“I believe the best school improvements don’t come from top-down mandates. They come from the teachers in the classroom.”
For over 40 years, I have had the privilege of walking alongside educators, not to tell them what to do, but to help them discover what works through action research. I have been fortunate to support thousands of teachers across the globe in turning their everyday classroom questions into meaningful, evidence-based improvements that can transform entire schools from the inside out.
I began my teaching career in 1985 and have since built a career grounded in learning, leadership, and school transformation. My academic background includes qualifications in education, leadership, and teacher capacity-building, culminating in a Doctor of Education focused on strengthening teacher practice.
Across my career, I have championed the idea that teachers are central to meaningful school improvement. I have led work in professional inquiry, collaborative curriculum design, data-informed decision-making, and de-privatised teaching practice.
My leadership is shaped by a simple belief: schools improve when adults learn together with discipline, trust, and purpose.
My Philosophy (The “Teacher-as-Researcher” Approach)
The Teacher-as-Researcher Philosophy
At the heart of my work is a simple but radical idea: teachers are the true experts on their students. When given the right frameworks and support, they don’t just implement someone else’s “best practice”. They generate their own. They ask questions. They test ideas. They measure outcomes. And they share what they learn with their colleagues.
This isn’t theory. It’s a proven methodology that Jake has refined over decades of research, practice, and collaboration with schools worldwide.
A Career Built on Evidence and Impact
“I started my career as a classroom teacher in a challenging school. I quickly realised that the answers I needed weren’t in a textbook or a policy document. They were in my own classroom, waiting to be uncovered. That experience shaped everything I do today. I’m not here to sell a one-size-fits-all program. I’m here to give educators the tools, confidence, and permission to find their own answers. Because when teachers grow, schools grow. And when schools grow, students thrive.”