John Cleary

John Cleary

Policy advisor, former principal and system executive

John Cleary is an experienced former principal and system executive, leading school and system improvement reform in the Northern Territory (NT) Department of Education, Australia. His experience as an educator stretches from Manchester and London in the UK to some of the most remote schools in the world during his 18 years supporting students and educators across 1.35 million square kilometres of the NT. John has also been recognised as a Gold Medal Recipient (2024) and National Fellow of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (FACEL) and was named as a National Teaching Fellow (Schools Plus) for his work leading improvement in the Katherine Region. He is an advisor and contributor to policy design for organisations at the state, territory and national level. John is a Doctoral candidate at the Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne, with his work exploring the factors that contribute to a successful partnership with students in leading improvement at the school and system level.

3 total results
Beyond student voice to leading school improvement in partnership
Beyond student voice to leading school improvement in partnership
Apr 28,2025

‘Students are uniquely placed to bring to conversations something which only they can, their lived experience of what it means to be a learner in their school.’ In today’s article, John Cleary asks if ‘student voice’ is enough, and discusses how educators can instead partner with students to ensure their voices (and views) are heard and acted upon.
school leaders, strategic planning, feedback, student engagment, school culture, evidence-based practice, long reads
Student agency in action in the Northern Territory
Student agency in action in the Northern Territory
June 22,2020

Students can play an important part in co-decision making within a school that can impact not only their learning, but that of other learners also. In the Northern Territory, students have been leading change projects in their schools for the past four years.
school leaders, strategic planning, feedback, student engagement, long reads
Change leading to improvement
Change leading to improvement
Aug 08,2018

Educators across Australia are always trying new ways to improve outcomes for their students. Not all changes result in improvements. Is there a way that we increase the likelihood of a change leading to improvement?
evidence-based practice, school leaders, reader submission, long reads