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Who is Michael O’Keeffe?

Picture of Michael
Michael

A very warm welcome to my website. I hope you find my blogs of some interest. 

So who am I?

Well first and foremost I am a Husband and Father. I met my wife at my first teaching job and we have an 8 year old daughter. I live in Melbourne, Australia and have been teaching for 20 years.

I am currently the Director of College and Community Engagement at Loyola College, Watsonia. We are a Co-Educational Catholic School of just under 1400 students. The role includes promoting the College philosophy, organisation of College events, organisation of College publications, review of College policies and development of new policies, conduct College reviews as required by Government agencies, oversee the work of the Community Liaison Officer and College Archivist. The role also includes all Marketing and Development including Social Media. 

I have taught in all three sectors (Public, Catholic and Government) along with spending four years teaching in a Primary School. My teaching methods include Drama, Theatre, Media and Religious Education. 

I have an absolute love of Musical Theatre, am a Hawthorn Football Club supporter (AFL Football) and an IT nerd! 

Whats this blog about?

My aim is to create discussion around educational issues, with some fun along the way. We are at a turning point in education, with COVID-19 fast tracking some of the cultural restructure that many of those pushing for change have been waiting for. 

I will post articles, share projects I am working on and express my views on some of the big topics. 

Thanks! 

I appreciate your support and look forward to sharing my journey with you! 

MOK

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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.
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.
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?