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Challenges Facing a Head of Languages

Challenges Facing a Head of Languages. Presented by: Bev West Head of Senior School Kinross Wolaroi School Monday 10 September 2012. The sandwich …. the HOD is placed between the executive and his/her faculty . relating too well to one can be perceived as neglecting the other.

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Challenges Facing a Head of Languages

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  1. Challenges Facing a Head of Languages Presented by: Bev West Head of Senior School Kinross Wolaroi School Monday 10 September 2012

  2. The sandwich… • the HOD is placed between the executive and his/her faculty • relating too well to one can be perceived as neglecting the other • the HOD can also be caught between parents and staff

  3. Attracting and keeping quality staff… • big city inter-school competition • regional and remote schools • older staff whose skills and experience are hard to replace • older staff who are rusted on and won’t go and/or make life difficult for younger staff

  4. Attracting and keeping quality staff… • newer staff who are under-skilled but don’t know or won’t admit it • newer staff who are so timid and lacking in confidence that kids walk all over them

  5. A school culture that is not supportive because languages are… • a luxury • élitist • a nuisance • unimportant • uneconomical • hard to staff • taught by crazies or people who are hard to get along with

  6. Attracting students to elective courses… • languages are difficult • they compete with very groovy subjects • parity of electives • quantity vs quality of students • boys • staff sometimes shoot themselves in the foot • syllabus • BOS 100 hours • HSC exam and its components

  7. Challenges of leadership generally… • difficult conversations • dealing with management • long hours • being seen as not understanding what it’s like to be on a full load • tendency to be a control freak • how to stop doing it all yourself • running faculty meetings so they are not dominated by one powerful voice

  8. So what to do about all of these… • GOYA

  9. So what to do about all of these… • Speak directly to the Principal – and often • Have a solution-focus • Look the part • Be seen to be onside • Build alliances with members of the executive

  10. So what to do about all of these… • Try to see the big picture but… • Don’t be shy about the value of your subject and its intellectual and PR worth • Take and accept responsibility for your faculty • Be professional about deadlines, exams, marking, attendance at meetings • Go the extra mile

  11. So what to do about all of these… • Be proactive with the students you want – challenge them • Institute a peer observation regime • Be part of a network or team beyond your school • Nothing succeeds like success

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