Preparing job-embedded primary mathematics specialists to lead in Australian schools

The description primary mathematics specialist has become more frequently used in Australia in the past 10 years, suggesting sustained interest in deepening teacher expertise. Despite this, there is limited contextual research about how to prepare in-service teachers for such roles, and the organising structures needed to facilitate their progress. This paper describes background and emerging insights from a project offering sustained and supported learning experiences for in-service teachers to become primary mathematics specialist teachers in and across their school. Curriculum and contextual experiences designed around a theoretical framework of leadership development implemented over 2 years are described. Early insights include the priming influence of an extended focus on mathematical content and pedagogical knowledge on participants’ confidence to lead others, and the benefits of being explicit about enabling structures that promote sustainable growth and change.