School leaders

Although often associated with a new school year, transitions occur throughout the school day and across each term. Anna Brady – principal at autism-specific school Aspect Vern Barnett School – shares how each term begins with a deliberate re‑establishment of routines, expectations and supports, and the positive impact on students.

Professor Alex Bowers from New York joins Dominique Beech to discuss his research into school leadership types and teacher professional development needs. The conversation covers the alignment of perceptions between teachers and principals regarding school leadership, his innovative idea for re-organising how we target professional development, and more. 

‘Induction and mentoring is about bringing your academic capability to life in the reality of a classroom.’ In today’s podcast, CEO of AITSL Tim Bullard joins Teacher Deputy Editor Rebecca Vukovic to talk all about improving induction for both early career teachers and school leaders. 

‘Perhaps the most important realisation for any school community is that culture is never owned by leadership alone.’ In her first column for Teacher, Associate Principal Rachael Lehr explores how strong, positive school cultures are deliberately built through everyday actions and shared responsibility.

Trauma enters classrooms through the invisible backpacks students carry each day. While educators cannot remove that weight, they can help make it more manageable. In today’s article Associate Professor Bryan Matera and Jenna Larsen from Winona State University, in the US, share 3 strategies teachers can use to support students.

In his new book, From Burnout to Breakthrough: The Leadership Reset, educational leader and author Brad Gaynor explores the growing pressures on school leaders and the toll these demands can take on wellbeing. In this extract for Teacher readers, Gaynor draws on his own lived experience of burnout to unpack the warning signs and share why naming it gave him the first foothold toward recovery.

In The Research Files Episode 105, Jo Earp is joined by Dr Alexandra Hennessey from the University of Manchester to talk about a research study exploring how different schools in the UK have adopted the Well Schools framework. Their conversation focused on 2 aspects – the role of teacher wellbeing and the importance of a whole school approach.

In today’s article, Professor Jacqueline Ullman from Western Sydney University explores the importance of school-based connection for gender and sexuality diverse students, why teachers’ responses to homo/transphobic attitudes are paramount, and shares details of a new micro-credential she co-designed to support teachers seeking to create gender and sexuality diversity-inclusive school cultures.

Our first Teacher’s Bookshelf of 2026 features the open-access guide How to Use Research Evidence Well In Education: A Guide For Educators and Leaders. This excerpt shares a school case study of what identifying a clear purpose looks like in action.

Our annual Teacher magazine reader survey has concluded for another year. In this article, we’re delighted to share the winner of our $550 prize and provide you with an overview of the fantastic insights you shared with us through the survey.