Heavy is the English Head
Heavy is the English Head
Podcast Description
I have had a diverse career across primary, secondary and tertiary education. While I have focused on English and literacy predominantly, I have also worked in roles focused on student wellbeing, disability funding and supports, and school engagement and attainment. I’ve also worked in child and adolescent psychiatry and as a lecturer and researcher. Working across roles and sectors has caused me to think critically, creatively and reflectively about how we design and deliver educational experiences in our schools, particularly the systems, structures and processes that may allow us to have the most impact.
I recently left my Head of English role at a public school. It was one of the most rewarding, stimulating, demanding and difficult roles I’ve had. I now work with systems, schools, leaders, and teachers to develop ambitious and rigorous practices in English and literacy. I’ve met so many incredible English and literacy leaders over the last couple of decades. I think it’s one of the toughest, most complex portfolios to hold, and I wanted to provide a platform for great leaders to share their work. This is a podcast about the nitty gritty of leadership in English and literacy. I will interview a range of guests with diverse perspectives, experiences and roles.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Concentrates on educational leadership, English literacy, and evidence-informed practices with episodes that explore topics such as effective teaching strategies, curriculum development, and the intersection of wellbeing and academic achievement. Specific episode highlights include guest insights on transforming literacy instruction and building strong educational cultures.
I have had a diverse career across primary, secondary and tertiary education. While I have focused on English and literacy predominantly, I have also worked in roles focused on student wellbeing, disability funding and supports, and school engagement and attainment. I’ve also worked in child and adolescent psychiatry and as a lecturer and researcher. Working across roles and sectors has caused me to think critically, creatively and reflectively about how we design and deliver educational experiences in our schools, particularly the systems, structures and processes that may allow us to have the most impact.
I recently left my Head of English role at a public school. It was one of the most rewarding, stimulating, demanding and difficult roles I’ve had. I now work with systems, schools, leaders, and teachers to develop ambitious and rigorous practices in English and literacy. I’ve met so many incredible English and literacy leaders over the last couple of decades. I think it’s one of the toughest, most complex portfolios to hold, and I wanted to provide a platform for great leaders to share their work. This is a podcast about the nitty gritty of leadership in English and literacy. I will interview a range of guests with diverse perspectives, experiences and roles.
Skye Staude is a dedicated educator and leader, with over a decade of experience driving instructional improvement across independent, government, and Catholic school sectors. As Principal at MacKillop Education in Geelong – a specialist setting supporting young people impacted by complex trauma and disrupted schooling – Skye champions literacy as a foundation for equity, engagement, and lifelong learning.
Holding a Master of Instructional Leadership from the University of Melbourne and a Diploma of Community Services Work, Skye is Dare to Lead™ certified, having completed Brené Brown’s research-based program on courageous leadership. She recently completed the Women in Schools Advanced Leadership Program, further strengthening her commitment to gender equity and inclusive leadership in education. Her work is grounded in evidence-based literacy practices and the belief that language and literacy are central to connection, belonging, and wellbeing.
Skye has presented extensively on trauma-informed and inclusive literacy strategies, focusing on building educator capacity to support vulnerable and at-risk students. Her leadership promotes whole-school approaches that dismantle barriers to learning and create environments where every student can feel safe, belong and thrive.
In 2020, alongside Megan Corcoran from the Wagtail Institute, Skye founded the RewirED Leadership Network- a collaborative community of leaders from flexible, specialist, and alternative education settings committed to professional learning, networking, and problem-solving across sectors.
Known for her calm, intentional leadership, Skye brings both strategic insight and practical expertise to her work. She is deeply committed to equipping educators to lead with courage and care, creating environments where literacy becomes a lever for transformation and equity, especially in complex educational contexts.
Show notes
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This episode was produced by Jonathan Raz.
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