In this episode of the Well-Led Schools Podcast, we sit down with Katrina Bourke to explore the importance of leading authentically in education. With over 20 years of experience as a teacher and school leader, Katrina emphasises the significance of human skills in leadership. Authentic leadership, marked by self-awareness, vulnerability, and groundedness, is crucial in Education today. Katrina shares her journey and insights on how leaders can cultivate these qualities to create more connected and effective teams.

In this episode, we cover:

• The role of self-awareness in shaping us as leaders
• The capabilities that leaders need in education today
• How we can use these skills to become more authentic and grounded leaders and teams
• Katrina’s Authentic Leader Framework for mapping your sacred ground in four steps
• How do we know if we’re truly showing up authentically?
• What it means to be vulnerable as a school leader and how to get the balance right

About Katrina:

Katrina Bourke has over 20 years of experience in education as a teacher and school leader. Now a leadership coach, speaker, and author, she specialises in helping leaders discover their Sacred Ground. Her approach goes beyond traditional coaching, empowering leaders to lead with grounded confidence. Katrina offers a unique blend of personal and professional development that enables leaders to show up as the best human and leader they can be, no matter the circumstances. Through her journey of self-discovery and overcoming challenges like setting boundaries and perfectionism, Katrina has learned that we all have untapped potential within us. She believes in the power of authentic leadership and is committed to helping others cultivate courage, vulnerability, curiosity and reflection in their roles.

Links and Resources:

Explore Our Well-Led Schools Partnership Program: https://adriennehornby.com.au/school-partnerships/

Article by Tasha Eurich: What Self-Awareness Really is (and How to Cultivate It)

Article by Herminia Ibarra: The Authenticity Paradox

Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honoured that you’re here and would be so grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or on your preferred podcast app, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together.

Connect with Katrina via:

Her Website: katrinabourke.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/katrinabourkeleadership

On Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/katrinabourke/

Connect with me via:

My website http://adriennehornby.com.au

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-hornby-a4126a205/

Email hello@adriennehornby.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Educator burnout is becoming increasingly common, to the point where many celebrate being so busy as if it's a badge of honor. However, this relentless pace and lack of rest can lead to significant mental health challenges. In this episode, we emphasize the importance of taking a step back and building supports to help us feel resilient and well.

Join us as we sit down with Meg Durham, a former primary and secondary teacher who is now on a mission to share practical, enriching wellbeing education with teachers, principals, and schools across Australia. With more than half of all Australian teachers experiencing high levels of anxiety, Meg is leading a nationwide conversation to debunk myths about wellbeing and uncover what educators truly need to avoid burnout.

In this episode, we cover:

• The importance of mental health support and finding the right psychologist
• Obvious and not-so-obvious signs that we might be at risk of burnout
• Causes of burnout we may not be aware of or noticing
• Meg’s 5 P’s of the pressures we put on ourselves which can lead to burnout
• Practical steps we can take to address these pressures
• 5 questions to ask yourself to gauge if you’re at risk of burnout
• The differences between being well and thriving
• What it means to feel truly rested and replenished

About Meg

After working as a primary and secondary teacher for more than a decade, Meg Durham is on a mission to share practical, enriching wellbeing education with teachers, principals, and schools across Australia. As a speaker, Meg offers a unique blend of practical strategies backed by humor, research, and lived experience—the sum of thousands of hours talking to teachers and living this stuff. Her goal is to help teachers prioritize their wellbeing and thrive.

With more than half of all Australian teachers experiencing high levels of anxiety, Meg is leading a nationwide conversation that cracks open the myths about wellbeing and gets to the bottom of what teachers need to avoid burnout. Meg holds a Bachelor of Physical Education and a Master of Education in Student Wellbeing.

Links and Resources:

Waitlist for the Well-Led Schools Partnership: adriennehornby.com.au/school-partnerships/

Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honoured that you’re here and would be so grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or on your preferred podcast app, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together.

Connect with Meg via:

Her podcast: The School of Wellbeing https://openmindeducation.com/podcast/

Her Website: openmindeducation.com

On Instagram: www.instagram.com/megdurham__

On LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/meg-durham/?originalSubdomain=au

Connect with me via:

My website: adriennehornby.com.au

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-hornby-a4126a205/

Email: hello@adriennehornby.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with Karen Caswell, an experienced senior teacher, wellbeing enthusiast, blogger and podcaster.

Join us for an honest and vulnerable conversation where we reflect on the essential qualities of effective leadership and explore the concept of leading without an official title, emphasising the importance of relational and interactional leadership approaches. Karen shares her insights on how to bring people together with a common purpose, build trust, and influence others even without a formal leadership role.

In the episode, we cover:

• What it means to lead without an official title
• How we can apply a relational and interactional leadership approach to bring people together with a common purpose
• Strategies to effectively influence and motivate others when you don’t have a leadership title
• The best ways to establish trust with those you work with
• Why your mindset might be blocking you from becoming the leader you have the potential to be
• How a Positive Psychology approach can help you refocus from obsessing on your shortcomings to valuing your strengths
• The three areas of personal development to focus on if you want to enhance your leadership skills

About Karen:

Karen Caswell is a passionate educational leader known for her collaborative approach spanning over a 28-year career. As an Early Childhood trained teacher, she has been privileged to work in a variety of roles and settings, and is currently an Experienced Senior Teacher and Barna Jarjum Champion at a school in Logan, Brisbane, Queensland. Karen’s influence extends beyond her classroom through a national and global professional learning network, and she is a writer and the creator of the Authenticity in Edu Blog as well as the host of the Inspiration, Influence and Impact Podcast. Karen was the recipient of an Educational Leadership Commendation Award at the 2023 ACEL Queensland Branch Awards.

Links and Resources:

Explore Our Well-Led Schools Partnership Program: https://adriennehornby.com.au/school-partnerships/

Read Karen’s Recent Article published in the Teacher Learning Network Journal on Middle Leadership: Beyond Titles: The Transformative Power of Interactional Leadership

https://www.karencaswell.com/post/beyond-titles-the-transformative-power-of-interactional-leadership

Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honoured that you’re here and would be so grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or on your preferred podcast app, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together.

Connect with Karen via:

Her Website - https://www.karencaswell.com

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-caswell-ba12491b4/

Instagram - @ authenticity_in_edu

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/kcasw1

X - https://twitter.com/kcasw1

Connect with me via:

My website adriennehornby.com.au

Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-hornby-a4126a205/

Email hello@adriennehornby.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.