Trailblazing Schools with Trudy Graham

Educational Leadership in the Age of AI Trailblazing Schools is a podcast for Australian school leaders navigating complexity, change and the rapid rise of AI in education. Hosted by Trudy Graham, leadership coach, former principal and regional education leader, this show explores what it really takes to lead well in today’s schools. Each episode brings together practical leadership strategies, real school case studies, and thoughtful conversations with principals, system leaders and education thought leaders. This podcast goes beyond tactical tech tips. It examines: • Educational leadership in complex and uncertain environments • Artificial intelligence as a strategic leadership tool, not just a productivity hack • Reducing principal and teacher workload without losing humanity • Building leadership team capability across primary, secondary and special education settings • Ethical and purposeful AI implementation in Aus

Trailblazing Schools with Trudy Graham is a business podcast hosted by Trudy Graham, with 31 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Trudy Graham hosts Trailblazing Schools with Trudy Graham, a business show with 31 episodes published.

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  Episode #8

  From AI skeptic to creating personalised learning experiences at speed, with Matt Tonkin

  Sep 1, 202641 minS3

  In this episode of Trailblazing Schools, Trudy speaks with Matt Tonkin about how AI is transforming his approach to teaching and leadership in a special school setting. Discover practical ways to leverage AI for personalised learning, time-saving, and supporting students with diverse needs. Resources: Find out more about the Trailblazing Schools Partnership here: https://www.trudygraham.com.au/trailblazing-schools/ Find out more about the Leaders Learning Circle here https://www.trudygraham.com.au/leaders-learning-circle/ Get your copy of AI in Action: Field Notes from School Leaders. It's free, practical, and designed to prompt your own next step. Download today at trailblazingschools.com/fieldnotes If this conversation resonated and you're exploring how to strengthen leadership in your school network or system, visit trudygraham.com.au/connect to explore working together. Credits The Trailblazing Schools Podcast is hosted by Trudy Graham - https://www.trudygraham.com.au/ This podcast is edited and produced by Ellen Ronalds Keene from PERK Digital - https://perkdigital.com.au/ The theme music is Dusty Road by Indiebox Trudy Graham acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which she lives and is recording today, the Darumbal people, and pay my respect to elders past and present, for they hold a deep and continuing connection to the land, sea, and sky. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Matt and his work in special education 04:11 Using AI to create personalized stories and activities for students 05:54 The impact of AI on student engagement and learning 08:01 Leadership challenges and mental health in schools 10:00 The role of gender and role modeling in education 12:04 Using AI to support staff and streamline tasks 13:55 Adapting leadership style in response to pressures 15:58 The mental health toll of working in special education 18:00 The influence of stress and health on staff and parents 20:00 Matt’s journey from skepticism to AI advocate 21:48 Practical examples of AI in daily school tasks 23:57 Creating SMART goals and support resources with AI 25:58 Engaging students with AI-generated activities 28:02 The quick and personalized resource creation process 30:04 Student engagement and confidence building through AI 31:56 Time savings in report writing and planning 34:10 Supporting ESL teachers and reducing workload 35:56 Getting started with AI in schools and leadership 38:05 Matt’s personal insights and secret spots in his area 38:58 Books, films, and active relaxation strategies AI in education, special education, leadership, personalized learning, time-saving tools, teaching with AI, mental health in schools, innovative leadership

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  Trailblazing Schools with Trudy Graham

