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Anne-Marie Maw is an educator who has worked in schools for over 25 years as a classroom teacher and school leader across a range of schools in Australia. Currently, she is the principal of St. Agatha’s Primary School in the northeast suburbs of Brisbane which is the capital city of the state of Queensland in Australia. She also regularly contributes to Principal Matters newsletters. She is the founder of Hey Hands Up, a website dedicated to raising the profile and capacity of educators. You can follow her work or find out more about their professional development offerings at her website.
Anne-Marie is a returning guest, first sharing in 2021, on episode 238. Go here to listen to the archived episode.
In this week’s conversation:
Anne-Marie Maw shared insights from her experience in educational leadership. Anne-Marie, a Pilates enthusiast with a new puppy, serves 350 students ages 5 through 12. She expressed pride in the family-centered approach of her community and the active involvement of parents.
Anne-Marie described her teachers as “a big bunch of learning nerds” and highlighted the openness of her students to share creative ideas, such as a proposal for a Ninja club. Four and a half years into her leadership role, Anne-Marie has embraced growth through compassion and a growth mindset, learning to balance her ego with the needs of her community.
She recounted a humbling experience of being perceived as micromanaging, which led her to foster a more supportive environment for her staff. Anne-Marie emphasized the importance of listening over fixing and giving individuals space to thrive. She advocates for recognizing everyone as human first and understanding the unseen motivations that drive people.
Setting intentional goals has been a key part of Anne-Marie’s journey, with a significant milestone at the three-year mark of her principalship confirming her commitment to the role. Her website, HeyHandsUp.com.au, serves as a platform for sharing educational insights and lessons learned.
Anne-Marie’s philosophy centers on long-term, service-minded goals, embracing micro-changes to achieve outcomes. She encourages educational leaders to be boldly compassionate, engage in difficult conversations, and support others’ growth.
Now it’s your turn:
Find out more about Anne-Marie Maw and her work on HeyHandsUp.com.au and on LinkedIn.
