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Dr Linda-Dianne (Linda) Willis is Senior Research Fellow and Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University. She is also a Griffith Institute for Educational Research (GIER) member. Linda's major research interests are in parent and community engagement, initial teacher education, English and literacy curriculum and pedagogy; and Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) curriculum and pedagogy. She has also conducted research in early years education, education partnerships, education leadership and global citizenship. Linda has championed innovative collaborative teaching and research methods such as co-teaching and co-generative dialoguing in early, primary, secondary and tertiary education settings.
Since 2016, Linda has been awarded almost $700K to conduct research (12 projects/10 as Lead Chief Investigator) as a result of competitive external grants. Significantly, she was awarded approximately $300K in the 2016 and 2017 Queensland Department of Education's Education Horizon grant scheme to lead longitudinal research titled, Principal Leadership for Parent-School-Community Engagement. The impact of this research and Linda’s leadership were publicly singled out in 2023 by the Honourable Grace Grace MP, Queensland Minister for Education, as creating valuable resources for schools and informing improvements across the education system.
Linda's current research, Engaging Parents in Inquiry Curriculum (EPIC), comprises the third year of longitudinal research conducted continuously since 2021 in Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) member schools. At a national level, the significance of EPIC (ISQ) was highlighted in The Senate Education and Employment Reference Committee’s 2023 final report into The National Trend of School Refusal and Related Matters in its recommendations to all State and Territory authorities to better support schools to engage parents.
Linda is known internationally and nationally for her research in parent and community engagement. Her work in education research (parent engagement, initial teacher education, curriculum and pedagogy) is marked by enduring partnerships with universities, schools, colleagues, teachers and industry stakeholders locally, interstate and nationally and across State, Catholic and Independent education sectors.
Linda is a registered teacher with extensive experience in the early, primary and middle years. She has taught in State and Independent schools in roles including Senior Classroom Teacher, Middle School Leader and STEM District Liaison Teacher.
Linda's higher education roles at Griffith University (2020-2022) have included: Program Director, Bachelor of Education (BEd) (early, primary and senior years); Senior Lecturer (HASS education); and Education Lead, Griffith University’s Climate Action Beacon (CAB). Previously, she was Program Director, Master of Teaching (MTeach) (Primary) and Lecturer (English/literacy and HASS education) at The University of Queensland (2010-2019). As Program Director, Linda successfully spearheaded Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) program accreditation for Stage two submissions for the BEd (Griffith University) and MTeach (Primary) (The University of Queensland) programs to achieve the maximum five years accreditation approved by the Queensland College of Teachers.
Since 2010, Linda has taught and designed English/literacy and HASS education courses in BEd (early years, primary, middle years of schooling, secondary and dual degree) and Master of Teaching (Primary) programs. At Griffith University, she convened courses in Communication for Learning and Teaching, HASS and English/literacy (Gold Coast, Logan and Mount Gravatt campuses/face-to-face and online). At The University of Queensland she convened and taught courses in English/literacy, HASS and STEM (including senior secondary Mathematics).
Linda received her PhD in parent-teacher engagement in 2013. She has subsequently supervised 17 higher degree research students to completion (PhD/Masters/Honours). Linda has published widely in national and international journals. She is Lead Author on the 2021 international volume, Principal Leadership for Parent Engagement in Disadvantaged Schools: What Qualities and Strategies Distinguish Effective Principals?
Linda is the immediate past National Publications Director of the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA) (2019-2023). In this role, she managed the publication of three national/international journals (published three times a year) and three editorial teams comprising between 20 and 30 members. She also served two, two-year terms on the ALEA Executive Board and National Council (2019-2023). Linda received ALEA’s National Special Services Award in 2017 for her role as Co-Editor in Chief of PLEPY (2014-2017).
Linda is also Honorary Senior Research Fellow at The University of Queensland (2020-2025).
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