What are the features of a positive work environment for early career teachers? This article examines this question through interviews with secondary school early career science teachers. Findings suggest a science department that is collegial and collaborative is essential in encouraging teachers in the early stages of their career to stay in the profession and engage in practice that supports student learning.

Meaningful leadership development opportunities are rare for those working in the New Zealand early childhood education sector. What difference can they make to leadership practice? This article describes the experiences of participants in a study that used a blend of ICT and face-to-face sessions to support leadership learning. For the participants, this approach resulted in an increased awareness of leadership and a greater confidence in leadership practice.

Effective professional development can provide strategies, tools and resources that motivate teachers to make changes for the benefit of children’s and teachers’ learning. This article considers a model of professional development based on distributed leadership. Characteristics that teachers found valuable in enabling them to practise distributed leadership, and the impact on their teaching teams, are examined through teachers’ stories.

Several years ago I was awestruck by the bold vision of Wellington’s Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. Their strategic plan has a 500-year time frame. This is, of course, entirely appropriate when you’re seeking to restore a landlocked “island” to its natural state. Setting an inspirational vision—and in time achieving it—requires a deep knowledge of the business, a clarity of purpose and well-articulated values that guide the collective endeavour.