S1.E1 Louise O'Donovan - Moral Purpose and Science of Learning

In this inaugural episode of Conversations with Courageous Leaders, we sit down with Louise O'Donovan, the Principal of Jilbup Primary School, which opened its doors in 2024. Louise is a distinguished educator whose commitment to excellence in education has garnered her recognition, including the prestigious West Australian Primary Principal of the Year award in 2021.

Join us as we delve into Louise's journey as an educational leader, from her transformative tenure at Beeliar Primary School to her current role at Jilbup Primary School. With a focus on student success and a passion for effective teaching methodologies, Louise shares her insights into building a culture of excellence and implementing evidence-based practices, such as the Science of Learning and Reading.

Key Discussion Points:

1. Moral Purpose and Shared Vision: Louise reflects on her moral purpose as an educator and how she instills a sense of purpose among her staff. Whether walking into an established school or opening a brand-new one, Louise emphasizes the importance of creating a shared vision to drive positive change.
2. Building a Culture of Excellence: Drawing from her experience at Beeliar Primary School, Louise discusses the essential elements of fostering a culture of excellence. She highlights the significance of teacher capacity building and shares strategies for empowering educators to excel in their craft.
3. Getting Reading Right: Louise's passion for literacy shines through as she emphasizes the critical role of reading in shaping students' futures. She shares her insights into the Science of Reading and the importance of evidence-based instructional approaches, such as Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI), in ensuring that all students have access to quality education.
4. The Science of Learning: Delving deeper into educational theory and practice, Louise discusses the Science of Learning and its implications for teaching and learning. She explores how understanding the science behind how students learn can inform instructional strategies and lead to improved outcomes.

In this episode Louise discusses and recommends Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong which is a powerful 10-episode podcast, here is a link for your reference- Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong | Podcast (apmreports.org)

To watch the full episode on YouTube, follow this link: https://youtu.be/LtTbcgDug4U

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction and Childhood in Armadale
• 8:16 Importance of Culture and Challenges in Leadership
• 14:26 Courageous Conversations and Feedback with Love
• 32:27 Factors Affecting School Performance
• 39:21 Advice to 20-Year-Old Self and Aspiring Educators