Performance Review Juliet Dickenson

One of the crucial roles of principal-ship is the responsibility to develop effective leaders from
within our organisations. However, the role of principal itself has changed radically in recent
times. How then do we prepare the future leaders of our schools for this rapidly changing
role?
(Brian Hinchco Papatoetoe Intermediate School)

The opportunity that Te Kowhai School provides its leadership team are extensive. The
opportunity for Juliet to work with Tony and vice versa has contributed to the growing of a
strong, focused and enthusiastic Leadership Team.

She is an absolute gem. we are so lucky to have her at TK School

(Leadership Team member comment Oct 2016)

Introduction
Process
This report has been informed through the following process and procedures

Self-reflection
Juliets Weebly
General observation and discussion
Informal discussion with students
Leadership Team survey

Narrative
Juliet carries out her duties as the Deputy Principal at Te Kowhai School to an extremely
high standard. Her ability to use her educational knowledge to lift the performance of
teachers and therefore achievement of the students.

Juliet is a great asset to Te Kowhai School. Everyone loves her bright and cheerful
personality. She sees the good in everyone and ensure she takes time to chat to all
staff about their concerns. Juliet is a people person and makes the wider TK staff feel
valued.
(Leadership comment)

Working with Tony compliments Juliets knowledge and abilities and she is in a unique
position to be working in environment superbly matched both to her knowledge and
professional growth. It has been rewarding for me too, during this appraisal, working along
somebody who is so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about education and her work at Te
Kowhai School.
I've been fortunate through working with Tony and his appraisal and working with the COL
so have spent a lot longer at the school and therefore have gained a real insight into the
work that has gone into making this an innovative and successful school.
As a Deputy Principal Juliet is able to bring a professional and thoughtful balance between
compliance and professional learning and I particularly like the way that her thoughtfulness
moves compliance type activities into professional learning and therefore essential
pedagogical learning opportunities. Juliet is able to take ideas synthesise them and integrate
them into the Te Kowhai School way.

Juliet's Weebly has insured that the Practising Teacher Criteria have been covered in this
12-month period with evidence to show coverage, readily available. With the leadership
enquiry I particularly note how the Practising Teacher Criteria have been highlighted. It
would seem to me this is one of the most useful activities educationally to demonstrate and
have evidence that the Practising Teacher Criteria have been enacted.
Juliet's extensive reflections are an outstanding indicator of the thought that she puts into her
work. Her links to the evidence for these reflections has made it easy for the appraiser to
follow Juliets 2016 journey.

Juliet develops a winning attitude among the staff and this is demonstrated by the following
feedback I have received.

The wider staff find Juliet approachable and will often go to her with their concerns.
She is organised and will get things done. Juliet listens to everyones concerns. She
creates systems and documents. She shares her ideas and thoughts about TKs future
direction, strategic goals etc. and looks for ways to improve current systems. Juliet
has the ability to get along well with everyone and will do her best to please everyone.
Juliet oversees our SENCO needs and works hard to ensure students receive the
support they need.

Juliet is a great asset to Te Kowhai School. Everyone loves her bright and cheerful
personality. She sees the good in everyone and ensure she takes time to chat to all
staff about their concerns. Juliet is a people person and makes the wider Te Kowhai
staff feel valued.

Practicing Teacher Criteria

I have seen Juliets evidence and attest that she has met the Practicing Teacher Criteria.

Recommendations

1 Continue to work towards a culturally responsive pedagogy. The RUIA website and
Tataiako are excellent resources for this.
http://appraisal.ruia.educationalleaders.govt.nz/
http://partnerships.ruia.educationalleaders.govt.nz/

2 Investigate the literature around important conversations. This has come from a
feedback rermark from one of the school leaders.

3 Do you have any thoughts?

I asked the leadership team to think of three words that would describe Juliets leadership.
The responses were;

inclusive, inspiring, "walks the talk"

Positive, collaborative, fun
Organised, Systems Driven, Personable
Passionate, innovative, Collaborative

Conclusion
Although the principal at Te Kowhai is at the forefront to lead change, it is with the leadership
team and the leaders of learning that have enabled this to happen. The change for 2017 will
be the COL and this is not a superficial change, but one which will impact on Juliet and her
role significantly. As Fullan comments, Leadership is not about making clever decisions,..it
is about energising other people to make good decisions and do better things (Fullan,
2006 : 12). With Te Kowhai seeing leadership as collective, shared potential in the
organisation (West-Burnham: 2) Juliet is now stepping her role up a notch into unchartered
territory. The existing model of leadership within a school is being replaced and Juliet will
have a major role in creating a new model.

Allan Bull

7 November 2016

Registration Number 100202