Mentor & coach for educational leaders
Phil Anthony
Hi, I'm Phil. I mentor and coach educational leaders and their teams — a space to pause, reflect, and plan the way forward, for you and for your school.
Forty-five years in education. Twenty-eight in leadership.
Over my career I've led four school communities of very different demographics, sizes and cultures — including an International Baccalaureate accredited ‘World School’, and the establishment of a brand-new school as foundation principal.
These lived experiences, including the inevitable challenges as well as the successes along the way, have given me a broad and deep first-hand knowledge of the joys, the complexities and the emotions of the unique role of an educational leader.
My school-based leadership has been interspersed with system-wide leadership coaching and school improvement roles, and a mid-career sabbatical in an executive leadership role in private industry. As an accredited coach and mentor and a certified emotional intelligence practitioner, I now use that experience to support school leaders through their own personal leadership journey as well as the strategic improvement of their school. Both are closely linked, of course.
What a session looks like
A space to pause, reflect, perhaps reset
A session will often blend coaching and mentoring. Our conversation stems from your own self-reflection and the topics that arise as, together, we explore the options you see ahead to achieve your goals and fulfil your plans. A self-reflective coaching conversation often unlocks new insights and clarity, leading to an intentional plan for the way forward.
Mentoring can include discussion about resources and, where it's useful, suggested options based on past experience. And along the way it's worthwhile checking in on where your own health and wellbeing ranks on your priority list. Because, as we know, leading others begins with looking after yourself.
Online or in person — your decision.
Who I work with
Privately, and through the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership (VATL).
- —Principals and Assistant Principals at all stages of their career, including acting roles
- —Middle leaders in Learning Specialist and Leading Teacher positions
- —PLC and team leaders
- —School leadership teams and school improvement teams
In their words
From the leaders I work with
Over the past two years, I have been incredibly fortunate to have the guidance and support of Phil Anthony as I navigated my role as a newly appointed principal. He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a genuine commitment to developing leadership capacity in others. Phil has an exceptional ability to balance challenge and support, always asking the right questions to help me reflect deeply and make informed decisions. His calm, strategic approach has had a lasting impact on both my professional practice and the broader culture of our school.
Phil mentored our school improvement team, focusing on critical aspects of building school culture. Phil's calm demeanour was terrific and gave us the focus we needed to build middle leadership capacity, embed PLC culture, and drive high expectations with our staff, students and wider community. Thank you Phil for all of your hard work.
Having the opportunity to be mentored by someone with the breadth of knowledge and experience that Phil brings has been invaluable. His calm, measured approach, coupled with his clarity and guidance, has enabled me to navigate complex challenges with increasing confidence. As a young and inexperienced principal in a small rural school, I can't thank Phil enough for his consistent support.
Over the past two years, my coaching sessions with Phil have been invaluable to my leadership growth. They have provided a balance of reflection, challenge and celebration — allowing me to strengthen my leadership capacity, navigate complex situations with confidence, and recognise successes along the way. Phil's supportive and practical approach has been instrumental in shaping the leader I am today.
Phil's leadership professional learning workshops were incredibly valuable, offering deep insights relevant not only to Victorian primary educators but to anyone seeking to build their leadership capacity. His extensive experience, practical wisdom, and supportive approach made the session both inspiring and immediately applicable to my professional practice.
Thank you Phil! You are an amazing mentor who is really supportive of new leaders. Wish I had you years ago — or even better, been one of your staff members.
Accreditation & system-level work
Qualifications
- ·Accredited Growth Coaching International coach
- ·Genos Emotional Intelligence practitioner
- ·Life Member, Victorian Principals Association (2017)
- ·Bachelor of Education and Diploma of Teaching (Primary), Monash University
Department & academy roles
- ·Accredited workshop facilitator and in-school coach, Professional Learning Communities (PLC) program
- ·Lead Assessor, Victorian Aspiring Principals Assessment (VAPA)
- ·Panellist, Unlocking Potential leadership program
- ·Presenter, Improving School Governance workshops for School Councils
Away from school life: a family of three boys with my wife Pauline, a passion for music, sport and wellness, years on football club boards and coaching junior footy — and once, co-managing a boutique resort on a South Pacific island. But that's another story.
Get in touch
Please reach out if I can support you to explore fresh perspectives on yourself, thrive (versus survive) in your ever-changing role, and plan for the strategic improvement of your school.
Phil