Become a middle leader
Who are middle leaders?
Roles that sit between the work of teachers and the work of senior school leaders are considered to be middle leader roles. There are a wide range, which include leading learning areas, year levels, curriculum, administration, and wellbeing and pastoral roles.
The Middle Leader Standards highlight career pathways and transitions for teachers aspiring to take on middle leadership roles. The Middle Leader Standards can be used developmentally to improve the capabilities of aspiring and current middle leaders, and provide an individualised pathway of progression.
The Middle Leader Standards
The Professional Standards for Middle Leaders identify the key capabilities to be effective as a middle leader.
They acknowledge the key role of middle leaders in schools and are intended to bridge the gap between the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers and the Australian Professional Standard for Principals.
The path to middle leadership
There is no set path to becoming a middle leader. If you are interested in taking the next step, you could:
- Build expertise in teaching and learning
- Seek opportunities to lead projects, teams or initiatives
- Develop skills in coaching, mentoring and collaboration
- Use evidence and data to improve practice
- Talk with your school leaders about leadership opportunities and professional learning
- Apply for middle leadership positions when they become available.