Professional Development for Educators

SCHOOL MASTERS deliver professional development programs to schools, colleges, tertiary institutions and education conferences throughout Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. We help educators build positive and productive schools.

Our professional development programs focus on three key areas:
· Programs to build a capable and motivated workforce
· Programs to help educators motivate and engage students
· Programs to develop positive school environments

SCHOOL MASTERS presentations are suitable for:
· Conferences
· Professional Development Workshops
· School Development Days
· Seminars
· Team Building Workshops
· Student Presentations

They can be delivered as:
· Conference keynotes and workshops (45-90 mins)
· Short Programs (60-90 mins)
· Half day programs
· Full day programs
· Multi day programs
· Programs can be delivered on their own or as a combination.

Who presents the programs?
David Koutsoukis the Director of SCHOOL MASTERS and the key presenter. Other presenters are also used for certain programs.

See who we have presented to: Clients and Events

Read what people say: Testimonials

Click here to download your free SCHOOL MASTERS Professional Learning Catalogue.

Programs to Build a Capable and Motivated Workforce

Positive and Productive Workplaces
The FUNMAN'S Formula: How to Build a Positive and Productive Workplace

Teamwork and Teambuilding
The CAPS Model for Teambuilding: How to Build Cohesive and Effective Teams

Fun at Work
Fun is a Serious Business!: How Fun at Work Helps Performance, Passion and Productivity

Work/Life Balance
Watch Your Wellness! Four Keys to Help You Achieve a Work/Life

Balance Diversity and Personality Styles
What is Wrong with Them? How to Improve Communication and Enhance Relationships by Understanding People's Behaviour

Humour and Fun
The Positive Power of Humour and Fun for Health, Hope and Happiness

Positive and Passionate Attitudes
Lessons from a Legend: Seven Learning Diamonds to Build Passion and Promote Positive Performance

Practical Team Building Workshops
Interaction Action! Fun Team Building Activities

Programs to Help Educators Motivate and Engage Students

Fun in the Classroom
Children, Chalk and Chuckles: The Positive Power of Fun in the Classroom to Enhance Learning and Build Relationships

Multiple Intelligences
Smart Learning: Using the Multiple Intelligences Model to Create and Deliver Dynamic and Exciting Learning Programs

Motivating Students
Developing a Capable and Motivated Classroom: How to Engage and Motivate Generation Y

Fun Games and Team Building Activities
The Smorgasbord of Fun! Icebreakers, Mixers and Fun Team Building Activities to Energise and Engage Students

Programs to Develop Positive School Environments

Behaviour Management
How to Effectively Manage Student Behaviour and Keep Yourself Sane!

Values Education
Creative Tools for Teaching Values: How to Effectively Teach Values Education in Schools

Developing a Positive School Culture
The Little Things Make a BIG Difference: How to Build a Positive School Culture

Strategic Planning/Issues Facilitation
Strategic Planning and Problem Solving

Programs to Build a Capable and Motivated Workforce

Developing a Capable and Motivated Workforce
The FUNMAN'S Formula: How to Build a Positive and Productive Workplace

The life of an educator is extremely complex. In this day and age we not only teach, but act as curriculum expert, psychologist, security guard, social events coordinator, accountant, counsellor and surrogate parent. Sometimes schools are so consumed with curriculum development, behaviour management, assessments and accountability that people can be left feeling tired and frustrated. We need to look after the people! This presentation examines ways of nurturing the "human side" of organisations in order to achieve great outcomes in the "business" side.

Discover the FUNMAN'S FORMULA! . You will:

* Learn about seven key dimensions for building a happy and productive workplace.
* Discover the importance of looking after the people, and what will happen if you don't.
* Hear about research into what people really want and need out of a job.
* Learn how to make your workplace a fun place to be.

Teamwork and Teambuilding
The CAPS Model for Teambuilding: How to Build Cohesive and Effective Teams

Recent Australian research tells us that the key ingredient in "excellent" workplaces is Quality Workplace Relationships. Good relationships and effective teamwork don't "just happen". Teams are more likely to be successful if members understand the principles of effective team building and seek to apply them in their workplace. This program explores how teams work best.

