An outstanding, globally recognised leader in education has been appointed as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Government’s new Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership.
Minister for Education James Merlino today announced Dr Marcia Devlin will lead the Australian-first academy, which will deliver advanced professional learning for high-performing teachers thanks to the Government’s investment of $148.2 million.
Dr Devlin will join the Academy from her most recent role as Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Victoria University. She has previously held executive and senior roles at Federation University, RMIT University, Deakin University, and the University of Melbourne, with extensive experience in professional learning.
Dr Devlin is a qualified teacher and registered psychologist who began her education career as a teacher before moving into the tertiary sector.
She is a member of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority Board, a Non-Executive Director on the Melbourne Polytechnic Board, and a Trust Member of the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre.
The Academy will deliver the nation’s first program of advanced professional learning for high-performing teachers in government, Catholic and independent schools through academies in Melbourne, Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Mildura, Moe and Shepparton in 2022.
The Academy’s flagship offering will be the Teaching Excellence Program, a one-year program supporting up to 500 teachers each year to advance their professional practice, with access to the best research in the science of learning and discipline-based content knowledge.
The program will enable teachers to learn from one another and share best-practice, ideas and experience further raising the calibre and status of the entire teaching profession.
These teachers will then share their expertise and knowledge with their own school communities, ensuring every classroom and all students can benefit from this investment.
Graduates will be known as Academy Fellows, with the most exceptional graduates having the opportunity to become Master Teachers and undertake research fellowships to lead the design and delivery of the program.
The Teaching Excellence Program will commence in Term 1, 2022.
Quote attributable to Minister for Education James Merlino
“I’m thrilled to announced that Dr Devlin will lead our Australian-first academy, sharing her expertise in both the school and tertiary sectors to deliver world-class professional learning opportunities for Victorian teachers.”
Quote attributable to Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership CEO Dr Marcia Devlin
“I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead the new Academy focused on teaching and leadership excellence, something that has been a passion of mine throughout my academic career.”
Reviewed 18 October 2021