When Amanda Kowalczyk arrived at Koonawarra Public School in Wollongong, something felt heavy. Kids shuffled through the gates with their heads down. The school was surrounded by barbed wire. Staff were pitying their students. And the culture was one of low expectations dressed up as compassion.

Today? Kids skip in. Staff greet families by name from every gate. And the New South Wales Department of Education has changed its policies because of what Amanda built there.

In this episode, Adam sits down with Koonawarra's principal - and one of his favourite school leaders in the country - to talk about what it actually takes to transform a complex, low-socioeconomic school from the inside out.

Interested in our work?

1. Learn more about Real Schools here.
2. Attend one of our upcoming workshops in-person or online? Register here.
3. Check out our Student Behaviour PhD.
4. Enquire about Adam Voigt's speaking engagements here.
5. Get your copy of Adam's book Restoring Teaching here (It's FREE for all teachers in Australia)