across sectors.

Known for her calm, intentional leadership, Skye brings both strategic insight and practical expertise to her work. She is deeply committed to equipping educators to lead with courage and care, creating environments where literacy becomes a lever for transformation and equity, especially in complex educational contexts.

Show notes

[pending]

This episode was produced by Jonathan Raz.

Dr Briony Schroor is the Domain Leader for English at Nossal High School, Victoria’s first fully academically selective coeducational government high school, and one of only four academically selective high schools in the state. Briony has a PhD in Classical Greek Literature and she is an avid reader who enjoys engaging with all sorts of texts. Briony joined Nossal High School as a teacher of English and Literature in 2014. She has extensive teaching experience in Australia and England. Briony very much values the discussion of texts within her domain, and in the school community more broadly.

Show notes

(coming soon)

This episode was produced by Jonathan Raz. 

Xanthi Rice has been a teacher for more than 20 years, with extensive experience in classroom practice, leadership, and system-level support. She worked with the Wimmera South West School Improvement Team as a DSSI (Differentiated Support for School Improvement) Teaching Partner for three years, partnering closely with schools across the region to strengthen and transform their approaches to literacy instruction. In this role, she led professional learning, facilitated communities of practice, supported curriculum planning, developed documentation, and designed units of work that build teacher capacity and improve student outcomes. With the team she developed a F-2 community of practice that lead to a bigger initiative, the Literacy Learning Community, that involved over 70 schools across the area as they worked to develop high quality literacy practices across their schools. Xanthi has also served as Acting Principal and a leading teacher at Donald Primary School, where she applied her expertise in both instructional leadership and school operations. Most recently, she has been seconded to the Department’s Phonics Lesson Plans Unit, to develop the Phonics Plus program—an initiative designed to provide high-quality, evidence-based systematic synthetic phonics resources for Victorian schools. She has been writing lesson plans, supporting resources and developing professional learning series for teachers, school leaders, area and regional workforce as they support the implementation of Phonics Plus. Through these experiences, Xanthi has developed a deep understanding of literacy pedagogy, change leadership, and collaborative professional learning, with a commitment to supporting teachers and leaders to deliver the best outcomes for students.

Terri Hibbert began her career in education after completing a Bachelor of Science in Disability Studies at Deakin University and a Graduate Diploma of Education at Monash University. Since then, she has taught across Victoria, NSW, and internationally in London, gaining a rich perspective on diverse teaching contexts. Terri's journey led her to Warrnambool East Primary School, where she holds her substantive position. Along the way, she’s been inspired by exceptional leaders and colleagues, motivating her to take on roles such as Teaching Partner and now EIL. These experiences have deepened her passion for instructional coaching and her commitment to driving literacy outcomes.

Show notes

(to be added shortly)

This episode was produced by Jonathan Raz.

Stephanie Le Lievre is Principal of Serpentine Primary School in Western Australia. She’s also a Commonwealth Bank Schools Plus Fellow and the co-director of Science of Teaching and Learning Australia (SOTLA). Steph has been a Deputy Principal, and Literacy Leader, and she’s worked in rural and remote communities. Steph has left her mark wherever she’s been. She’s done an enormous amount to close the research to practice gap and continues to advocate for curriculum, assessment, and teaching reforms, as well as teacher and leader workload reductions. You may know Steph from Reading Science in Schools (the former online educator community), or as the project lead for the Syntax Project, working alongside Rebecca Glasson, Christina Guy, and Jasmyn Hall. The Syntax Project is now of course housed at Ochre Education and widely used across schools. Steph has also been very generous in sharing the work she’s done at her school, including publishing novel studies and knowledge units, and leadership and reporting documentation.

Show notes

(to be added shortly)

This episode was produced by Jonathan Raz.

Michelle Winch completed degrees in biomedical science and biotechnology before moving into education through the Teach for Australia program. While at Colac Secondary College, she earned a Master of Teaching and later a Master of Instructional Leadership at the University of Melbourne. She has held various teaching and leadership roles in mathematics, literacy, and science, and now leads teaching and learning across the school. Michelle is currently working with the Curriculum and Teaching Practice Division on the Victorian Lesson Plans project. She is committed to ensuring all students access high-quality instruction and sees curriculum design and implementation as the foundation of consistent, purposeful, and impactful teaching.

Show notes

(to be added shortly)

This episode was produced by Jonathan Rav.

Emma Castelow is an Assistant Principal at Lara Lake Primary School, in the northern suburbs of Geelong. As an experienced teacher and leader, Emma has worked across various primary school contexts as well as for the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority, and in a regional role for the Department of Education as an Education Improvement Leader. In her role as Assistant Principal, Emma leads teaching and learning across the school and she is passionate about school improvement and ensuring every student has the opportunity to receive a high quality education.

Show notes

Insights into de-implementation https://evidenceforlearning.org.au/support-for-implementation/school-planning-and-recovery/de-implementation

De-implementation: Doing less to achieve more https://snacks.pepsmccrea.com/p/de-implementation 

Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills https://dibels.uoregon.edu/materials 

Sounds-Write https://sounds-write.co.uk/ 

Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction

Responsive Teaching with Bron Ryrie Jones 

Running the Room

The Art and Science of Teaching Primary Reading

Simon Sinek's Golden Circle 

This episode was produced by Jonathan Rav.

Jen Ashton and Jodee Wilson are central to the implementation of Tasmania's Lifting Literacy policy implementation. I’ve had the privilege of working with these two women over the last 3 years now. I’m constantly impressed with their dedication, motivation, passion, and optimism, and how seriously they take the responsibility of implementing these key literacy reforms.

Jen Ashton is Assistant Director – Lifting Literacy (Early Years and Schools). Jen’s remit is operationalising the Lifting Literacy policy, including resourcing, training, project management, and so much more.

Jodee Wilson is Deputy Secretary (Development and Support). Jodee’s remit is to provide the technical guidance and support that those working directly with children and young people will need to build their capability to have the greatest positive impact. So, really we are talking about resourcing English and literacy assessment, curriculum and instruction.

Show Notes 

AERO’s Insights into Implementation

DECYP’s Lifting Literacy policy and Minimum Schooling Guarantee

EEF’s A Schools Guide to Implementation

EEF’s Effective Professional Development Guidance Report

Grattan’s Ending the Lesson Lottery report

Grattan’s The Reading Guarantee report

Independent Review of Education (Tasmania)

Launceston Examiner Op-Ed: ‘New strategy to transform state’s literacy’

Ochre’s ACE Concept Paper: ‘How high-quality curriculum implementation can advance schooling equity in Australia’

Why the “Fab Five” Should be the “Big Six” (Konza)

This episode was produced by Jonathan Rav.

Rachael Buck is an experienced school principal and classroom teacher, with a passion for leading system and practice improvement. In addition to her teacher training, Rachael has a Master of Educational Leadership. She has worked extensively within the literacy domain, with a particular focus on structured literacy. Rachael has worked with over 60 schools to align their teaching practice to evidence-based reading instruction. Rachael’s work history also includes working in regional positions within the Department of Education to influence policy. She is currently a Senior Policy and Project Officer with the Phonics Lesson Plans Unit (Phonics Plus). 

Show notes

Rachael Buck: https://au.linkedin.com/in/rachael-buck-76a90920b

Phonics Plus: https://arc.educationapps.vic.gov.au/learning/sites/lesson-plans-guidance/1805/Phonics-Plus-scope-and-sequence

Pam Snow: https://pamelasnow.blogspot.com/ 

Docklands Primary School: https://www.docklandsps.vic.edu.au/

Bentleigh West Primary School: https://www.bentleighwestps.vic.edu.au/

Bron Ryrie Jone: https://bronwynryriejones.com/

Matt Burns and MTSS: https://education.ufl.edu/faculty/matthew-burns/ 

Sorry Babs, it's not your quote. "A visions just a vision if it's only in your head. If no one gets to see it, it may as well be dead." (Stephen Sondheim - Sunday in the Park with George)

DIBELS: https://dibels.uoregon.edu/

Simon Sinek's Golden Circle: https://simonsinek.com/golden-circle/ 

Dylan Wiliam and formative assessment: https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&user=56tRR6EAAAAJ

Ochre Maths: https://ochre.org.au/ 

Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction: https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/Rosenshine.pdf

Simple Model of Memory: https://teacherhead.com/2021/06/22/the-genius-of-dt-willingham-and-wdsls/ 

This episode was produced by Jonathan Rav.

