Hooker headed to Harvard

Michael Hooker, Director, Educational Leadership, Mount Druitt Principals’ Network with the New South Wales Department of Education will attend the Harvard Kennedy School – Executive Education Centre in the USA as the recipient of the Public Education Foundation’s Teachers Mutual Bank Emerging Leaders Scholarship award.

Michael Hooker plays a key strategic role within the Department to ensure that school curriculums are evidence based and responsive to the data informed needs of all students from preschool to year 12.

Michael has recently completed a Professional Certificate in Instructional Leadership at the University of Melbourne, and has contributed to the development and delivery of several system improvement initiatives.

The Teachers Mutual Bank Emerging Leaders Scholarship provides a scholarship for a Director level employee to undertake a short professional education program

The Scholarship will provide the successful applicant with the opportunity to expand their abilities in skill building, integrated communications and policy analysis through a professional education program tailor-made for emerging leaders.

Michael Hooker said: “I am thrilled to be given this opportunity and sincerely thank all of those involved in making it happen. I look forward to developing my leadership skills and making the most of the program. I am really looking forward to attending Harvard and linking with other leaders.”

Alan Waugh, General Manager, Teachers Mutual Bank, said: “Innovative and well-rounded leaders are key to the education sector and the development of our students. Michael Hooker’s work in ensuring quality educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in the Mount Druitt Network is inspiring, and we are delighted to name him as this year’s Teachers Mutual Bank Emerging Leaders scholar. We believe the Harvard experience will be enriching for Michael, and we look forward to see the practices he brings back to his community.”

“Michael is an outstanding educational leader who builds excellent relationships with his colleagues, schools and communities,” said David Hetherington, the Public Education Foundation’s Executive Director.  “He has already built an impressive body of professional work, and we are proud to be able to support Michael with this scholarship as he continues his career journey.”