Following a successful tenure leading the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) for almost five years, Mr Mark Grant has resigned as CEO, effective 28 January 2024.
Mr Grant is leaving AITSL to take up the role of Deputy Secretary (Chief Operating Officer) at the NSW Department of Education.
The AITSL Board has appointed Deputy CEO, Mr Edmund Misson, as Acting CEO from the date of Mr Grant’s departure to when a new CEO is in place. Mr Misson has been with AITSL for almost the entire life of the organisation, and has extensive experience in the education sector.
In accepting Mr Grant’s resignation, the AITSL Board acknowledged the contribution he has made to the organisation, to Australia’s teachers and school leaders, and ultimately to Australian children and young people.
“AITSL has thrived both operationally and culturally under Mark’s leadership since April 2019, and has gained the respect and support of stakeholders through his work in strengthening relationships that have been forged across Australia’s education system,” the Board said.
Key national initiatives that have been delivered under Mr Grant’s leadership include the launch of cultural responsiveness tools, High Quality Professional Learning (HQPL) resources, and professional learning modules to improve teaching effectiveness.
During his tenure, AITSL also established the Australian Teacher Workforce Data (ATWD) as the key information source on the supply, characteristics and experiences of Australia’s teacher workforce.
The work of AITSL over this period has increased the esteem of the teaching profession through the expansion of World Teachers’ Day in Australia, a focus on increasing the cohort of Highly Accomplished and Lead teachers (HALTs) and ensuring their expertise is used effectively across Australia’s schools, and the implementation of initial teacher education reforms across all 47 higher education providers that prepare Australia’s future teachers.
“During his tenure, Mark has been a strong advocate for national action to support and grow Australia’s teacher workforce, and over the last twelve months has led the delivery of a significant proportion of work associated with the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan agreed by Education Ministers in December 2022,” the Board said.
The Board will appoint an Acting CEO to allow time to search for Mr Grant’s successor; an announcement on the Acting CEO will be made shortly.
AITSL provides national leadership for the Australian, state and territory governments in promoting excellence in the profession of teaching and school leadership. It is funded by the Australian Government.
