THE POSITION VISION & VALUES
The Director of Professional Learning is a member of the College Executive and is directly responsible to the Principal for leading and managing the professional learning of staff of the College in accordance with NESA accreditation requirements.
The Director of Professional Learning is an outstanding educator who can guide and advise teaching staff on professional learning in relation to their practice, especially in the area of boys’ education, and thus enhance the quality of teaching and learning. They possess professional and personal attributes that enable them to influence others to improve their practice. They successfully lead initiatives that make a positive contribution to the quality of the learning culture within the school community.
The Director of Professional Learning has the ability to provide strategic direction to the professional learning agenda of the College and guide teachers in the teacher accreditation process. In so doing the Director of Professional Learning demonstrates support for Catholic philosophy and values and promotes sound educational practices especially as they relate to the education of boys.
Keeping in mind the above general statements, the Director of Professional Learning has the following specific responsibilities and tasks.
Supports leadership of the College Ethos and values by:
• Demonstrating support for the philosophy and Catholic ethos of the College.
• Fostering the charism of Edmund Rice.
• Demonstrating active leadership and promotion of the EREA Charter and its Touchstones.
• Modelling high professional standards which accords with the EREA Code of Conduct.
• Actively promoting leadership and the implementation of the Learner Profile & College Values.
• Contributing actively to the curation and implementation of the Learning Agenda of the College.
• Contributing actively to College life and extracurricular programs.
• Supporting, promoting and engaging in the social justice initiatives of the College.
• Supporting College policies and programs.
• Demonstrating loyalty to professional colleagues.
• Engaging in the development, monitoring and implementation of the EREA Cultural Audit process.
Supports the strategic leadership of the College by:
• Contributing significantly to the design, implementation, leadership and monitoring of the College Strategic Plan. The Director of Professional Learning will be central to the design, implementation and leadership of the College Annual Strategic Goals.
Supports the promotion of a learning community by:
• Demonstrating outstanding modelling in relation to their own Professional Learning as outlined in their own Professional Learning Plan and through participation in the Professional Learning Partnership framework.
• It is expected that the Director of Professional Learning will participate in a significant Professional Learning or Leadership Experience within the term of their contract. It is assumed this experience will be linked with the role and shared with colleagues. In addition, they are expected to attend relevant Professional Learning Conferences.
• The Director of Professional Learning will lead and participate in the Professional Review of Leaders of Learning and Pastoral Leaders.
• The Director of Professional Learning will experience a Professional Review in the third year of their current contract. Each year, they will participate in an Annual Professional Discussion with the Principal and Deputy Principal.
• Providing a receptive and confidential environment for staff members who wish to discuss aspects of their professional lives.
• Ensuring that the Principal is informed of staff wellbeing matters where appropriate.
KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING
Leads Staff Professional Learning by:
• Fostering the development of a professional learning community, through the ongoing evaluation and implementation of the Professional Learning Partnership Framework.
• Managing the Professional Learning Budget.
• Assisting the Principal and Deputy Principal with the organisation and implementation of staff development days which support the teacher accreditation process.
• Where appropriate, registering with NESA any staff development activities which can be used by staff in the accumulation of Institute Accredited professional learning requirements.
• Overseeing staff professional development activities, including promoting opportunities that align with professional learning plans, approving applications, ensuring appropriate feedback from participants to relevant staff and maintaining accurate records of all professional development involvement.
• Assisting the Director of Mission and Identity with the promotion of EREA immersion experiences.
• Evaluating current research about how students learn and how to apply this research to their own and their colleagues teaching.
• Overseeing and management of the Staff Induction process including the mentoring of new staff.
• Initiating activities to develop collaborative working practices to enhance student learning and wellbeing.
• Initiating activities to develop collaborative working practices to enhance student learning and wellbeing.
• Supporting the Principal and the Principal’s Executive Assistant with the identification and planning of professional learning opportunities for support staff where appropriate.
• Maintaining accurate records of staff professional learning.
• Assisting the Principal in maintaining accurate records of postgraduate and undergraduate credentials of staff.
• Ensuring that the ProfessionalLearningPlan goal setting, lesson observations, self-reflection and teacher review processes of all staff are completed professionally and accurately.
Leads the Teacher Accreditation Process by:
• Overseeing the implementation and evaluation of all requirements for accreditation by NESA of Graduate, Proficient, Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers with respect to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers under the auspices of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership.
• Develop and maintain policies and procedures associated with teacher accreditation to ensure compliance with NESA legislative requirements.
• Researching, designing and implementing a process for ongoing staff performance review which is informed by the Australian Teacher Performance and Development framework, and works within the St Edward’s Professional Learning Partnership Framework.
• Monitoring the Professional Learning hours of staff to ensure that teacher accreditation is maintained.
• Assisting staff in meeting their reporting requirements during each maintenance period.
• Encouraging and working with staff on attaining Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher accreditation.
• Liaising and guiding staff in accordance with the NSW Professional Standards.
• Using the professional teaching standards and key educational documents to evaluate regularly their professional knowledge, practice and engagement.
• In collaboration with the Principal’s Executive Assistant, ensuring that all appropriate employee data is compiled in accordance with compliance requirements and that comprehensive personnel files are maintained.
Leads the Professional Review Process by:
• Coordinating the Professional Review process for Executive and Middle Managers, including the prompt receipt of reports and subsequent meetings with the Principal.
• Coordinating the Annual Professional Discussion process.
• Assisting Executive and Middle Managers in identifying professional learning opportunities appropriate to their stage of leadership.
• Working with the Deputy Principal on the implementation of the Leadership Succession program.
PERSONAL QUALITIES, SOCIAL AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Liaises with College Community Members by:
• Demonstrating a high level of emotional intelligence, empathy and resilience.
• Demonstrating ethical practices and has exceptional social skills to deal with conflict effectively.
• Actively participating in the strategic leadership of the College through regular reporting at Senior Leadership Team and on request College Advisory Council meetings.
• Liaising with the Director of Curriculum, Director of Teaching and Learning and Leaders of Learning on matters associated with teacher allocation.
• Liaising with the Director of Curriculum, Director of Teaching and Learning and Leaders of Learning on action research projects that promote teacher professional learning and improve student outcomes.
• Assisting the Principal in fulfilling the responsibilities associated with being a Teacher Accreditation Authority.
• Working with the Deputy Principal to coordinate College Registration and Accreditation and the Annual School Report as appropriate.
• Working closely with other Executive members in the organisation and supervision of students at all major College events.
Ultimately the Director of Professional Learning is responsible to the Principal, who may vary the above duties from time to time, may ask the Director to take on other duties, or become involved in across curriculum issues.
