Your Guides on the Side
Professional Support for Educators
At Your Guides on the Side, we understand the unique challenges that educators face daily. From supporting students’ growth to navigating the evolving demands of the education system, educators wear many hats—and often, the weight feels overwhelming.
Our mission is simple yet profound: to stand by your side as trusted guides, offering tailored strategies and solutions that empower you to thrive. We blend expertise, empathy, and innovation to create a support system that aligns with your school’s goals, fostering resilience, collaboration, and lasting impact.
Born from a passion for education and a commitment to seeing you flourish, Your Guides on the Side combines years of practical experience with a deep understanding of the intricacies of school environments. Whether it’s helping leaders steer change, guiding teachers through challenges, or enhancing staff well-being, we’re here to ensure no one in your community feels left behind.
Why Choose Us?
Personalized Guidance: We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. Every school has its own rhythm, and we work with you to create strategies that resonate with your unique culture and aspirations.
Practical Solutions: Our focus is on actionable, real-world strategies that lead to measurable results.
Empowerment-Driven: Our aim is not just to assist but to equip school staff with tools and insights that spark confidence and self-reliance.
Meet your guides
Cath Grealy
Coach and Consultant
Cath is an experienced educator. She has extensive experience as an Early Childhood Teacher, Primary Teacher, Curriculum Support Teacher, Education Officer: Curriculum and Senior Education officer: Teacher Quality.
Cath’s qualifications include Diploma of Teaching (E.C.). Bachelor of Educational Studies, Master of Learning Innovation and she is an Accredited Coach with Growth Coaching International.
Contact:
cath.guidesontheside@gmail.com
0423959297
Paul Drewniak
Experienced Former Principal
Paul has been an exemplary principal for 20 years, receiving the Brisbane Catholic Education Excellence Award for Leadership in 2018.
As principal across several schools, Paul has expertise in supporting students from CALD backgrounds and those with disability. While principal he promoted professional learning to build the capability of his staff team.
Paul has gained several qualifications including Diploma of Teaching, a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts: Theology.
Contact:
paul.guidesontheside@gmail.com
0416197636
Nicole De Domenico
Teacher, Coach and Learning support.
Nicole is currently working part time in a primary school. She has specialist experience in Physical Education and Inclusion. In her spare time, she coaches basketball teams.
Nicole’s qualifications include an Arts Degree, a Diploma of Teaching, and she is an Accredited Coach with Growth Coaching International.
Contact:
nicole.guidesontheside@gmail.com
0402142099
Who we are
A group of experienced educators who provide online and face-to-face coaching and mentoring support for early career principals, middle leaders and teachers
We work with you to progress your school culture by
providing reassurance, encouragement and feedback
boosting positive ways of working with staff and community
sharing effective delegation processes that increase productivity
building in accountability to ensure quality
What we do
We have a guiding orientation which
uses an appreciative inquiry model
accelerates leadership development
enhances staff performance processes
aligns purpose with compliance
facilitates team building at staff and leadership level
strengthens strategic planning
assists with implementation of the school vision
How we work
Having a coach or mentor helps you to:
balance the personal and professional labour of leadership
promote a positive school and community culture
focus on how to improve student outcomes
master your workload
accelerate leadership development
Our Services
Goal Setting and Review
Goal setting and review are formal elements of the formal performance and development cycle.
Are you making the most of this process?
Leadership team formation
“Not finance. Not strategy. Not technology. It is teamwork that remains the ultimate competitive advantage, because it is so powerful and so rare.”
- Patrick Lencioni, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team .
Teaching teams formation
Great teamwork does not happen by accident; it requires concerted and deliberate efforts.
Learn to work as a team
Form the teams you have into the teams you need
Vision and Mission
In just one month, your school can have your inspiring, long-term aspirations documented, helping the whole community to work toward a positive future.
Early Career Support
New to leadership
Early career teachers
Staff Charter
Reset your culture through a staff charter process. Gain buy-in though respectful conversations with ALL team members, keeping each person accountable for their behaviour and providing clarity in cases of conflict.
Coaching and Mentoring
We are Coaches who Mentor and Mentors who Coach
We favour a dialogic approach to coaching and mentoring
Leadership know how workshops
Bring your team together for 2 hours/term to foster better collaboration, motivation, and performance.
In these workshops your team will learn how to improve efficiency and drive positive change. Topics include managing conflicts, navigating difficult conversations, and effective delegation.
Strategic Planning Support
Compliance doesn’t have to be a bureaucratic burden that rules our lives, draining our time, resources, and energy. Our Purpose with Heart support can alleviate that sense of frustration and control by linking compliance to our moral purpose.
Receive a complimentary session by emailing us to arrange a suitable time.
We are just a
Zoom
Teams
Facetime
call away!
Feedback from clients
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GOAL SETTING I love how Cath made me feel confident and positive in achieving my goal. She has an incredible ability to help people see their own strengths! Thanks Cath
Jessica Trounson St Joseph’s Park Ave
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GOAL SETTING. When I first came in, I was really nervous about it (setting goals) because I’d never done them before. I thought that there would be this pressure to make sure I did exactly what we talked about. But it’s been a surprise - it didn’t feel so overwhelming. The way you broke it down into the little steps. It was just a good and easy process
Alyse Year 2 teacher
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COACHING. For the past two years I have been given the opportunity to work with Cath Grealy. Together we have explored who I am as an educator within the inclusive curriculum and education space. Cath is extremely supportive; she connects with you in way that encourages and challenges you. After going through this ‘guided self-reflection’ process I leave each coaching session feeling more confident and capable to co-contribute within a team to the learning of ‘all’ members of our school community.
Kath, Inclusion Teacher St Anthony’s
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MORE TESTIMONIALS