E87 | Fostering Community & Authentic Leadership with Darren Cox, Principal at Marsden Park Anglican College

EdLeaders Australia

In this episode of the 'Ed Leaders' podcast, join Luke Callier and Mathew Irving as they explore the world of educational leadership with special guest Darren Cox, Principal at Marsden Park Anglican College.

Discover the transformative journey from teacher to principal as Darren shares invaluable insights on fostering a thriving school culture through community, authenticity, and proactive engagement. From tackling challenges like staff shortages to envisioning a dynamic learning environment for the future, Darren offers profound insights into fostering a thriving school culture.

Plus, learn about Darren's forward-thinking approach to addressing education's evolving needs, advocating for well-being initiatives, and fostering meaningful community engagement. Concluding with rapid-fire insights, Darren highlights the importance of impactful professional development and the necessity for educational rules to adapt.

Don't miss out on this enlightening discussion! Tune in now!

Highlights:

• (02:47) Darren's journey in education is inspired by the movie "To Sir, with Love."

• (05:43) Reflection on the journey from teacher to leader and the importance of authenticity.

• (08:38) Learning from both positive and negative role models in leadership.

• (11:21) Reflections on learnings from working outside of schools within the education system.

• (13:40)Challenges and considerations in scaling successful programs or initiatives across multiple schools.

• (14:40) Darren's motivation for returning to a school leadership role and founding Marsden Park Anglican College.

• (17:08)Evolution of understanding fit and advice for younger leaders on discerning their fit.

• (19:34) Importance of personal development and self-awareness for leaders to address character tendencies.

• (21:12) The importance of assembling a strong team using sports analogies.

• (22:30) Hiring based on complementary strengths rather than finding someone exactly like oneself.

• (26:23) Creating a joyful and permission-giving culture in the workplace.

• (29:58) The sources of personal leadership inspiration and the importance of challenging the status quo.

• (40:33) Darren discusses creativity in budgeting and the time spent on business management.

• (42:17) Importance of creating a strong profile for recruiting staff in challenging environments.

• (49:53) Aspirations for Marsden Park School in the next five years, focusing on community and values.

• (51:10) Speculations on the future of schooling, including changes in hours and delivery methods.

Quote:

"Schools offer a deep sense of community. Relationships matter, and fostering strong connections with students, staff, and parents is at the heart of education." -Darren

"Leadership isn't just about doing everything everywhere. It's about understanding your strengths, values, and purpose to make decisions that truly align with who you are." -Darren

Links:

Website: Marsden Park Anglican College

LinkedIn: Darren Cox

You can also connect with us personally at LinkedIn:

Luke Callier - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ljcallier/⁠

Mathew Irving - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathew-irving-b6b91430/

Special thanks to our partners:

Special thanks to our partners:

People Bench - https://peoplebench.com.au/

Paperly - https://paperly.education/

Signup to the Edleaders Newsletter: Head on over to edleaders.com.au to hear more about our journey. If you'd like to know more about being a guest or would like to sponsor our show - check out https://www.edleaders.com.au/collabs

As always if you have questions, feedback, or a suggestion from a leader you'd like to hear from - send us a message! Please remember if you have a spare minute, please leave us a review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player which will help more like-minded school leaders discover us.

Go Well.