Building a Positive School Culture

It is difficult to overstate just how timely, necessary and compelling Building Positive School Cultures is and there are few people more qualified to write it than Dr Stephen Brown (whose work I know well) and Andrew Fuller. Having worked closely with Stephen for many years, I have seen first-hand the depth of insight, intellectual rigour and moral purpose he brings to every conversation about leadership and school culture. His contribution to educational leadership in Australia and internationally is not just significant, it is transformative.

Stephen possesses that rare combination of scholarly authority, vast system leadership experience, high relational engagement and an intuitive understanding of how culture actually works in the lived reality of schools and school systems. Long before concepts such as psychosocial safety and adaptive leadership became globally recognised imperatives, Stephen was already shaping practice and influencing leaders across education sectors to build school environments and cultures where people truly thrive. His leadership - spanning four decades, multiple jurisdictions, national roles, international appointments, and a litany of prestigious awards - translates into a wisdom and credibility that few in the field can match.

This book is the culmination of a career spent inside classrooms, boardrooms and system offices, guiding leaders through complexity with clarity, humanity and hope. The CPR framework—Connected, Protected, Respected—is quintessentially Stephen: elegant, evidence-informed, deeply practical, and grounded in what matters most for students, staff and communities. His partnership with Andrew Fuller brings together two of the most respected voices in school wellbeing and leadership, resulting in a resource that is both powerful and profoundly accessible for today’s busy school leaders.

What distinguishes Stephen’s work is not only the depth of research or the extensive professional reach but his unwavering belief that great leadership is ultimately an act of service. He understands, better than anyone I know, that culture is not a glossy slogan but a living ecosystem requiring care, courage and relentless attention. Connected, Protected and Respected offers exactly the kind of practical, dignifying guidance leaders are desperately seeking as they navigate the demands of a complex, post-pandemic educational landscape.

For any school or system leader seeking a blueprint for cultural renewal that is grounded, actionable and inspiring, this is essential reading. And for those of us who have long admired Stephen Brown’s work, this book is yet another example of his extraordinary generosity, insight and enduring contribution to the profession.

I endorse this book wholeheartedly and with genuine admiration and can’t wait to get my hands on a copy!

-- Sue Kennedy-Brandford, Director-People, Leadership and Culture, Catholic Education South Austr