  5 Ways to Use AI as a School Leader (beyond writing and editing)

  Aug 18, 202618 min

  In this episode of Trailblazing Schools, Trudy Graham explores how large language models/AI can support educators and leaders in various roles beyond simple editing or writing. Trudy focuses on 5 main roles, including data analysis, research, coaching, training, and consulting. She shares practical ways to leverage AI to enhance productivity and decision-making in schools, including a helpful prompt (see below) that you can get started with this week. Prompt: “You are an [occupation] with high-level expertise in [a particular task]. What information do you need from me to create [output]?” Example. “You are a workplace health and safety consultant with high-level expertise in education environments. What information do you need from me to complete a risk assessment?” Resources: Find out more about the Trailblazing Schools Partnership here: https://www.trudygraham.com.au/trailblazing-schools/ Find out more about the Leaders Learning Circle here https://www.trudygraham.com.au/leaders-learning-circle/ Get your copy of AI in Action: Field Notes from School Leaders. It's free, practical, and designed to prompt your own next step. Download today at trailblazingschools.com/fieldnotes If this conversation resonated and you're exploring how to strengthen leadership in your school network or system, visit trudygraham.com.au/connect to explore working together. Credits The Trailblazing Schools Podcast is hosted by Trudy Graham - https://www.trudygraham.com.au/ This podcast is edited and produced by Ellen Ronalds Keene from PERK Digital - https://perkdigital.com.au/ The theme music is Dusty Road by Indiebox Trudy Graham acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which she lives and is recording today, the Darumbal people, and pay my respect to elders past and present, for they hold a deep and continuing connection to the land, sea, and sky. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI roles in education 02:02 The challenge of wearing multiple hats in school leadership 03:15 AI as a productivity and thinking partner 04:13 Starting with AI for author and editor tasks 07:48 Using AI as a data analyst and researcher 10:44 AI as a coach for leadership development 13:11 AI as a trainer for skill development 14:31 AI as a consultant with reverse prompting 16:30 Practical steps to start using AI roles today AI in education, large language models, data analysis, research, coaching, training, consulting, educational leadership

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  Episode #5

  Getting out of the weeds and into the work that actually matters

  Aug 11, 202613 minS3

  In this episode of Trailblazing Schools, Trudy Graham explores how school leaders can shift from operational chaos to strategic focus, emphasising the role of team dynamics and time management over technology like AI. Trudy shares a case study of client Lisa, who was struggling with the operational workload of school leadership. Though AI played a part in the transformation she achieved, it was not the key itself. Trudy explains that leadership transformation is more about structures, processes and team than it is about personality or technology. She leaves listeners with a practical action step to apply to the next team meeting on your calendar. Resources: Find out more about the Trailblazing Schools Partnership here: https://www.trudygraham.com.au/trailblazing-schools/ Find out more about the Leaders Learning Circle here https://www.trudygraham.com.au/leaders-learning-circle/ Get your copy of AI in Action: Field Notes from School Leaders. It's free, practical, and designed to prompt your own next step. Download today at trailblazingschools.com/fieldnotes If this conversation resonated and you're exploring how to strengthen leadership in your school network or system, visit trudygraham.com.au/connect to explore working together. Credits The Trailblazing Schools Podcast is hosted by Trudy Graham - https://www.trudygraham.com.au/ This podcast is edited and produced by Ellen Ronalds Keene from PERK Digital - https://perkdigital.com.au/ The theme music is Dusty Road by Indiebox Trudy Graham acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which she lives and is recording today, the Darumbal people, and pay my respect to elders past and present, for they hold a deep and continuing connection to the land, sea, and sky. Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Why leadership is more than AI 02:06 The common pattern of operational overload in schools 03:57 Research insights on middle leadership and workload 05:30 Lisa's story: from operational chaos to strategy 06:58 Tools and practices that foster strategic team meetings 08:17 The real role of AI in leadership transformation 09:56 Structural changes over personality in strategic leadership 10:48 Action step: shifting your meetings to strategic focus 11:53 Conclusion: Leadership is about the structures, not just the tools school leadership, strategic planning, operational workload, team dynamics, AI in education, leadership transformation

