SP26-140 From Teacher to Leader: Navigating the Transition

From Teacher to Leader: Navigating the Transition

DATE:    Wednesday, 6th May 2026
TIME:     7pm - 8pm 
VENUE: Online Via Zoom

Transitioning from teacher to leader is an exciting yet challenging journey. This session, entitled From Teacher to Leader: Navigating the Transition, explores how educators can step into leadership roles within their schools or other Professional Learning contexts. We will discuss the evolving role of teacher-leaders and introduce key leadership theories, including Transformational Leadership, Distributed Leadership, and Instructional Leadership, to highlight different pathways to influence and change.

Maria Varvarigou - Director of the Master of Education in Educational Leadership·Mary Immaculate College, Ireland

Maria is a musician, music educator, and director of the Master of Education in Educational Leadership at Mary Immaculate College, Ireland. With expertise in inclusive pedagogy and professional development, her research explores how music-making fosters leadership, equity, and wellbeing in education. Committed to enhancing school leadership through diversity, she fosters connections between higher education, professional music education, and community engagement to create more inclusive learning environments.