The Author
Mick Walsh began his career teaching mathematics in the Western Suburbs of Victoria, Australia before an opportunity saw him move to rural Victoria with his young family to teach mathematics and coach AFL football.
Mick’s leadership in a variety of areas has seen him nominated for several State Excellence in Education Awards. His contribution to extending education into the community by building cohesive learning partnerships was recognized by him receiving the prestigious Australia Day Award of Citizen of the Year for both the town of Kyabram and Shire of Campaspe.
Mick has been an innovative practising Australian educator for over 30 years and has assisted numerous colleagues in many areas of school leadership and operations. Mick has acted in many leadership roles in schools including Principal.
He presents at conferences across Australia and internationally in South East Asia and New Zealand. He has also conducted workshops for Preservice Teachers at Universities.
Mick created the Learning Curve diary planners and website to build inclusive learning communities. He believes all children can learn to their potential when strong and transparent learning partnerships are nurtured in schools; the Learning Curve enables this.
He is available to assist schools with implementing and embedding the planners by using down to earth practical ways which win the support of students, teachers and parents in the areas of:
- Building Engagement through Relationships
- Career and Time Management
- Study Techniques and Approaches
- Personal Health and Safety
- Pastoral Care and Self Esteem
- Life: Finding a Way or Making One
- Relational Learning
Mick's Workshop Descriptions.doc
Mick is also available to facilitate leadership team and whole school seminars on a variety of educational perspectives including:
- Building developmental, non judgmental peer based Performance and Development Staff Teams to create shared goals, targets and strategies
- Enabling the giving and receiving of feedback through open questioning
- Conducting Crucial Conversations with staff
- Establishing a School Wide approach to teaching and learning by merging Authoritative and Personal Pedagogies to transform from traditional 20th century practices to contemporary 21st century pedagogies
- Reviewing school data with school leadership teams and communities to set new visions and directions and empowering a team spirit in the school community; initiating a true consensus vision amongst all stakeholders
- Embedding Whole School Approaches to student management and building relationships, establishing agreed procedures, positive behavioural responses, restorative practices and teacher classroom management plans for all staff
- Nurturing effective home - school learning partnerships through the Learning Curve student and teacher diary planners and this website
- Establishing processes to enable Managed Individual Pathways for all students.
The hands on sessions Mick facilitates are based on the belief that for real owned change to occur, people must enter into meaningful dialogue, everyone has an opportunity to contribute, in order to establish connections and shared principles and practices.
The key desired outcome is to create a team model which demonstrates:
- Enhanced role clarity - being aware of what each team member has to do on a daily basis to achieve the team’s vision.
- Genuine participative decision making – distributed leadership and a willingness to seek and value everyone’s diverse input.
- Increased individual and team morale – enjoying a sense of belonging, self motivation and belief that all team members can and do make a difference.
- Engaged learning and growth – providing developmental and non judgmental staff team feedback for recognition and appraisal.
- Inspired empathy – a sincere team commitment to nurture rich and meaningful relationships.
Mick can be contacted on:
Mobile: +61 (0)417 307 542
Email: mickwalsh54@bigpond.com
Skype: lynmickwalsh