Over 100 teachers and CSAs from around the Western Region came together on Friday 18 May to collaborate and share a profound professional learning opportunity at Sacred Heart Central School in Cootamundra.

Educational Consultant Leonie Anstey provided an excellent keynote on Raising Challenge and Thinking Maps which provoked deeper thinking, discussion and excitement at how quickly and easily staff would be able to implement the ideas presented and practiced during the session.

Numeracy Learning Specialist and Maths Coach Russell McCartney facilitated a second workshop with hands on activities to promote differentiation for students in all classes.

Sacred Heart Principal Janet Cartwright said it was a wonderful day of sharing, discussion, questioning and learning for all involved.

“We are very grateful to both presenters for fitting us into their busy schedules and for the opportunity to share with colleagues from schools around the Western Region,” she said.

Leonie was formally a Principal in Victoria for 6 years and has worked as a Teacher/Principal Coach for 5 years in mathematics and physics. She currently holds a Masters of Education and has supported Early Childhood settings to implement Mathematics and Science strategies.

In 2010, Leonie was presented with the prestigious Lindsay Thompson Fellowship for her work in raising mathematics achievement for middle year students across a network of schools. The fellowship focused on Instructional Leadership at the school, district and national levels in America, Scandinavia and the United Kingdom.

Leonie has presented at National and International conferences on Mathematics, Leadership and Thinking discussing Professional Learning Teams, Questioning, Australian Curriculum and Leadership practices.

Russell McCarthy is a Maths Coaching Specialist with more than 10 years’ experience delivering school-wide professional development days, conferences, PLTs an PLCs.

He assists teachers to explore how they might engage students in rich tasks and differentiate student learning, working with teams to collect and analyse data.

Over the past two years, as part of the Primary Maths/Science Specialist program Russell has led a team of numeracy coaches across three school settings and is now currently employed as a Numeracy Teaching and Learning Specialist and Maths Coach for the department of Education and Training Victoria.