smj podcast

Leading a school requires courage. Leadership and governance consultant for RG175, Tom Olverson, discusses the need to be bold to drive your organisation. His insights carry great authority due to his 38 years in independent schools across the United States, and 27 years as a school Head. Tom explains how your school can’t become its best self, until a mutual agreement is made on what the school is supposed to be. As a school Head, you need the courage to lead.

How can we be strategic in the midst of so much change? Mark McCrindle, award-winning researcher and influential thought leader, explains how school Heads can navigate through the challenges the pandemic brings. Leaders need to look towards the future and beyond. In times of uncertainty it is vital for school Heads to communicate strategically and be the voice of calm and reason – this is what students and the school community are looking for.

Brad interviews Heather Hamilton, Executive Director of Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), to discuss how schools can create a virtual lifecycle of advancement by mapping out all stakeholders and their roles within the school community, and how it is placed within the wide umbrella of advancement strategies. They continue by discussing how to implement them to support your school’s goals.

In part two of our podcast about COVID-19, expert crisis communicator John Le Cras again joins Brad and Scully to discuss why schools are powerful media organisations. Establishing trust and delivering the correct communication regarding a situation within the school community is paramount. They continue discussing the topic of having a clear narrative with a concise strategic communication plan in action, and how crucial it is for school Heads to anticipate issues, considering all scenarios and the ways it could play out.

How do you communicate to stakeholders about the COVID-19 virus, and more importantly how can school Heads communicate trust to parents? In this interview, former director of news and current affairs for Channel 7 Perth and expert crisis communicator, John Le Cras joined the podcast to give clear, concise tips on how to communicate effectively to concerned parents. John explains why it is crucial to stick to your key messages, and to create and have a consistent narrative for all school staff.

How do you define defamation? When things go wrong with parents and a school Head is attacked online, is it worth suing? In this interview with Ben Tallboys, Principal of Russell Kennedy Lawyers, we answer these questions and discuss a recent ruling in the case of a Queensland Head who sued several parents for defamation. We also give you some tips for what to do if you think you’re being defamed.

Marketing strategies are often well-intended and worthy but of little practical use. While success begins with a strategy, it can only be brought to life through relentless and consistent execution. We give you a step-by-step guide to designing a marketing strategy that is succinct, accessible and practical, and also answer the question, “How do I get the best from social media without any risk?”

St Andrew’s Anglican College on the Sunshine Coast saw enrolments grow from 100 to 1,300 in 15 years. In this interview, Principal Reverend Chris Ivey discusses the importance of internal marketing, why a marketing strategy is critical to creating and communicating your school’s story, and why it matters that your staff know they are all marketers.

When a crisis hits, you will ultimately be judged by how you respond. What can you control when things seem out of control? We give you a framework to enable you to come out of a crisis with more trust, a stronger community and closer to achieving your school’s mission.

“Marketing is like electricity.” Find out why in our interview with Brendan Schneider, who also discusses three things Heads can do to ‘know enough to be dangerous’ and hold their marketers accountable. Brendan is the Director of Advancement at Sewickley Academy in Pennsylvania USA and the founder of SchneiderB Media, a digital marketing agency specialising in helping schools use inbound marketing.