Leading Education Systems

Stephen Brown is an internationally renowned thought leader, scholar practitioner and a well-regarded former education system and school leader. He is at the cutting-edge of research, practice, and development of educational leaders, with special expertise in system leadership. Patrick Duignan has been involved in education for over 50 years, having worked in numerous positions across education levels. He has a distinguished reputation for cutting-edge research and development in the areas of school and system leadership.

‘Guiding and inspiring systems of schools is increasingly complex given the myriad of demands placed on school leaders. The value of school systems in realising quality learning outcomes for students, is increasingly supported by evidence based research and the practical experience of those who lead schools. Stephen Brown and Patrick Duignan have brought the experience and perspective of system leaders to this largely unchartered territory. Leading Education Systems draws on the wisdom of educators and researchers to provide system leaders with practical and thought provoking strategies as we come to terms with the immediate and long term implications of COVID-19. As we look to a world beyond the pandemic, the compilation of the experience and insights of those who have worked in Australia and internationally provides a valuable resource for those leading education systems now and in the future. What lies ahead is uncertain, but as educators we can draw on the vast wisdom and knowledge of current leaders and the lessons they have learnt, so that our students will not just survive, but thrive in the world that will emerge as this decade unfolds.’

• Chapter 1. System leaders scaling successful educational reforms in an uncertain future; Stephen Brown and Patrick Duignan Chapter 2. Leading education change: towards a new approach; Beatriz Pont Chapter 3. Quality leadership for learning systems; Bill Maxwell Chapter 4. System leadership for promoting collective responsibility and communities of learners: insights from China; Haiyan Qian and Alan WalkerChapter 5. Systems Leadership for Future-Ready Learners in Singapore; David Ng Foo Seong Chapter 6. Leading School Districts for Improved Student Success; Kenneth Leithwood and Catherine McCullough Chapter 7. Leading a Connected and Partnership-based System; Maggie Farrar Chapter 8. Sharing our Story: One Approach to School and System Improvement; Anne Ryan and Prue Horan Chapter 9. System Leadership - Human Flourishing through Building Trust; Philomena Billington Chapter 10. Concluding Comments: Leading Successful Systems in a VUCA World; Stephen Brown and Patrick Duignan