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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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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.
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.
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.