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B.A. | DipEd | M. Ed | Grad.Cert.Ed.Lead.| CSML (Harvard)

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Educational Leadership

Literacy Isn’t an English Problem. It’s a Leadership Opportunity.

One of the biggest shifts has been changing the conversation from “Literacy is the responsibility of the English faculty” to “Every teacher is a teacher of literacy.” Every subject has its own language, vocabulary and ways of thinking. Whether students are analysing historical sources, interpreting scientific texts or unpacking complex mathematical word problems, literacy is fundamental to success.

That philosophy has shaped many of the initiatives we’ve introduced across the College.

At John Paul College, literacy is now embedded within our Annual Action Plan and School Improvement Plan. It isn’t viewed as an initiative that sits alongside teaching and learning. It is a strategic priority that informs curriculum design, professional learning, intervention, instructional practice and faculty planning. This whole school approach has created the conditions for literacy improvement to become sustainable rather than dependent on individual champions.

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July 31, 2026 No Comments
Book Review

Book Review: Elevated Conversations

There are few things more familiar in schools than collaborative time that begins with good intentions but does not quite lead anywhere. Meetings happen, discussion takes place, yet it can feel as though the real work never quite gets done. Elevated Conversations by Simon Breakspear tackles this challenge in a practical and realistic way.

One of the strengths of the book is how clearly Breakspear describes what many educators experience but rarely name. He refers to “weary talk”, conversations that go around in circles, where some voices dominate, others disengage, and time runs out before anything meaningful shifts. This is not framed as a problem with people, but as a problem of structure. Bringing people together is not enough on its own. Good collaboration needs to be designed.

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February 8, 2026 No Comments
Book Review

Book Review: Grounded

Every now and then a leadership book arrives at the right moment. Not because it introduces entirely new ideas, but because it gives language and structure to things many leaders already sense but rarely make time to explore.

Grounded by Katrina Bourke is one of those books.

At its heart, Grounded is not a book about leadership techniques. It is a book about leadership as a human practice.

Grounded is a calm and thoughtful contribution to the leadership space. It does not promise quick wins or dramatic change. Instead, it offers a framework for understanding yourself more deeply so that your leadership of others becomes clearer and more intentional.

For leaders in education, it is a timely reminder that leadership is not only about what we do, but about who we are while doing it.

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February 1, 2026 No Comments
Personal

Conversations on Leadership, AI, and the Arts

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to contribute to a number of podcast conversations, as well as host a series myself during lockdown. Each of these experiences gave me a chance to step back from the day-to-day of school life and reflect more broadly on the issues shaping education.

Across these episodes I’ve explored a range of themes: how the arts have influenced my leadership, the opportunities and challenges of AI in classrooms, and the behind-the-scenes realities of staging a school musical. I’ve also had the chance to talk with students and colleagues about community, connection, and the ways schools can adapt in times of disruption.

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October 7, 2025 No Comments
Book Review

Book Review: The Connection Conundrum

In my earlier review of The Connection Curriculum, I noted Matt Pitman’s call for educators to prioritise genuine human connection as the foundation of thriving schools. His follow-up book, The Connection Conundrum, takes that message further. Pitman places teachers at the centre of change, reminding us that connection is not a program or policy, but a practice built through daily, deliberate actions in the classroom. For me, his strongest challenge is around professional courage. He urges teachers to take risks, experiment, and lead from where they are, without waiting for permission. As a school leader, this resonates deeply. I value nothing more than when teachers bring forward new ideas and learn through action. Pitman’s book is a timely reminder that teachers are cultural leaders, and that schools flourish when we trust and empower them to act.

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October 3, 2025 No Comments
Professional Learning

Making Teaching Cool Again: How to Fix Education’s Biggest Crisis

The world is running out of teachers, and the impact is already being felt. Even in schools that appear fully staffed, the experience levels are often unbalanced, with too many new teachers and not enough experienced mentors. This leaves early-career teachers unsupported and increases burnout, with one in five leaving the profession within the first five years.

In my talk, I asked the audience to imagine a world without teachers. At first, it might seem like a student’s dream come true with no essays or homework, but in reality, it would be a disaster. Parents would be forced into homeschooling, workplaces would suffer staff shortages, and everyday life would grind to a halt. Who would teach young people to read a road sign or understand a payslip?

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March 28, 2025 No Comments
ABOUT ME

Welcome, I’m Michael O’Keeffe, an educational leader based in Melbourne, Australia.

I am passionate about improving teaching, developing people and creating the conditions for every student to succeed. Through this website I share practical insights, leadership reflections and resources drawn from my work in curriculum, explicit instruction, school improvement and educational leadership.

Whether you’re a classroom teacher, middle leader or school leader, I hope you’ll find ideas that are both practical and relevant to your own context.

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