WENDY KOFOED is Principal of Newmarket School and has a wide involvement in a range of educational and leadership activities. Wendy says, "As a leader of a school it has always been important for me to be involved in quite challenging personal professional development to ensure that my learning provides necessary feed forward and enhances my leadership role."
Undertaking a Master of Educational Management first introduced Wendy to undertaking research in schools and lead to her current research focus on the effectiveness of home and school partnerships and the development of the parents’ role as co-educators through written reporting.
Currently completing her 4th year of a Doctor of Education, Wendy says, "The programme encourages you to develop strong professional knowledge and collegial networks and makes you challenge your thinking about effective leadership. I enjoy the support, feedback and friendship of fellow students and I have been very fortunate to work with two excellent researchers - Professors Helen Timperley and John Hattie (pictured above on the right and left), both outstanding academics. They provide challenging and enlightening discussion, clear directions for my learning journey and are a rich source of ideas."
Wendy hopes that her research in reporting to parents will be of ultimate benefit to fellow practitioners and strengthen home and school partnerships.
Wendy says "While the study, research and working full-time has been challenging, it has also provided huge professional growth. Now that I am towards the latter part of my programme, and the mountain is three quarters climbed I can look back and note that while not an amble in the park it has certainly been worth the exertion to date."
