Slides for my ReimaginED workshop, Woodleigh 2023

1. Education Leadership
for Complex Times
ReimaginED 2023
Cameron Paterson

3. Understanding Goals
• Recognise the imperative of fundamental change in teachers’ beliefs for
school transformation
• Understand adaptive leadership in education
• Explore the impact of a Churchill Fellowship on educational leadership

4. Norms
• Be gentle and generous
• Cultivate curiosity
• Expect and embrace a lack of closure

5. What qualities do education leaders need in complex times?

6. 1994 NBA semi-finals
• Bulls vs Knicks Game 3
• 102 all, 2 seconds left
What should Phil Jackson do?
• Punish Pippen?
• Make him apologise?
• Pretend the whole thing
never happened?

7. “What happened has
hurt us. Now you have
to work this out.”
“A Survival Guide for Leaders” by Ronald Heifetz & Marty Linsky,
Harvard Business Review

8. “A Leader’s Framework for Decision-making” by David
Snowden & Mary Boone, Harvard Business Review

9. Complex puzzles/problems in
teaching and learning
• Engaging students from diverse backgrounds?
• Utilising AI to promote effective learning?
• Building a culture of collaboration?
• Assessing student competencies?
• Designing professional learning?
• Developing an inclusive curriculum?
• Promoting student wellbeing?
• Addressing gaps in student learning?
• Fostering a culture of innovation?
Think of something you can work with…
“A Leader’s Framework for Decision-making” by David
Snowden & Mary Boone, Harvard Business Review

10. Brainstorming Possibilities
• Share a complex puzzle, problem,
question and gather ideas from colleagues
about possible solutions/ responses.
• Time: 3.5-minute “rounds”
1. Presenter briefly identifies the problem or
question and provides a little context. (1
min)
2. Listeners ask 1 or 2 clarifying questions.
(30 secs)
3. Each listening member suggests an idea,
solution, resource, or possible way of
responding. (2 mins)

12. Choose one quote to
share with a partner.
Explain why you
chose that quote.

13. Now select one word
that captured your
attention or struck you
as powerful to share.

14. “Leading complex pedagogical change in schools requires patience for the
slow and messy nature of the work, respectful and trusting relationships
with people, listening with curiosity and authenticity, and respect for
context and history.
It isn’t about applying a formula; it is about engaging in a conversation.
Effective leaders are intellectually curious, make people feel seen and
heard, and invite people into change instead of telling them what they
need to change.”
Churchill Fellowship Report 2019
file:///C:/Users/PatersonC/Downloads/projectReport-
Paterson,Cameron2019%20(3).pdf

15. Source: Professor Viviane Robinson, University of Auckland

17. The Race
• 400-600 miles, non-stop Primal Quest
Adventure Race
• Multi-disciplinary, expert teams
• Unknown terrain, multiple routes
• Challenges: mental and physical
exhaustion, navigational errors, injury
• 75-95 teams each year
• 55% of teams do not finish
• Avg age=37, Avg exp=5.5 yrs
• $250,000 purse

18. Day 1-2
Day 4-5
2004 Race Overview

19. 50%
70% Conditional
Claims
Assertive
Claims
Team
Performance
High
Low
30%
How do claims of knowing vary across teams?

20. ?
? ?
? ?
? ? ?
? ? ? ? ?

23. “Speeding up Team Learning” by Amy
Edmondson et al, Harvard Business Review

25. “Spend time with people who are the sparklers, the energisers. Spend
time with the plusses; the ‘Yes, And…?’ people.”
- Erik Lindemann, 3rd Grade Teacher at Osborne Elementary, Michigan.

26. Questions?
Comments?
Insults?

28. One-word whip reflections