Discover the CAPS MODEL FOR TEAMBUILDING! . You will:

* Learn how to build and maintain quality workplace relationships.
* Discover the power of synergy.
* Learn about appreciation and recognition techniques to boost team performance.
* Get ideas on how to improve team communication.
* Find out about the importance of sharing vision and direction.
* Learn about a simple method to help people better understand themselves and their roles within a team.
* Discover seven key strategies to help you build a cohesive, supportive and effective team.

Fun at Work
Fun is a Serious Business!: How Fun at Work Helps Performance, Passion and Productivity

Recent research shows that having fun in the workplace can significantly improve productivity. Talented and creative people want to work in creative, challenging and ideas rich environments, this is why fun can be The Success Factor.

Discover the FUN FACTOR! ... You will:

* Learn about research into the benefits of fun at work.
* Become familiar with the "Ten Top Reasons Why Fun at Work Works."
* Discover how to use fun to boost morale and enhance workplace relationships.
* Find out how to use fun to improve creativity and productivity.
* Become familiar with the "Funstar" model which outlines eight dimensions for having fun at work.
* Learn about the difference between contrived fun and emergent fun.
* Discover that fun is one of 15 "key drivers" of excellent workplaces

N.B. David has authored an e-book and two other books which complement this presentation.

Work/Life Balance
Watch Your Wellness! Four Keys to Help You Achieve a Work/Life Balance

The "wellness" of individuals is vital for their own personal happiness, and crucial for the effectiveness of the organisations they work for. This presentation takes a look at ways of enhancing "personal wellness" by encouraging people to be self reflective about their behaviour, and by revealing simple steps to help you get the right balance between work, rest, and play.

Discover the WELLNESS WATCH! . a model for achieving a work/life balance. You will:

* Find out how to stimulate "happy-joules" within you body.
* Learn about the four basic needs of humans.
* Discover how you can enhance your mental health with "psychological sunshine".
* Learn about practical strategies your organisation can implement to enhance the wellness of it's people.
* Discover a simple, but powerful formula to help you achieve a work/life balance.

Diversity and Personality Styles
What is Wrong with Them? How to Improve Communication and Enhance Relationships by Understanding People's Behaviour

This program will help you better understand yourself and others by exploring an innovative model that examines the manifestation of personality and behaviour of individuals. By understanding these individual differences we can improve relationships with colleagues, students and parents, and determine how we can best utilise peoples' attributes, skills and abilities in a team environment.

Discover the RAINBOW MATRIX! . You will:

* Develop an understanding as to why people behave the way they do.
* Learn why you get on with some people better than others.
* Discover why some people's behaviour can drive you crazy.
* Become familiar with your own personal style and how you are perceived by other people.
* Get ideas on how to use the model to improve relationships with students, colleagues and parents.
* Recognise which personalities are best suited to which roles in the workplace.

Humour and Fun
The Positive Power of Humour and Fun for Health, Hope and Happiness

Using scientific research, David will deliver insights into the positive power of humour and fun. As well as outlining the benefits, David will share lots of practical ideas for having fun and using humour to enhance our lives.

Discover the FUN KEYS! . key strategies to help you enhance your humour intelligence (HQ)

* Find out about research into the physiological, psychological and sociological benefits of fun and laughter.
* Learn about three key strategies to help you have more fun and add humour to your life.
* Get lots of great ideas for having fun and sharing humour with family, friends, students and colleagues.

N.B. David has authored two books which complement this presentation.

Positive and Passionate Attitudes
Lessons from a Legend: Seven Learning Diamonds to Build Passion and Promote Positive Performance

Now this is something different! David takes his love of Neil Diamond music and combines it with his passion for helping organisations build happy and productive workplaces. By performing catchy Neil Diamond songs and linking them with key concepts, David will help you connect with strategies to develop positive attitudes in the workplace.

Discover the SEVEN DIAMONDS OF PASSIONATE PERFORMANCE!.. Key pointers which will encourage you to:

* Be ready and resilient for work.
* Create a sense of community in your workplace.
* Build a supportive environment.
* Develop your vision and set goals.
* Be committed and passionate about what you do.
* Achieve a work/life balance.
* Develop your leadership potential.

