BIO: Mr Mark Sparvell
Mark is currently the Associate Director, Professional Learning of Principals Australia Institute. Principals Australia Institute provides quality professional learning, leadership development and support to principals and school leaders. Mark leads work on the design and delivery of contemporary leadership learning across Australia and the Asia-Pacific. Mark’s expertise is around 21st century learning design supported by innovative use of technology.
Mark is an experienced educator and school Principal. He was principal of Kadina Primary School, the largest regional school in York Peninsula, South Australia, Rapid Bay Primary and Victor Harbor R7 School. Mark’s leadership has resulted in his schools developing as high performing sites of recognised innovation. Currently Mark is working with the NSW Secondary Principals Council and Sri Lankan Education system on leadership development.
Mark has held numerous leadership positions within the education system in Australia including District eLeader, National Professional Development Coordinator, National Values Education lead, Principal, Deputy Principal, ICT specialist and active member of numerous leadership teams and initiatives. Recently Mark has begun teaching pre-service educators ICT and Mathematics at Flinders University. Mark is a current judge for Microsofts Innovative Teacher Programme and Mentor School Program. Mark is a worldwide mentor school coach for identified schools in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.
Mark is an active member of both the South Australian Primary Principals Association (SAPPA) and Australian Primary Principals Association (APPA). Across 2009-2010, Mark won state and national wards for Innovation. In 2011, Mark was selected as first place global winner in the Microsoft Partners in Learning Worldwide Innovation forum for his work in the field of collaborative learning. In 2011, as Principal, Mark was honoured with a further State and National award for inspirational leadership. In 2013, Mark’s contribution to education was recognised with an award from the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). Mark has recently worked in Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei supporting leadership and mentoring innovative teaching practice and has judged teaching practice in Capetown, Washington and Buenos Ares.
Mark has maintained an active professional learning program throughout his professional career. He is currently completing his Masters of Educational Leadership and Management with a research focus on school leadership within online contexts. His academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Education and a Post Graduate Diploma in Professional Practice. Mark actively contributes back to the profession through regular published articles in national education publications (Australian Teacher Magazine, Education Review and Education Technology Solutions). Mark orchestrates professional conversations through the Principal Australia Institute’s Palnet online community, coordinates a popular education blog and has an influential Twitter following.