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  Episode #4

  The Leadership Coach You Already Have

  Aug 4, 202615 minS3

  In this episode of Trailblazing Schools, Trudy Graham explores how AI can serve as a powerful leadership coach by analysing your own interactions and patterns, revealing strengths, progress, and hidden gaps in leadership development. Trudy shares the exact prompt she used for over a year as part of a routine for personal development and professional growth. If you’re already regularly using AI, your conversation history is a leadership diary and AI can provide honest feedback and quick pattern analysis without emotional bias. Finally, Trudy leaves the listener with a practical activity as well as a philosophical question to help you reframe your AI use and become more self-aware. Prompt: “Analysing all my engagements with you over the last seven days. What have been my strengths? Where have I made progress? And what are the gaps I may not be aware of?” Resources: Find out more about the Trailblazing Schools Partnership here: https://www.trudygraham.com.au/trailblazing-schools/ Find out more about the Leaders Learning Circle here https://www.trudygraham.com.au/leaders-learning-circle/ Get your copy of AI in Action: Field Notes from School Leaders. It's free, practical, and designed to prompt your own next step. Download today at trailblazingschools.com/fieldnotes If this conversation resonated and you're exploring how to strengthen leadership in your school network or system, visit trudygraham.com.au/connect to explore working together. Credits The Trailblazing Schools Podcast is hosted by Trudy Graham - https://www.trudygraham.com.au/ This podcast is edited and produced by Ellen Ronalds Keene from PERK Digital - https://perkdigital.com.au/ The theme music is Dusty Road by Indiebox Trudy Graham acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which she lives and is recording today, the Darumbal people, and pay my respect to elders past and present, for they hold a deep and continuing connection to the land, sea, and sky. Chapters 00:00 The leadership feedback dilemma 01:30 AI as a leadership coach 02:28 The power of AI analysis 04:26 AI revealing your paper trail 08:28 Insights from AI analysis 10:48 Using AI for development, not just efficiency 12:01 Practical steps for leadership growth AI leadership coaching, self-awareness, leadership development, AI tools, personal growth, leadership patterns, professional development, AI analysis, leadership insights, self-reflection

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  Episode #3

  Uncovering Bias in AI

  Jul 28, 202614 minS3

  In this episode of Trailblazing Schools, Trudy explores the biases inherent in AI and large language models, drawing parallels with historical biases in publishing and education. She emphasises the importance of understanding these biases to use AI responsibly and ethically. Trudy discusses the impact of bias on marginalised communities, strategies for recognising and mitigating bias and the importance of diverse training data to reduce bias in AI. Finally, she highlights the role of education in addressing bias and leaves the listener with some practical questions to reflect on. Resources: Find out more about the Trailblazing Schools Partnership here: https://www.trudygraham.com.au/trailblazing-schools/ Find out more about the Leaders Learning Circle here https://www.trudygraham.com.au/leaders-learning-circle/ Get your copy of AI in Action: Field Notes from School Leaders. It's free, practical, and designed to prompt your own next step. Download today at trailblazingschools.com/fieldnotes If this conversation resonated and you're exploring how to strengthen leadership in your school network or system, visit trudygraham.com.au/connect to explore working together. Credits The Trailblazing Schools Podcast is hosted by Trudy Graham - https://www.trudygraham.com.au/ This podcast is edited and produced by Ellen Ronalds Keene from PERK Digital - https://perkdigital.com.au/ The theme music is Dusty Road by Indiebox Trudy Graham acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which she lives and is recording today, the Darumbal people, and pay my respect to elders past and present, for they hold a deep and continuing connection to the land, sea, and sky. Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Bias in AI and Education 01:56 Historical Bias in Data and Publishing 03:55 Representation Bias and Its Consequences 05:00 Publication Bias and Its Impact on Knowledge 06:07 Naming AI to Foster Critical Thinking 07:07 Bias Beyond Representation: What's Not Seen 08:04 Historical Power and Marginalized Voices 09:02 The Matilda Effect and Gender Bias 10:00 Bias in Publishing and Its Legacy 10:58 Practical Steps to Recognize Bias in AI 12:09 Encouraging Curiosity and Critical Inquiry 12:57 Closing Thoughts: The Role of Education and Inquiry AI bias, large language models, representation, historical bias, education, ethical AI, diversity in publishing, bias in training data

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