Ian Macdonald is a Chartered Psychologist and founder and director of Macdonald Associates, an international organisational consultancy. He is also an Honorary Fellow at Brunel University, teaches at Surrey Business School and works with NHS Wales. He continues to consult to a wide range of organisations around the world. Clive Dixon has been a teacher, principal and executive director of schools and was the Regional Director of Education and Training in Far North Queensland from 2007 to 2013. Clive currently works as a consultant, coaching school leaders using Systems Leadership in schools. Tony Tiplady is an experienced educator, trainer, Indigenous youth specialist, mining operations manager, organisation effectiveness coach, Systems Leadership coach, consultant and practitioner.
In the highly technical field of education, the missing ingredient is often a strong, positive culture. Systems Leadership is essential for a school leader to build highly effective social processes to position their school to improve student outcomes. Applying the models, tools and concepts of Systems Leadership has enabled me to turn intention into reality and create the conditions in my school where people can work productively to their potential. Systems Leadership has been instrumental in my development as a principal. Bruce Houghton, Principal, Bentley Park College, Queensland, Australia The SLT principles outlined in this book have changed the way I think, plan and act as a leader. Using them has distinctly helped me in successfully creating and leading positive cultural change across a range of schools and colleges. Noel Rawlins, Principal Western Cape College, Queensland, Australia Improving Schools Using Systems Leadership has the potential to become a pivotal compendium within the global literature on Systems Leadership. Concepts and foundations are introduced and applied to schooling and the work of the principal, concluding with the pertinent question, what does this mean for schools? This book is a must read for educators of our future generation of leaders. Paul Lynch, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia