Justine Smyth: Coaching through Change

In this latest episode of our ‘stories from the field’ series, my guest conquers a whole new level of challenge when developing coaching in a school. To date, most of my guests have shared their experiences within one specific setting – a primary school, a post primary school, a state school, or a private school and maybe even an international school amongst others, but no-one has yet to share a story of developing a coaching culture in three separate schools – at the same time. Join me in conversation with Justine Smyth. Justine is currently an executive principal working with the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership based in Melbourne Australia. Just a few years ago Justine was tasked with the formidable challenge of amalgamating no less than three neighbouring primary schools and settling them into a brand new build. Change management guru John Kotter states – “In its most basic sense, leadership is about mobilising a group of people to jump into a better future.” In this episode Justine is going to share with us how she mobilised three separate groups into one better future that paid respect to all three schools.