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Luke George's Conversations with Courageous Educators
Luke George's Conversations with Courageous Educators
Author: Luke George
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© 2025 Luke George's Conversations with Courageous Educators
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Welcome to " Conversations with Courageous Educators” the podcast that understands the challenges and rewards of being an educator. Host Luke George, a passionate advocate for student growth and success, invites you to join him as he explores the strategies and stories as told by courageous educators who thrive in their roles.
18 Episodes
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In this episode of Conversations with Courageous Educators, Luke George sits down with Sally Mills—a passionate and purpose-driven teacher who, in just four years, has made an incredible impact in the classroom and beyond. Starting as an overwhelmed graduate, Sally’s journey is one of growth, grit, and relentless pursuit of great teaching. Now thriving at Neerigen Brook Primary School, she shares how strong mentorship, high expectations, and a deep belief in the power of explicit instruction ...
In this episode of Conversations with Courageous Educators, Luke George speaks with Stacie Skehan—a leader whose superpower is curiosity, and whose strength lies in listening deeply to understand, not just to respond. Stacie takes us on a powerful journey from her first teaching role in the tiny outback community of Warnkurna to leading as principal at Wananami Remote Community School. Her story is one of humility, cultural integration, and co-creating education with community at the centre....
In this episode of Conversations with Courageous Educators, Luke George sits down with Eliza Dadson, founder of ADHD With Me—an educator whose personal and professional journey has given her a deep, science-backed understanding of ADHD. With decades of teaching experience and a passion rooted in family and formal study, Eliza shares what every educator and parent needs to know about teaching children with ADHD. From the importance of building social skills to the power of positive reinforcem...
In this episode of Conversations with Courageous Educators, host Luke George speaks with Will Davis, the founding Principal of Oakwood Primary School, about his journey from the UK to Australia and the creation of a school that prioritizes joy in learning. Will shares his insights on building a positive school culture, recruiting passionate educators, and implementing the Fish Philosophy to create a supportive and engaging environment. He also discusses Oakwood’s unique classroom setups, whi...
In this episode of Conversations with Courageous Educators, host Luke George speaks with Julie Bolingbroke, principal of Gwynn Park Primary School, about the extraordinary transformation of her school—from one of the lowest-achieving in Western Australia to a recipient of the Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award. Julie shares how community support, strong behaviour management, and high expectations have played a pivotal role in the school's success. She discusses the power of consistency...
In this episode of Conversations with Courageous Educators, host Luke George sits down with Maggie Bott, an inspiring education support teacher whose passion for inclusive education has made a profound impact. They explore the key differences between education support and mainstream teaching, the challenges of emotional regulation in students, and the importance of creating classrooms where every child can thrive. Maggie shares her journey into education, the honour of being named Teacher of ...
In this episode, Luke George speaks with Mike Mount-Bryson, principal of Lockridge Primary School, about his journey in education and his unwavering commitment to student and staff well-being. They explore the challenges and rewards of teaching in low socio-economic areas, the critical role of education assistants, and the school culture that led Lockridge Primary to win the 2024 Excellence in Well-Being and Learning Award. Mike shares insights on the importance of stability in schools, foste...
In this episode, we speak to Gemma Roberts, a passionate teacher and leader, whose approach to education can be summed up in one word—joy. Gemma shares her experiences in teaching and leadership, highlighting the power of maintaining a positive mindset and the joy that comes with being an educator. We discuss the importance of creating safe spaces for students, empowering others through leadership, and navigating the dynamics of multicultural classrooms. Gemma emphasizes celebrating small wi...
In this episode, Jake Petterwood, principal of Settlers Primary School, discusses the crucial role that school culture plays in student performance. He shares his experience in fostering a positive culture at Settlers Primary by focusing on communication, consistency, credibility, and reducing staff workload. Jake emphasizes the importance of creating trust and transparency within the school community, building strong relationships, and actively engaging parents. He also shares his unique app...
In this episode, we hear from Natasha Upcott, the principal of Mandurah Primary School, as she shares her powerful journey of overcoming adversity and leading with confidence. From growing up in a hotel in Hong Kong to facing domestic violence as an adult, Natasha has encountered significant challenges. Through self-reflection and personal growth, she has emerged as a stronger leader, making a positive impact on her school and community. Natasha discusses the importance of setting boundaries,...
Meet Daniela Falecki, the human dynamo and passionate advocate for teacher wellbeing. In this episode, we delve into Daniela's new book, "Thrive," and explore strategies to help teachers navigate the highs and celebrations of teaching, as well as the lows and stressful times. Daniela Falecki, a dedicated educator and wellbeing consultant, shares her journey in teaching and the challenges she faced. She emphasises the high demands and pressures of the profession and discusses who bears the res...
In this episode, we sit down with Katrina Bourke, a leadership and wellbeing expert, who shares her inspiring journey from being a teacher to becoming a passionate leader. Katrina emphasizes the importance of autonomy and self-awareness in leadership and delves into the challenges and vulnerabilities that leaders face. Katrina introduces the concept of sacred ground, a space where leaders align their vision and values to create a positive impact. She highlights the significance of having a s...
Lesley Barrett, the Principal of Neerigen Brook Primary School, leads a marginalized school where 36 different languages are spoken and 25% of the population are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Over the past eight years, Lesley has made incredible strides in transforming the school, its staff, the community, and the students. In this episode, Lesley shares the courageous steps she took to implement changes that made a significant impact. She emphasizes the power of conversation...
Dr. Selena Fisk, renowned as the data storyteller, joins us to reveal the transformative power of data analysis in education. With a unique approach, Selena demonstrates how measuring student disposition and behaviours directly impacts achievement. In this episode, Selena shares her three-prong approach: data literacy, data visualisation, and data storytelling. She transforms numbers and scores into compelling human journeys, showing how effective written and verbal feedback drives student p...
David Wanstall began his teaching career at Halls Creek District High School in a remote town in the Kimberleys. Now, with 38 years of experience, he serves as a Director of Education, having worked in diverse schools and contexts. In this episode, we discuss the profound impact of school culture, setting behaviour expectations for students and staff, and making courageous decisions that drive student learning and staff growth. David also shares the inspiring story of how he and two other pri...
With 34 years of experience in education, Dr. Ray Boyd is not just a seasoned educator but also a marathon runner and an inspirational leader. Named Principal of the Year in 2014, Dr. Boyd has even honed his leadership skills at Harvard Business School. Recently, he opened Dayton Primary School and co-founded the Centre of Excellence with two other principals. In this episode, we explore Dr. Boyd's journey in education, his approach to building a new school from the ground up, and his insigh...
With over 20 years of experience in education, Dr. Lillian Fawcett is an accredited Dyslexia-SPELD specialist teacher and has additional qualifications in psychology. She developed Cracking the ABC Code, a program grounded in well-researched memory and literacy learning principles, and constantly updates it with new research. Dr. Fawcett has successfully helped hundreds of students improve their literacy skills. In this episode, we discuss multisensory activities, the importance of sequence i...
In this inaugural episode of Conversations with Courageous Leaders, we sit down with Louise O'Donovan, the Principal of Jilbup Primary School, which opened its doors in 2024. Louise is a distinguished educator whose commitment to excellence in education has garnered her recognition, including the prestigious West Australian Primary Principal of the Year award in 2021. Join us as we delve into Louise's journey as an educational leader, from her transformative tenure at Beeliar Primary School ...


