About 4CTL

Our Vision

That schools and other organisations are places that inspire, nurture, stretch and empower students, teachers and leaders to navigate their present and shape their future

Our Mission

Our mission is to:

  • Lead professional learning of the highest standard that challenges, strengthens and transforms the potential of school communities through deep learning, research and courageous leadership.

  • Enable creativity, critical reflection, communication and collaboration with others and in ourselves, that is transformative and generative.

  • Sustain professional relationships with our partner organisations based on integrity, trust and empathy.

  • Learn wisdom from and with our First Nations people, and other peoples and communities who value agency, diversity and sustainability.

Our Story

4C Transformative Learning (4CTL) began in 2017, out of work that had already begun in schools. It was led by courageous and passionate leaders who believed schools needed to evolve to better meet the needs of their students and communities. They realised the power of the Cs, deeper learning and agency to transform schools.

We were founded by Professor Michael Anderson from the University of Sydney and Dr Miranda Jefferson. They have authored several books and continue to research and write books based on the work being done in the 4CTL Partner Schools.

4CTL’s professional learning continues to grow its effectiveness and influence across more than 80 schools and organisations in Australia and internationally.

Our Team

The 4CTL team is a group of exceptional and inspiring pedagogues who have deep knowledge and experience in the 4Cs and transformative leadership, learning and teaching.

Here’s our team:

 
 
 

Prof. Michael Anderson

co-founder, Academic leader & Board Member 

Michael is an internationally recognised educational leader. He has taught, researched and published in education and transformation for over 20 years including 13 books and 55 book chapters and journal articles. His international research and practice focus on how the 4Cs can be integrated using coherent frameworks to make learning meet the needs of 21st Century learners.

 

Dr. Miranda Jefferson 

Co-Founder & Board Member

Miranda has been involved in leading innovation in schools for over 20 years. She leads programs, initiatives and research in curriculum reform, educational change and school transformation in several schools. Miranda has taught drama and media arts learning and teacher professional practice in the Education Faculty at the University of Sydney. She has also been on advisory boards for ACARA.

 
 
 
 

Jamie Gerlach

CEO & SENIOR PRACTICE LEADER

Jamie has been in innovative education for over 10 years. He has designed and facilitated professional development in embodied literacy, 4C learning and school transformation, mentoring and collaborating with school leaders, classroom teachers and student leaders in primary and secondary schools across all sectors and early learning centres, across Australia and internationally. He has lectured and tutored pre-service teachers at the University of Sydney in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and MBA students in the University of Sydney Business School. Jamie has also delivered keynotes and papers at numerous state and national conferences and sat on multiple committees of education professional bodies.

 
 

Tahlia Scheermeijer

PRACTICE LEADER

Tahlia is passionate about implementing innovative pedagogical practices to increase learner agency within education and beyond. Bringing over ten years of experience across education and corporate sectors (Coca-Cola Amatil), she is uniquely positioned to do so. In addition to teaching in Public, Catholic and Independent schools, Tahlia lived in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, working for the Defence Indigenous Development Program, the Aboriginal Interpreter Service and as a primary school teacher. Her work prioritises the acknowledgement of and connection to deep understanding of Indigenous perspectives. Tahlia’s research focus is on Digital Technologies, the emerging technological trends in the 21st century and their implications for learning paradigms.

 
 

Dr. Kirsty McGeoch

Practice LEader

Kirsty has been an educator for over 25 years, energised by ways of teaching and learning that engage creativity alongside the expression of voice and identity. She facilitates learning in pedagogy, educational innovation and leadership development in primary and secondary schools and early learning centres. Kirsty has lectured and tutored pre-service teachers and Masters of Education students at the University of Sydney in 4C pedagogy, Media Arts, TESOL and reflective practice. She is a certified Courage & Renewal facilitator and runs professional learning in this reflective approach, which supports adult social and emotional learning and builds relational trust. Kirsty is an accredited professional supervisor, offering 1:1 and group critical reflection to school leaders, and in connection with the Reflective Supervision in Education course for school principals at the University of Sydney.

 
 

Dr. Natalie Quinlivan

PRACTICE LEADER

Natalie has strong experience in leading and empowering leadership in learning, especially amid cultural and curriculum-related change. Natalie has worked as a lecturer, teacher, Learning & Teaching Coordinator (Arts) and Learning & Teaching Manager (Humanities, Communications, Arts, Business and Design) within the Academic Pathways Program at The College, Western Sydney University. As LTC, she has written, collaborated on, co-designed and implemented curriculum for a range of learning modes, including flipped, online, face-to-face and hybrid learning with an emphasis on pastoral care and learner agency. Natalie has twice been awarded the WSU Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence (2020 and 2023) in relation to her leadership and curriculum innovation respectively. Her deep interest and advocacy for learner agency and educational transformation continues with her work with 4CTL.


Naomi Crain

Business Manager

 
 

Our 4CTL ASSOCIATES

Rebekah Palmer

ASSOCIATE Practice LEader

Rebekah is a highly creative educator with over 20 years’ experience working in a range of educational environments. She has held roles in primary and secondary schools, across Catholic and Government sectors, in mainstream and complex educational and health settings.

Rebekah has a deep interest in arts-based processes and reflective practices and how these encourage and support agency and deep learning.

Costa Loucopoulos 

ASSOCIATE

Costa has been an educator for over 30 years in a range of roles in the secondary and tertiary education sectors. Most of his career was based in the classroom as a teacher of English, Drama and Ancient History. He has worked with Aboriginal communities, engaging students in leadership, career and work planning in Sydney, and Mornington Island in Queensland. He has also worked as subject coordinator, lecturer and tutor in Education at the University of New South Wales, University of Sydey and Western Sydney University. He was the Curriculum Specialist, The Arts at the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, and was awarded an Outstanding Professional Service Award by the Professional Teachers Council of New South Wales. Costa also has experience facilitation transformative education practices in the health sector.

Dr. Mary Ann Hunter 

ASSOCIATE Practice LEader

Mary Ann is an experienced educator, researcher and facilitator who leads innovative practices in mentoring and leadership. Working internationally, she has partnered with schools on curriculum development and transformative teacher professional learning in specialist areas of sustainability, mentoring and creative peacebuilding. She has held leadership positions for over 20 years in policy and practice settings, including at the University of Queensland and National Institute of Education, Singapore, and currently leads with a deep committment to empowering educators through 4Cs transformational approaches in her work with the University of Tasmania, early education organisations and schools.

Stephen Smith 

ASSOCIATE Practice LEader

Stephen is a highly experienced educational leader and brings a deep understanding and expertise in working with teachers and school leaders in transforming schools. His more than 30 years experience as an educational innovator has spanned regional high schools from Moree to south western Sydney, and more recently as Head Teacher English and Deputy Principal at Kirrawee High School. Additionally, he has worked as a NSW Curriculum Consultant as well as Supervisor of HSC Marking with NESA. In 2018 Steve was recognised with a Leadership Award by Australian Council for Educational Leaders.



Work With Us

If you are an educator who is energised by the challenge of education, understands the needs for transformation and has read Transforming Schools we would love to hear from you! We are interested in talking to passionate and thoughtful educators who want to challenge the status quo in all parts of Australia and abroad. Please contact us and detail your experience and your brief thoughts on how you can see yourself fitting in with what we do.