Let's go surfing now, everybody's learning how (Beach Boys)

I mentioned a number of links during a presentation on Professional Development to some Qatari leaders.


On the left hand side there are a number of internet links and catalogues. There are also links to some fun and interesting weblogs that I follow.

In addition to these I would like to add the following sites:

The Accredited Leaders wiki and the Diploma in Educational Leadership wiki are found at http://sites.google.com/site/accreditedleaders/ and
http://sites.google.com/site/diplomaineducationalleadership/

I have looked at the open course content at Yale University for a few years now. They continue to upgrade and expand their services and are well worth a look http://oyc.yale.edu/

The best evidence synthesis material from the New Zealand Ministry of Education (MoE) at http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/series/2515 has a number of reports, including The University of Auckland findings on School leadership and student outcomes - Identifying What Works and Why: Best evidence synthesis iteration (BES).

Also from the New Zealand MoE comes a site dedicated to professionally developing educational leaders - http://www.educationalleaders.govt.nz/

The Australians have an interesting site about Principals leading and learning at http://www.principalsaustralia.edu.au/servlet/Web?s=157573&p=LL_LEADERSHIP_STANDARDS

If you are looking for stimulating videos you might like to try http://www.teachertube.com/ or stimulating discussions and talks (many translated into Arabic) at TED Talks http://www.ted.com/

Those sites should keep you busy for a while; I hope they help (thanks Munira for asking me for this - it reminded me of a lot of useful places to go in the interweb).

Baby we are all a star (Prince)

I am reading another book by Paulo Coelho at the moment - Warrior Of The Light - a kind of companion to The Alchemist. It is a manual for living (his own life) that has a lot of benefit (for the rest of us).

Here's a powerful section that I need to share and ruminate on:

The Warrior of the Light has the sword in his hands.

He is the one who decides what he will do and what he will never
do.

There are moments when life leads him into a crisis and he is separated
from things he has always loved; it is then that the Warrior reflects. He checks
if he is fulfilling God's will or if he is merely acting selfishly. If this
separation is really part of his path, then he accepts it without
complaint.

If, however, such a separation was provoked by someone else's perverse
actions, then he is implacable in his response.

The Warrior possesses both force and forgiveness. He can use each with
equal skill.

I've been running that around in my brain all morning! I think it's going to stay there for a while too.

Also in this post...word has reached me of some further success for my former colleagues in Stratford, NZ. Both Maria Potter and Barbara Gall have now joined Phil Keenan in gaining promotions since my departure. This is fantastic news and I am thrilled for them.

The ripples from two decisions (my leaving Stratford High School and Graeme McFadyen's departure from Spotswood College) continue. Mark Bowden is now at the helm at Spotswood and that meant a vacancy at Opunake High School which Maria has now filled.

I am sure Maria will be a brilliant Principal and, it may be a cliche but nevertheless it is true -Opunake is lucky to have her.

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers (Henry V)

When I leave the Middle East I can leave safe in the knowledge that I helped bring Shakespeare to the Qatari principals; specifically I used the pre battle speech from Henry V to provide a shining example of transformational leadership. I am so glad I did - I knew it was risky and the fact that there was an attentive audience during my explanation and reading of the text says a lot.

Rami, one of our superb translators, was able to provide a version for the audience and I used a youtube clip to support the text.

This is an amazingly powerful speech and it has an often overwhelming effect on me. I can only guess what the Qatari men and women thought and/or felt when they watched it. Maybe...maybe a fraction of that power moved from the 16th century Britain to 21st century Qatar one morning this week in Doha. I like to think so.

I caught Maybelline at the top of the hill (Chuck Berry)

Bizarre moment recently = I had to do some presenting on the topic 'motivation' to 90 Qatari leaders (the word 'bizarre' has zero zip nada currency here). This is a group of conservative men (dressed in thobes) and conservative women (dressed in abayas and hijabs).

I stood up (I'm in a suit wearing a Madonna style headpiece microphone jobby) and I start singing Maybelline - 'As I was a motivatin over the hill - saw Maybelline in a coup de ville'.

I got a few looks let me tell you (no record contract yet thru as I type).

There's no success like failure

The delay in posting is due to the work of late - I've been preparing presentations for the two groups and presenting to them after the translating process is finished - at times it's felt a bit like being an air traffic controller with some planes stacked up on the runway waiting for take off, others in a holding pattern waiting to land and still more coming out of the hanger getting ready for flight.

That sounds more dramatic than it is but the idea is true. At times I've lost track of who's landing when and so on. I now have a few days to get prepared for a presentation in two weeks time and that's a good feeling. It's on transformational leadership to the Accredited Leaders' programme and I'm working with two Qatari Principals (Mubaraka and Sara). They have great ideas and add a really important facet to the presentation.

I thought I'd share another TED talks here - it's short, witty, has Arabic sub-titles for my Qatari friends and makes some excellent points in around three minutes on gaining success. We ALL need to remember these things from time to time.

ABC is easy (The Jackson 5)

I've continued to be involved in presentations to two distinct groups of Qatari leaders. On Mondays I join a fellow Kiwi (Andrea) to present an Accredited Leaders' programme to 90 leaders, on Wednesdays it's a different group of about 60 doing a Diploma course (these leaders have previously completed the Accredited programme). Our leader is Aussie Ian. Go you good thing!

Each group has a very different feel - they are committed to the reforms and serious about their studies. They are very conscientious and want the best out of themselves for the benefit of Qatar. I am slowly getting to know them and relax a little into the role of professional development facilitator to this university standard course material. It has certainly opened my eyes up to current research again after a few years of being a school Principal.

I have harboured an ambition of doing a doctorate for many years. Indeed shortly after I finished at Auckland University in 1982 I began considering it. 'Harboured' is the right verb too - it feels a bit like a ship that's been at anchor for many years now. It's a sheltered cove with NZ bush coming down to the waterline, jagged rocks and mostly calm waters.

On my return to NZ (whenever that is) I intend to again explore the possibility of further study at Massey or, ideally, either Victoria or Auckland University. I'd love to be doing some study while my eldest son Keegan does his masters or daughters Samantha/Jade do their undergraduate work. We shall see (inshallah).

I've heard via the grapevine that my old job (Principal of Stratford High School) has gone to one of my former Deputy Principals. I wish him well! Being a Principal is a tough job that the acting Principal role doesn't really prepare you for. The Principals in Qatar face the same scrutiny and workload demands but in contrast they also have a large degree of uncertainty about their tenure. I take my hat off to anyone who takes on the role. I'm certainly enjoying helping the Qatari leaders who have that as an aspiration or who are new to the job. It's a great challenge but a very worthwhile one.

Watching my life, main attraction (Hard-Fi)

The two week break has come to an end and the first day back at work has been eventful. I've moved into the National Professional Standards team in Qatar that is training Principals via a PD program called 'Accredited School Leadership'. It's still a Cognition team and I'm lucky to have been another opportunity to help the Qatari leaders.

Sadly I've had to leave the Leadership Training team, superbly led by Colin. I had a terrific time with John Lambert et al but that contract ended before the break. That group continues in a different form and luckily I'll keep seeing them each Thursday at Al Khalij.

My new colleagues in this new team are Aussie Ian Smyth and Kiwi Andrea Ford (along with Denise and Julie as support staff) and we're at Regency Halls so I'm pleased at that continuity. Reem is also one of the translators which is great too.

I do miss my Qatari friends from the MOE group though and will aim to keep in contact with them via email.

Exciting times in Doha!