Alice Jury is a Learning Specialist at Canadian Lead Primary school in Ballarat. Alice has been teaching for 12 years, all of this time spent at Canadian Lead. Alice began her leadership journey in 2016 through the Primary Maths and Science Specialist initiative. Alice moved into the Learning Specialist role in 2019. Alice has taught across many year levels and has spent time out of the classroom running a rigorous Tutoring program. This year Alice shares a Year 1/ 2 classroom. She teaches for fourteen hours a week. In the other time Alice coordinates the Tutoring program and takes some Tier 3 groups. Alice leads whole school curriculum development and supports teachers through a coaching model to improve their pedagogy, curriculum knowledge and teaching practice. Alice’s passion is teaching and learning, the nitty gritty of curriculum and making the most of every school minute.

Show Notes

Adam Robbins - Middle Leadership Mastery

Brene Brown - Dare to Lead

Simon Sinek - Leaders Eat Last

Simon Sinek - Start with Why

Stuart Lock (Ed) - The researchED Guide to Leadership

Simon Sinek’s The Golden Circle

Education Endowment Foundation – A School’s Guide to Implementation

AERO – Insights into Implementation

Confucius: "By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest."

Phonics Plus scope and sequence and lesson plans

Doug Lemov - Teach Like a Champion

John Hollingsworth and Sylvia Ybarra - Explicit Direct Instruction: The Power of the Well-Crafted Well-Taught Lesson

LETRS training

Bronwyn Ryrie Jones – Responsive Teaching

Lyn Stone - Spelling for Life

Peggy Lego Handwriting Program

Sounds-Write phonics programme

This episode was produced by Jonathan Rav.

Chloe Painter is an experienced educator, school leader, and literacy specialist passionate about transforming teaching and learning through evidence-informed practice. She is currently Acting Deputy Principal at St Robert’s in Newtown and leads Chloe Painter Edu Services.

Chloe Painter: https://au.linkedin.com/in/chloe-painter-46950b23a

Alison Clarke: https://www.spelfabet.com.au/

Bron Ryrie Jones: https://bronwynryriejones.com/

Middle Leadership Mastery: A Toolkit for Subject and Pastoral Leaders (Adam Robbins)

The researchED Guide to Leadership: An Evidence-Informed Guide for Teachers (Stuart Lock – Editor)

Curriculum: Theory, Culture, and the Subject Specialisms: Principles and Practice (Ruth Ashbee)

Leadership Rules: What Leaders Need to Know and Do to Run Great Schools (Jo Facer)

Leverage Leadership: A Practical Guide to Building Exceptional Schools (Paul Bambrick-Santoyo)

Motivated Teaching (Peps Mccrea)

Phonics Plus: https://arc.educationapps.vic.gov.au/learning/sites/lesson-plans-guidance/1805/Phonics-Plus-scope-and-sequence 

Building Culture: A Handbook to Harnessing Human Nature to Create Strong School Teams (Lekha Sharma)

Not Just Lucky (Jamila Rizvi)

EEF A School's Guide to Implementation: https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/education-evidence/guidance-reports/implementation 

AERO Insights into Implementation: https://www.edresearch.edu.au/research/discussion-papers/insights-implementation 

The Writing Revolution: https://www.thewritingrevolution.org/

The Parable of the River: https://landiscenter.lafayette.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/69/2015/01/SaveBabies.pdf 

Serpentine Primary School and Stephanie Le Lievre (Principal): https://www.serpentineps.wa.edu.au/ 

Bentleigh West Primary School: https://www.bentleighwestps.vic.edu.au/ 

Mary Myatt on Differentiation: https://www.marymyatt.com/blog/death-by-differentiation 

Think Forward Educators: https://thinkforwardeducators.org/ 

Teach Like a Champion 3.0: 63 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College (Doug Lemov)

This episode was produced by Jonathan Rav.