This is a presentation you won't forget! Research tells us that people learn best when they are engaged in their learning and are emotionally connected. This program does both, and really is a great mix of education and entertainment!

Practical Team Building Workshops
Interaction Action! Fun Team Building Activities

Forget the theory. This team building program is all activity. Participants work through a range of problem solving and cooperation activities designed to give them lots of stimulating interaction whilst getting to know their team mates on a whole new level. With activities like "Braaack Whiff", "Moon Ball" & "See the Sausage", participants will have lots of fun and laughs. Many teachers also find the activities demonstrated in this session useful for their classrooms.

Experience INTERACTION ACTION! . You will:

* Enjoy stimulating interaction with colleagues.
* Get to know your team mates on a personal level outside the work environment.
* Learn that a champion team is better than a team of champions.
* Have loads of fun with your team mates!

The program is tailored to suit the needs and demographics of your group and can be used in conjunction with other presentations.

See SCHOOL MASTERS Team Building programs in action

Programs to Help Educators Motivate and Engage Students

Fun in the Classroom
Children, Chalk and Chuckles: The Positive Power of Fun in the Classroom to Enhance Learning and Build Relationships.

Fun is a basic need and kids know it instinctively. If you don't build some fun into your lessons your students will! Experience the FUNMAN's unique and enjoyable presentation style, and get loads of practical ideas you can use in your classroom the very next day. This program is full of information, interaction and fun!

Discover the CHALK EFFECT! . Learn how fun in the classroom can help you:

* Build a positive learning environment.
* Promote positive relationships and team building.
* Improve students behaviour.
* Engage students in their learning.
* Motivate and get the cooperation of boys.
* Make a boring lesson interesting.
* Make the learning stick!

Put your laughing hats on and give yourself a tonic to take back to your classroom.

David Koutsoukis has authored two books which complement this presentation. SCHOOL MASTERS also has a catalogue of fun in the classroom resources.

Multiple Intelligences
Smart Learning: Using the Multiple Intelligences Model to Create and Deliver Dynamic and Exciting Learning Programs

Ever since Howard Gardner developed the model in 1983, educators around the world have been using multiple intelligences model to enhance their learning programs. You too can enjoy the benefits. This program will show you how to apply the model to create and deliver dynamic lessons that will capture the interest of your students and keep them engaged.

Discover the MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES MODEL . You will:

* Learn about the eight types of intelligence.
* Discover the relationship between learning styles and the multiple intelligences.
* Find out about your own learning style preferences.
* Learn how to present skilfully using a multiple intelligences approach.

This program will help you add a new dimension to your teaching and lift your lessons from mundane to exciting!

SCHOOL MASTERS has a range of Multiple Intelligences books and posters that complement this presentation.

Motivating Students
Developing a Capable and Motivated Classroom: How to Engage and Motivate Generation Y

Society has changed and so have our students. As teachers, we are faced with the consequences of this change in our classrooms every day. With all the stimulation that children get through technology and other means, it would seem that many of our students have shorter attention spans and are harder to engage and motivate. Bearing this in mind, we must learn to "work smart" and recognise that one thing technology cannot provide is the "human touch". This workshop will look at the unique mindsets of our Generation Y students, and examine how we can harness this information to engage them in their learning.

Discover the SEVEN MINDSETS OF GENERATION Y!.You will:

* Learn how Generation Y thinks.
* Discover how you can prevent your students from becoming cynical about learning.
* Learn about the importance of "connection" for Generation Y students.
* Become familiar with strategies that will help you keep things relevant in the eyes of your students.
* Learn how to harness technology to your positive advantage.

Fun Games and Team Building Activities
The Smorgasbord of Fun! Icebreakers, Mixers and Fun Team Building Activities to Energise and Engage Students

This practical session demonstrates a wide range of ice breakers, mixers, problem solving activities, leadership games and fun team building activities. These activities can be used by teachers for a variety of purposes in schools including: class lessons, form class activities, student council programs, camps, socials, faction competitions or year group activities.

