For the past eight years, I’ve worked as a Learning Specialist in a primary school in Victoria, Australia, within our state’s Department of Education. It’s a role that sits neatly (and sometimes uncomfortably) between classroom teacher, and school leadership.
Middle leadership is not just a stepping stone to principalship—it’s a career in its own right. And in schools across the world, especially post-pandemic, these roles are more important than ever.
Why the Middle Matters
Middle leaders are uniquely placed to make practical change happen. We take the big ideas—curriculum priorities, wellbeing frameworks, professional learning agendas—and translate them into real, workable strategies for classrooms. We work side by side with teachers troubleshooting tricky situations and quietly shaping the culture of a school.
The impact of middle leadership doesn’t always come with a title or a spotlight, but it’s felt in the everyday flow of a school—the systems that work, the teachers who thrive, the students who succeed.
Not a Promotion—A Purpose
It’s easy to dismiss middle leadership as just another rung on the ladder. But for many of us, it’s a destination. It’s where we get to blend influence with proximity—to lead with our sleeves rolled up.
What’s kept me in the role isn’t the meetings or the models—it’s the people. The quiet wins that don’t make it to a newsletter but change lives all the same.
And personally? Middle leadership has made me a better teacher, a better listener, and a more grounded leader. You learn to navigate tension, to build consensus, to see the long game. You learn how much can be achieved without needing to be in the room where every decision is made—because you’re in the rooms that matter.
A Global Call to Action
So why am I writing this for an international audience?
Because the challenges we face in Australian education—workforce shortages, wellbeing concerns, curriculum reform, digital equity—are not unique. These issues echo across continents. And in every corner of the world, middle leaders are critical to navigating this complexity.
We need to do more than just fill these roles—we need to value them, invest in them and build clear pathways into and through them. We need to tell aspiring educators that middle leadership is not a consolation prize or a pitstop. It’s a meaningful, challenging, and immensely rewarding career choice.
For Anyone Thinking About It…
If you’re a teacher with a hunger to do more—not in title, but in impact—consider middle leadership. Start small. Take a lead on a team, mentor a colleague, try something new. Don’t wait for someone to tap you on the shoulder.
In my experience, the middle is where change is real, relationships are deep, and growth is constant.
Middle leaders don’t always make headlines. But without them, schools don’t move forward.
