Mentor & coach for educational leaders
Phil Anthony
Hi I'm Phil, an experienced educational leader, coach and mentor. I work with school leaders and their teams, supporting their professional leadership journey and their school improvement strategies, blending both into life in the dynamic and unique role as a leader in education.
Coach and Mentor | 28+ Years in Educational Leadership
Over 45 years in education, my journey began as a teacher in rural and metropolitan classrooms and grew into 28 years in leadership, guiding diverse communities through growth, innovation and transformation.
As a principal, I have led four distinct school communities across varied demographics, sizes, and cultures. My leadership journey includes guiding an accredited International Baccalaureate ‘World School’ and establishing a brand-new school from the ground up as its foundation principal. Managing staff sizes from 15 to over 50, I have recruited, mentored, and developed hundreds of teachers, leaders, and support staff. Together we built culture, overcame obstacles and embedded improvement. It has been a rewarding, steep learning curve—and always a profound privilege.
My school-based leadership has been interspersed with system-wide roles, delivering leadership coaching, mentoring, and school improvement programs through the Victorian Academy of Teaching & Leadership, as well as via private practice.
Along the way I have reached out for new experiences, including a mid-career executive role in private industry and co-ownership/management of a small business in the hospitality and tourism sector.
These diverse experiences thoroughly broadened my perspective and ultimately solidified my passion for the unique, vital role of educational leadership.
Today, as an accredited coach, mentor, and certified Emotional Intelligence practitioner, I draw on this lived experience to support school leaders and their teams. Together, we work to balance personal leadership growth, strategic school improvement, and sustainable wellbeing—three pillars that are deeply, undeniably linked.
What a session looks like
A space to pause, reflect, perhaps reset
A session will often blend coaching and mentoring. It's a space for you to pause, reflect, perhaps reset. Our conversation stems from your own self-reflection and the topics that arise as, together, we explore the options you see ahead to achieve your goals and fulfil your plans. A self-reflective coaching conversation often unlocks new insights and clarity, leading to an intentional plan for the way forward.
Mentoring might include discussion about career, resources, and where it's useful, advice, guidance and options based on past experience. And along the way it's worthwhile checking in on where your own health and wellbeing ranks on your priority list. Because, as we know, leading others begins with looking after yourself...
Online or in person — your decision.
Who I work with
Privately, and through the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership (VATL).
- —Principals and Assistant Principals at all stages of their career, including acting roles
- —Middle leaders in Learning Specialist and Leading Teacher positions
- —PLC and team leaders
- — School leadership teams and School Improvement Teams
In their words
From the leaders I work with
Over the past two years, I have been incredibly fortunate to have the guidance and support of Phil Anthony as I navigated my role as a newly appointed principal. He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and a genuine commitment to developing leadership capacity in others. Phil has an exceptional ability to balance challenge and support, always asking the right questions to help me reflect deeply and make informed decisions. His calm, strategic approach has had a lasting impact on both my professional practice and the broader culture of our school.
Phil mentored our school improvement team, focusing on critical aspects of building school culture. Phil's calm demeanour was terrific and gave us the focus we needed to build middle leadership capacity, embed PLC culture, and drive high expectations with our staff, students and wider community. Thank you Phil for all of your hard work.
Having the opportunity to be mentored by someone with the breadth of knowledge and experience that Phil brings has been invaluable. His calm, measured approach, coupled with his clarity and guidance, has enabled me to navigate complex challenges with increasing confidence. As a young and inexperienced principal in a small rural school, I can't thank Phil enough for his consistent support.
Over the past two years, my coaching sessions with Phil have been invaluable to my leadership growth. They have provided a balance of reflection, challenge and celebration — allowing me to strengthen my leadership capacity, navigate complex situations with confidence, and recognise successes along the way. Phil's supportive and practical approach has been instrumental in shaping the leader I am today.
Phil's leadership professional learning workshops were incredibly valuable, offering deep insights relevant not only to Victorian primary educators but to anyone seeking to build their leadership capacity. His extensive experience, practical wisdom, and supportive approach made the session both inspiring and immediately applicable to my professional practice.
Thank you Phil! You are an amazing mentor who is really supportive of new leaders. Wish I had you years ago — or even better, been one of your staff members.
“Good reflection time, great tools to use, set new goals” “Phil's presentation was engaging and provocative” “Great opportunities to reflect on ourselves and what makes us tick. Can't be effective leaders if we aren't doing well ourselves...” “Great coaching and mentoring session and having the time to reflect on myself and the importance of self-care” “Phil was great. Loved the reflection activities”
Accreditation & system-level work
Qualifications
- · Accredited Growth Coaching International coach
- · Certified Emotional Intelligence practitioner
- · Life Member, Victorian Principals Association (2017)
- · Bachelor of Education and Diploma of Teaching (Primary), Monash University
Department & academy roles
- · Accredited workshop facilitator and in-school coach, Vic Education Dept 'Professional Learning Communities' (PLC) program
- · Assessor, Victorian Aspiring Principals Assessment (VAPA)
- · Panellist, 'Unlocking Potential' leadership program
- · Presenter, Vic Education Dept 'Improving School Governance' workshops for School Councils
Away from school life: a family of three boys, a passion for music, sport and wellness, many years as a football club board member (local and VFL) and junior footy coach — and once, co-owner/manager of a boutique resort on a South Pacific island. But that's another story!
Get in touch
Please reach out if I can support you to explore fresh perspectives on yourself, thrive (versus survive) in your ever-changing role, and plan for the strategic improvement of your leaders and your school.
Phil