Experience the SMORGASBORD OF FUN! . These activities will help you:

* Engage students in their learning.
* Connect with kinaesthetic and interpersonal learners.
* Boost teacher-student relationships.
* Enhance student-student relationships.
* Promote initiative and leadership skills in students.
* Develop problem solving skills and encourage creative thinking.
* Improve student attitudes toward school.

This program is tailored to suit the needs of your group and can be used in conjunction with other presentations.

Programs to Develop Positive School Environments

Behaviour Management
How to Effectively Manage Student Behaviour and Keep Yourself Sane!

This practical session outlines a formula for effective classroom management and emphasises the importance of a whole school approach to behaviour management. With his unique sense of humour and fun, David will give you great value by covering a comprehensive range of practical ideas and strategies as outlined in his widely acclaimed book the "Behaviour Management Toolkit." Powerful, practical ideas you can use the very next day.

Discover the EIGHT DIMENSIONS OF BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT! . You will learn how to:

* Create a caring, safe and positive school environment
* Implement proactive preventative strategies
* Develop positive relationships among members of the school community
* Set clear guidelines of behaviour and appropriate consequences
* Develop effective procedures, roles and responsibilities for implementing an effective behaviour management plan.
* Develop resources to support a behaviour management system
* Set up rescue and support services for students and staff
* Review, reflect and plan for improvement

David Koutsoukis is the author of the Behaviour Management Toolkit and Behaviour Management Poster set. SCHOOL MASTERS also has a range of other behaviour management resources.

Values Education
Creative Tools for Teaching Values: How to Effectively Teach Values Education in Schools

The great challenge for educators these days is not only about teaching students how to learn and acquire skills in an increasingly complex word, but is also about how to help them become persons of good character. Values education in schools helps us do this.

The outcome of developing good values in students is win-win-win. It is a win for teachers and schools in terms of student behaviour, it is a win for parents who want to be proud of their children, and it is a win for students because having good values will help them lead happy and successful lives.

This workshop will give you a wide range of strategies help you effectively teach values in schools. You will:

* Discover a simple, but powerful method for teaching values.
* Learn how to teach values in a variety of contexts.
* Learn techniques that will help make the values learning stick!
* Get great ideas on how to teach values using multiple intelligence methodology.
* Learn how to incorporate the Nine Values for Australian Schooling.
* Discover a range of resources that will save you hours of preparation time.
* Learn how to make values education fun!

David Koutsoukis is the creator of the Values Education Toolkit Series and Poster Set.

Developing a Positive School Culture
The Little Things Make a BIG Difference: How to Build a Positive School Culture

One of the greatest challenges in schools these days is maintaining a positive perception in the eyes of staff, students, parents and the community. This program will give you a framework of strategies to help you build and maintain a school culture that is perceived in a positive way by all stakeholders.

Discover the POSITIVE SCHOOL CULTURE PROGRAM!.You will:

* Learn about the contributing factors behind public perceptions.
* Discover the "Tipping Point Concept" and learn how it applies to building positive school cultures.
* Learn how to coordinate a gaggle of fragmented school projects into one congruent, consistent program.
* Recognise the need to have a ubiquitous positive message that is meaningful, consistent, memorable and repeatable.
* Discover the "Broken Window Theory" regarding poor cultures and learn how to counteract it in schools.
* Learn how to harness the energy and enthusiasm of staff, students and parents toward building a positive school culture.
* Discover that little things make a big difference.

Strategic Planning/Issues Facilitation
Strategic Planning and Problem Solving

This program has a variety of applications for schools. Innovative models are used to address a number of issues. Schools have used this program to address issues such as:
* Coping with change
* Strategic planning
* Problem solving
* Team health check (how are we going?)
* Teambuilding

In this session participants will follow a structured process where they examine the relevant issue/s in terms of:
* How are we feeling about this?
* What are the good points?
* What are the issues we face?
* What information do we need to progress?
* How could we get creative to address this?
* What organisation and action do we need to take?

As per usual, this SCHOOL MASTERS program incorporates fun to get the job done!

The program is tailored to suit the needs of your group and can be used in conjunction with other presentations.