“Insightful and uplifting” – these are the words Grafton High School Head Teacher Alyssa Feeney used to describe the Regional, Rural and Remote Middle Leader Program.

Ms Feeney was one of 40 middle leaders from the Grafton and Clarence Valley Networks who took part in day one of the 12-month professional learning program delivered by the School Leadership Institute (SLI) team recently.

In addition to Grafton, the SLI also visited the South Coast, Lismore, Richmond, Tweed Coast, Woolumbin and Lennox Coast Networks during Term 2, delivering the RRR Middle Leader Program to 144 middle leaders and 61 principals and deputy principals who support them.

Building leadership capacity

Ms Feeney said the day of live professional learning with the SLI team helped build her confidence as a middle leader. “It also invigorated the notion of how important my role is as a middle leader in a school,” she said.

“I thought about when I first became HT and how difficult it was to find my feet. A day like this would honestly get the gears moving and truly outline how imperative it is for you to understand the role.”

“My colleagues and I want tools to better improve practice as a leader. I personally want to just keep learning as much as I can to be an adaptive leader. This will help me become that."

As part of the department’s Regional, Rural and Remote Education Strategy, the RRR Middle Leaders Program provides middle leaders across the state with the opportunity to participate in face-to-face and online evidence-informed learning and to network with colleagues.

Assistant Principal at Broulee Public School David Watts said he already felt “better equipped” as a middle leader after taking part in day one of the program. “The presenters bounced off one another light-heartedly and I felt valued for any contributions that I made,” he said.

“The structure and pace of the PL was great. (It) gave us a clearer understanding of our role within the system and on the ground within our schools and teams.

“It also helped to alleviate an often sense of imposter syndrome, a feeling experienced by many of the participants I spoke with.”

Ongoing support

SLI Director Joanne Jarvis feels “privileged” to engage with middle leaders at regional, rural and remote NSW schools involved in the RRR Middle Leader Program.

“These leaders show a strong connection to their communities though their moral purpose to have a positive impact on the learning outcomes of students in their communities,” she said.

“I am looking forward to maintaining support for RRR from the School Leadership Institute.”