Staff Professional Development Days

New Staff Induction
The year commenced early for new staff who undertook a two-day induction process under the guidance of Mr John Palmer and Mr Seth Fitisemanu.

This is an invaluable experience that affords new staff the opportunity to learn about Shore and its rich history in teaching boys. New staff met with the Executive Leadership team, Heads of Department and Housemasters, where they learnt about Shore’s academic and pastoral expectations.

On the final day, new staff met with their mentors. The Shore Mentoring programme has been running successfully for over two decades. The programme is designed to promote an ‘open door’ culture where teachers learn from one another.

Shore places great value on teaching and the key role it plays in shaping the students under the direction and tutelage of Shore’s diverse teaching staff. All new teachers to the School participate in the programme, which aims to emphasise the importance of learning and teaching, reflect on pedagogical practice and learn about life at the School.

January Staff Professional Development Days
The new School year commenced with two Professional Development days. The first day, Friday 27 January, included introductory presentations from the Headmaster, Dr Collier, the Deputy Head Operations, Dr Mansfield and the Head of the Preparatory School, Mr Nick Saunders.

Staff were also briefed on ‘cybersecurity awareness’ by the Technology Services Manager, Mr Richard Jones and on the migration to Microsoft Teams and Share Point by the Head of Digital Learning, Mrs Amanda Pfeffer.

The day concluded with an extensive outline of the School’s successful HSC performance from the Deputy Head Academic, Mr Matt Leeds and a Child Safeguarding presentation from The Association of Independent Schools of New South Wales (AISNSW).

The focus for the Senior School staff on Monday 30 January was on the future of teaching and learning at Shore. Our presentation by Ashley Fell (social researcher, author, TEDx speaker and Directory Advisor at the internationally recognised McCrindle) focused on Understanding Generation Alpha and Z and how educational communities bridge the widest generational gaps, having to respond strategically to changing demographics, technological shifts and societal change.

Ashley’s speech explored the tensions for parents of Generation Alpha (our current Year 7 cohort) in giving children independence versus keeping them safe; exposing children to the real world versus sheltering them; formal learning versus play; traditional education versus ‘school of life’; restricted screen time versus using it as a reward. Ashley encouraged staff to reflect on how, ‘never, in the history of the world, has education been more accessible, more flexible and more vulnerable to disruption.’ Ultimately, the ‘most valuable skills will be distinctively human characteristics:’ empathy, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, adaptability, curiosity, creativity and interpersonal skills and lifelong learning will move from an aspiration to essential.

We are very fortunate to have formed an academic partnership with the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Our academic partners, Dr Simon Breakspear and Associate Professor, Tony Loughland both attended our professional development day, continuing their work with teachers to develop the Shore Teaching Expertise Programme (STEP).

This is an exciting initiative where we explore how overloaded teachers keep improving their craft, through effective deliberate practice.

Dr Breakspear (educational researcher, Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales, advisor to the NSW Department of Education on curriculum reform, member of AITSL Expert Standing Committee)shared his research into developing teaching expertise and outlined how over the coming months, he will continue to work with us as an academic partner to develop a uniquely Shore approach to professional learning that is grounded in the best available international evidence.

Teaching with Technology workshops concluded our professional development days. The strength of the teaching staff was on display as our colleagues shared their knowledge of Microsoft Teams, OneNote and Microsoft 365. The focus was on how to digitise our existing teaching practice. Thanks to Mrs Amanda Pfeffer, Mr Matt Fletcher, Mrs Jesse Harrison, Mr David Henderson, Mr Ben Stacey, Ms Sophie Kilburn, Mrs Natasha Whiteman and Mr Tom Kirby for sharing their knowledge.

Teaching and learning extends well beyond the classroom and will continue to do so, and as education changes to suit the future’s needs, the role of a teacher must also adapt and grow. Our January Staff Professional Development days focused on exploring how as teachers, we can continue to empower our students to take risks, be innovative and seize any opportunity thrown their way. In light of a shift towards a more personalised learning experience, as teachers of the future we must be prepared to be data collectors, as well as analysts, planners, collaborators, curriculum experts, synthesisers, problem-solvers and researchers.

Mr J Tzantzaris
Head of Teaching and Learning