E104 | Principal Conversations with Dr. Marie Perry, Principal of Ipswich Junior Grammar School

In this episode of the Ed Leaders podcast, Luke Callier sits down with Dr. Marie Perry, the Principal of Ipswich Junior Grammar School, who brings over 20 years of experience in educational leadership. Dr. Perry shares her inspiring journey into education, reflecting on the early influences and values that shaped her career.

Dr. Perry shares her extensive leadership experiences, including lessons learned from mentors, the challenges of balancing educational leadership with the business aspects of running independent schools, and strategies for navigating new principal roles. She highlights the importance of board involvement, building effective teams, and the need for transparency and continuous learning. Insights into managing stress, setting personal boundaries, and balancing administrative tasks with long-term strategic thinking are also shared.

Don’t miss this enlightening discussion packed with actionable insights for educators and leaders alike. Tune in now

Highlights:

• (01:59) Dr. Perry’s journey into education influenced by her grandparents.
• (03:18) Impact of early mentor Joanne Howard on Dr. Perry’s career.
• (04:57) Importance of seizing opportunities and staying proactive in career development.
• (08:15) Value of mentorship from professionals outside education, such as Diane Smith Gander and Suzanne Ricks.
• (14:27) Differences between CEO and chief educational officer roles in independent schools.
• (19:10) Leadership confidence and team dynamics in a new role.
• (20:08) The gap between expectations and reality when starting as a principal.
• (21:04) The need for transparency in school reports for new principals.
• (24:15) Understanding staff perspectives to identify and address issues quickly.
• (25:01) The role of ongoing education in enhancing leadership skills.
• (27:40) The impact of doctoral research on understanding student social media use.
• (29:19) Tips for balancing work and study commitments.
• (32:27) Challenges with school finances and the importance of strong financial training.
• (35:39) The impact of sleep on leadership and strategies for improving it.
• (40:33)Dr. Perry's note-taking and organizational strategies.
• (45:22) The impact of working with an executive coach.
• (55:14) Dr. Perry predicts future changes in education and criticizes the “21st century learning” narrative.
• (57:45) Dr. Perry recommends the book "Teaching for Tomorrow" by Michael McLean.

You can also connect with us personally at LinkedIn:

Luke Callier - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ljcallier/⁠

Mathew Irving - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathew-irving-b6b91430/ 

Dr. Marie Perry - www.linkedin.com/

Special thanks to our partners:

People Bench - https://peoplebench.com.au/

Paperly - https://paperly.education/

Head on over to edleaders.com.au to hear more about our journey. If you'd like to know more about being a guest or would like to sponsor our show - check out https://www.edleaders.com.au/collabs

As always if you have questions, feedback, or a suggestion from a leader you'd like to hear from - send us a message! Please remember if you have a spare minute, please leave us a review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player which will help more like-minded school leaders discover us.

Go Well.