Education Publications
Celebrating the ideas, insights, and publications of our Voices of Change community – amplifying thought leadership in education worldwide.
The Art of Skimming Stones
The Art of Skimming Stones: Leading Sustained Improvement in Schools, is Steven Trotter’s comprehensive guide to educational leadership, presenting the innovative SKIM Model for school leadership and leading improvement. This book provides practical leadership models and strategies for building effective school partnerships and driving meaningful change in educational settings. The Art of Skimming Stones, presents a revolutionary approach to school leadership and educational leadership models. Drawing from his award-winning experience as an educational leader, Steven shares practical strategies for leading improvement and building effective school partnerships.
What You’ll Learn About Educational Leadership:
• The SKIM model for effective school leadership
• Leadership models that drive school improvement
• Strategies for leading improvement in educational settings
• Building successful school partnerships
• Educational leadership principles that last.
Research and Publications
Dr Paul Rijken is a retired school principal and currently a part-time lecturer at the School of Education at the University of Adelaide. He has lectured in the Master of Education program in course on Educational Leadership in Diverse Contexts, Leading Positive Change, Leading Wellbeing, Contemporary Issues in Wellbeing and Mentoring for Teachers. In addition, he has supervised students in the Education Major Project.
Dr Rijken is a member of the American Educational Research Association and has a leadership role as Chair of the Special Interest Group – Learning Environments. He is on the editorial board of Learning Environments Research – An International Journal by Springer. He continues to contribute to educational research drawing on his 17 years as principal and 42 years in schools.
Some recognition references:
Paul's work
Aldridge, J. M., P. E. Rijken, and B. J. Fraser. 2024. “A teacher school climate questionnaire for facilitating and monitoring system-wide school reform.“
In Future of Learning Environments, 53-73
Rijken, P.E., Fraser, B.J. Effectiveness of project-based mathematics in first-year high school in terms of learning environment and student outcomes.
Learning Environ Res 27, 241–263 (2024).
Aldridge, J.M., Rijken, P.E. & Fraser, B.J. Improving learning environments through whole-school collaborative action research.
Learning Environ Res 24, 183–205 (2021).
Will Principals Be In School Leadership for the Long Run?
How Do We Motivate, Engage and Retain Educational Leaders?
Authors:
Dr Lynne Cruickshank (PBC), Dr Xander van Lill (PBC), Rebecca Edgley (ialign), and Tara Staritski (ialign)
Type:
White Paper Collaboration with PBC and ialign.
Overview:
This white paper explores the pressing question of how schools and systems can motivate, engage, and retain principals in an era where leadership demands are more complex than ever. Drawing on two robust datasets, Hogan Assessment data and ialign data, covering almost 1,000 Australian school leaders, it highlights the human side of leadership, examining motivators, personality traits, and risks of burnout, and offers evidence-based strategies to support principals in sustaining their roles.
Key Themes:
- Growing scope and complexity of the principalship
- Human factors that impact leadership effectiveness
- Stressors including workload, role isolation, and lack of support
- Evidence-based recommendations for sustaining leaders through self-awareness, coaching, delegation, and healthier work environments.
Embracing connection for your community
Matt Pittman: Leader. Educator. Author.
Education leader Matt Pittman champions the power of authentic relationships in schools.
The Connection Curriculum offers a roadmap for collective leadership and community engagement, giving educators practical strategies to foster belonging and integrate sustainable connection practices into everyday school life.
The Connection Conundrum explores the growing challenge of disconnection, providing tools to re-engage students, energise staff, and lead a culture of connection from any role within the system.
Together, these books inspire educators to place connection at the heart of wellbeing, learning, and school culture.
So You Want to Be a Principal
“The role of independent school principal is a complex and demanding one … it is one of the most noble and fulfilling roles that anyone could attain.”
Dr Paul Teys shares insights gleaned over four decades of teaching, and two decades of principalship in P–12 independent schools in this engaging book. Knitting together his doctoral research and extensive lived experience in the world of Australia’s independent schools, Dr Teys lays down a path for aspiring and early-to-mid career principals to take the next exciting steps in their careers.
Providing the latest information and guidance on what it is really like to be a principal of a school these days, Teys offers a glimpse into a world which is not often understood by those, not in the hot seat. Real examples help to illustrate the complex layers associated with leading a school and becoming its CEO. With an earnest combination of strategic focus and personal anecdote, So you want to be a principal is a must-read for the next generation of independent school principals.
Embracing connection for your community
Matt Pittman: Leader. Educator. Author.
Education leader Matt Pittman champions the power of authentic relationships in schools.
The Connection Curriculum offers a roadmap for collective leadership and community engagement, giving educators practical strategies to foster belonging and integrate sustainable connection practices into everyday school life.
The Connection Conundrum explores the growing challenge of disconnection, providing tools to re-engage students, energise staff, and lead a culture of connection from any role within the system.
Together, these books inspire educators to place connection at the heart of wellbeing, learning, and school culture.
Organisational Culture
By connecting you with our trusted partners and experts, you can gain deeper insights into your organisational culture. While you may know what you are today, they can help you explore what you could become. Ground your organisation in a future-fit culture and leverage this foundation to enhance the success of your teams.
