Well-Led Schools

In this episode of the Well-Led Schools Podcast, we welcome back Aimee Presnall, a wellbeing consultant and founder of Well-Nest, who has a deep passion for embedding wellbeing at the core of school culture. Aimee brings her extensive experience in education and leadership to the conversation, sharing valuable insights on how school leaders can navigate the complexities of their roles while maintaining a focus on both personal and staff wellbeing. Through her practical approach, Aimee offers guidance on how to create a more balanced and supportive environment in schools, helping leaders and their teams thrive amidst the challenges they face daily.   In this episode, we cover: The power of conversations and asking simple questions The implications of being too task driven versus people driven as a school leader The importance of upskilling staff in more than just instructional capabilities, but in personal skills as well The risks of not focusing on positive team culture The challenges that middle leaders are facing in schools today The types of interruptions schools leaders face throughout the workday and the impact they have on their professional practice and wellbeing Practical strategies school leaders can adopt to minimise the negative impacts of interruptions   About Aimee:  Aimee is the founder of Well-Nest, a consulting and coaching service dedicated to integrating wellbeing into the core of educational institutions. With over 15 years of experience in education, including roles as a teacher and school leader, Aimee has a deep understanding of the challenges that educators and administrators face. Her journey into school leadership began early in her career, where she quickly realised the intense demands placed on leaders and the need for a focus on wellbeing. This realisation, combined with her Master’s in Educational Leadership and Health and Wellness Coaching Professional Certificate, inspired her to create Well-Nest.   Aimee’s mission is to support schools in developing positive team cultures and enhancing leadership skills, with a strong emphasis on wellbeing. Through Well-Nest, she offers consulting services to help school leaders design and implement a culture of wellbeing, as well as coaching services that provide personalised guidance to educators and leaders.    Aimee’s approach is grounded in evidence-based practices, and she is passionate about empowering school communities to take actionable steps toward restored wellness. Her work also extends to public speaking and podcasting, where she shares her insights and inspires others to prioritise wellbeing in educational settings.   Links and Resources: Explore our Well-Led Schools Partnership Program: 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 Aimee via:  Her website: www.well-nest.com.au/  LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/aimee-parkinson/?originalSubdomain=au  Listen to her podcast: Reflections of School Leaders  On Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/reflections-of-school-leaders/id1752319691  or Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/5SWek6Pa8pZ0cevXuN79uy  Listen to her other podcast: The Wonders of Wellbeing  www.buzzsprout.com/1964632    Connect with me via: My website: adriennehornby.com.au  Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-hornby-a4126a205/  Email: [email protected]   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Vicky Essebag, a relational communication specialist with extensive experience in both education and family therapy. Vicky has held roles as a teacher, guidance counselor, curriculum consultant, and vice-principal, and she is also a certified solution-focused coach and trainer. She is best known for her work in adapting Solution-Focused Brief Therapy to foster healthy, effective relationships within schools, organisations, and families.   In this episode, we explore the critical role of communication in schools and how it can be prioritised alongside academic curriculum to enhance staff wellbeing.    In this episode, we cover: What solution-focused therapy is and how we can use it to solve problems within the workplace Why we should be prioritising communication and giving it just as much importance as the school’s curriculum How we can take more responsibility for how we communicate and respond to others How we can use backcasting or future orientation to reach solutions to our problems What communication actually entails beyond just talking and listening Why communication is especially important in school environments not just between staff but also between teachers and students. The differences between a leader and a manager The core principles that guide Vicky’s work with schools to support effective communication How leaders can prevent and manage conflict using Vicky’s framework for communication   About Vicky: Vicky Essebag is a relational communication specialist and thought leader with a rich background in both education and family therapy. With experience as a teacher, guidance counselor, curriculum consultant, and vice-principal, Vicky has a deep understanding of schools and staff. She is also a certified solution-focused coach and trainer, widely recognised for her innovative approach to adapting Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to enhance communication and relationships within schools, organisations, and families.   As a public speaker and consultant, Vicky has presented her expertise on a global stage, helping schools and organisations implement relational processes that foster wellbeing and success for all stakeholders.    She is the founder of Relationspaces.com and the author of Relationspaces: A Solution-Focused Handbook for Parents, a guide that empowers parents to cultivate intentional, effective communication strategies that support the entire family.   Links and Resources: Explore our Well-Led Schools Partnership Program: adriennehornby.com.au/school-partnerships/    Book recommendation: The Third Path: A Relationship-Based Approach to Student Well-Being and Achievement by David Tranter,  Lori Carson, Tom Boland    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 Vicky via: Her Website: www.relationspaces.com LinkedIn: @vickyessebag  Facebook: @vickyessebagauthor Instagram: @essebagvicky   More ways to engage with Vicky’s work:   Subscribe to her LinkedIn Newsletter: www.linkedin.com/newsletters/relationspaces-7086324196984705024/  Listen to her Podcast: A Call Across the Pond; Transforming Relationships at School, at Home and Beyond - https://relationspaces.com/podcast/ Youtube Relationspaces Power Bursts: @relationspaces Read her book: Relationspaces:A Solution-Focused Handbook for Parents   Connect with me via: My website http://adriennehornby.com.au  Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-hornby-a4126a205/  Email [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 [email protected] 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: [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.