Season 2, Episode 7 Building momentum: Creative strategies and partnerships for improving school attendance
We continue to talk about attendance in this episode, exploring proven strategies for boosting student attendance through meaningful partnerships. Hear how building strong relationships and addressing root causes—rather than just symptoms—can create lasting change in attendance patterns and student outcomes.
A note that attendance services mentioned in this episode were correct at the time of recording.
Hosted by Eleisha McNeill.
My guests are:
Mandy Dodds, tumuaki of Kumara School on the West Coast
Chris Bean, principal of Tangaroa College in Otara, Auckland
James Christie, tumuaki of Mauku School in the Franklin district
This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education.
You can learn more by accessing the e-learning modules for principals on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz
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Season 2, Episode 6 Getting every child through the gate: Turning around attendance
Student attendance has become one of the big challenges facing New Zealand schools. With new Attendance Management Plans becoming mandatory from 2026 and expanded attendance services on the horizon, principals are under increasing pressure to find effective solutions to chronic absenteeism. But some schools are beating the odds. In this episode, we sit down with principals who have successfully turned around poor attendance in their schools.
Hosted by Eleisha McNeill.
My guests are:
Mandy Dodds, tumuaki of Kumara School on the West Coast
Chris Bean, principal of Tangaroa College in Otara, Auckland
James Christie, tumuaki of Mauku School in the Franklin district
This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education.
You can learn more by accessing the e-learning modules for principals on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz
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Season 2, Episode 5 Coaching Leadership with Jan Robertson
In this episode of The Principals Aotearoa, Eleisha speaks with Jan Robertson, author of Coaching leadership: Building educational leadership capacity through partnership, discussing how coaching partnerships between educational leaders create powerful opportunities for reflective practice, help bridge the gap between what principals say they believe and what they do, and how coaching partnerships can transform school culture while building leadership capacity across the education system.
This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education.
You can learn more by accessing the e-learning modules for principals on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz
Additional information
The three Rs for coaching-learning relationships https://www.educationalleaders.govt.nz/Culture/Leading-staff/Coaching-learning-relationships
Coaching with a peer partner
https://www.educationalleaders.govt.nz/Culture/Developing-leaders/Coaching-leaders
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Season 2, Episode 4 Resilience and the right glasses - Developing the skills for school leadership
In this episode, our guests reflect on their first few years of principalship, discussing what it means to lead an entire school community, and providing tips for balancing strategic vision with daily operations, building resilience in high-pressure roles, and developing future leaders.
My guests are:
Jacqui Brown, principal of New Plymouth Girls’ High School
Prisca MacDonald, tumuaki of Tawa Intermediate School
Elena Moretti, Director Engagement and Impact, Education Review Office.
This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education.
You can learn more by accessing the e-learning modules for principals on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz
Additional information
ERO report summary: Guide for aspiring and new principals: ERO's new principals research
ERO full report: ‘Everything Was New’: Preparing and Supporting New Principals
Principal Development Map https://workforce.education.govt.nz/principals-and-schools/professional-development-and-support-principals/principal-development-map
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Season 2, Episode 3 From Classroom to Core Team: Stepping Up
The transition from teacher or senior school leader to tumuaki is more than just a title change – it's a professional and personal transformation. This episode talks about the transition into principalship, the differences between senior leadership and principalship, and ERO research into pathways new principals take, and their sense of preparedness for the role.
My guests are:
Jacqui Brown, principal of New Plymouth Girls’ High School
Prisca MacDonald, tumuaki of Tawa Intermediate School
Elena Moretti, Director Engagement and Impact, ERO
This podcast was produced for the Ministry of Education.
You can learn more by accessing the e-learning modules for principals on the Education LMS: https://training.education.govt.nz
Additional information
ERO report summary: Guide for aspiring and new principals: ERO's new principals research
ERO full report: ‘Everything Was New’: Preparing and Supporting New Principals
Principal Development Map https://workforce.education.govt.nz/principals-and-schools/professional-development-and-support-principals/principal-development-map
Experienced school leaders and officials share stories and offer tips about leading schools in Aotearoa New Zealand. This series sits alongside the online learning programme: Te Ara Tīmatanga mō ngā Tumuaki | The Beginning Pathway for Principals, which can be accessed on the Education LMS https://training.education.govt.nz.
New Zealand