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As any principal knows, effective leadership is the key ingredient to a school’s success, but when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, many leaders were forced to fight the good fight with one hand tied behind their back.
As someone who has dedicated his life to helping educators thrive, Happy School creator Steve Francis swung into action, launching a program that is helping get struggling teachers and leaders back on their feet.
Francis is no stranger to the challenges that teachers and principals are facing. He has been the principal at a number of schools, including a one-teacher school and a large metropolitan school in Queensland. He also headed up an international school in Hong Kong.
“Effective leadership is so important in schools. I am concerned that Covid had a huge impact on schools and in particular leaders,” Francis tells The Educator.
“So often I find that leadership teams are so busy dealing with issues, solving problems and looking after others that they rarely get to focus on their own development and in particular, their alignment as a team.”
In February 2022, Francis launched the ‘School Leadership Sprints’ to support and align leaders.
The series of 20 short sharp videos are designed to develop and align leadership teams and aspiring leaders. Typical topics include High Functioning Leadership Teams, Mastering Difficult Conversations, Time-efficient Line Management Processes, Leading Effective Change, and Differentiating Your Leadership.
More than 100 schools across Australia and New Zealand have subscribed to access this valuable resource.
“The challenge for leaders and leadership teams is that they are time poor. They are often so busy dealing with operational issues they rarely get to be strategic or to work on their alignment as a team,” Francis says.
“The School Leadership Sprints are designed as very short, sharp videos, less than 10 minutes on one specific, important leadership issue. They can be integrated into the leadership team meeting, once or twice per term, to prompt discussions and decisions that will align the leadership team.”
Francis says the Sprints can also be used by individuals or aspiring leaders for on-demand professional development.
“The response from schools has been huge and the feedback extremely positive.”
When asked what he believes should be the main supports for the teaching and leadership professions in 2023, Francis says a strong focus on wellbeing will be key.
“Teacher wellbeing is such an important issue. You can’t have a great school without great people. We are struggling to retain our superstars, let alone attract people to the profession,” he says.
“As a society, we need to increase the respect we hold for the teaching profession. If you asked parents what is the most important thing in their lives, 99% of them would say their children. They are more important to them than their house, their car or anything they own.”
Francis said the work of teachers and leaders in Australia’s schools is important because they are professionals that have the opportunity to change lives, every day.
“That’s important work that should be respected,” he says. “Our Happy School program is designed to help staff in schools help themselves to manage their wellbeing. I don’t believe that it is the leader’s job to ‘fix’ staff wellbeing.”
Francis says staff need to take responsibility for the decisions they make.
“The Happy School program is designed to help staff. The leader’s role is to focus on the school culture by providing the best possible environment for the magic to happen in schools and that is in the classroom,” he explains. “The School Leadership Sprints are designed to help leaders to optimise their school.”
PO Box 469, Bulimba, QLD 4171
0421705693
steve@happyschool.com.au
au.linkedin.com/in/stevefrancisaus
happyschool.com.au
Steve Francis
Chief Executive Officer
Happy School
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2020–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Deputy Principal at Australian Christian College - Southlands
Doctor of Education
2020–present
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2021
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Year 7 Community Leader and Leader for Learning Technologies and Platforms at Northern Beaches Christian School
Master of Business Administration, 2017–2019
2021
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2023
2018–present
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
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Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Team Leader, Middle School/Gifted Education Coordinator at Moreton Bay Boys’ College
2007–2013
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2023
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Deputy Principal at Canterbury College
2023
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2008–present
Human Resources Magazine | key media
CEO at Happy School
Keynote Presenter
Certified Speaking Professional
2008–present
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Human Resources Magazine | key media
Principal at ESF Hong Kong
2004–2008
1997
1989–2004
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Principal at Education Queensland
1989–2004
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Milestones
2018–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
2022
Excellence awardee – Independent Mortgage Adviser of the Year category at the New Zealand Mortgage Awards
2022
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2022
2020–present
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
Deputy Principal at Australian Christian College - Southlands
Doctor of Education
2020–present
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2021
Launched his own business,
Ascend Financial Services
2022
2022
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
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2021
Launched his own business,
Ascend Financial Services
2022
