Cloud 12 in the Spotlight: Transforming Schools Together: The Journey of Cloud 12 in Educational Leadership

At the heart of school development lies a powerful question: how do we transform schools into thriving learning organizations? For EAPRIL Cloud 12: Leadership in Education, this question is the driving force behind our entire research agenda. Working closely with the Platform Leiderschap in het Onderwijs ((16) Platform Leiderschap in het Onderwijs | Groups | LinkedIn), we are bridging the gap between cutting-edge research and daily school practice.

Here is a look at what we have been up to over the past two years, and where we are heading next.

Strengthening Our Dutch-Flemish Roots

Our journey began with a strong local foundation. Throughout 2025 and 2026, we hosted three intensive meetings with Cloud 12 research members from the Netherlands and Flanders to sharpen and expand our research agenda.

But research cannot live in an ivory tower. To make a real impact, we brought our findings straight to the frontline. We organized two interactive events connecting researchers with school practitioners. These sessions—featuring deep-dive discussions and hands-on workshops—were a massive success, drawing 80 participants to our first event and climbing to 150 participants for the second!

To take this collaboration to the next level, we are currently preparing an ambitious Erasmus+ proposal. Our goal? To secure funding that allows school leaders to participate in professional learning networks, specifically focused on how they can spark and support leadership development among their own teachers.

Traveling Across Europe: From Classrooms to International Stages

We didn't just stay close to home. Cloud 12 has been actively taking the stage—and learning from—the wider European educational community.

Co-creating in Rome: We joined forces with school leaders from across the continent at the European School Heads Association biennial conference, ESHA 2025 Rome – Powerful Leadership in Changing Times. For us, this conference was much more than a stage to present our findings; it became a living laboratory for collective thinking. The energy from our symposium discussions, combined with the inspiring atmosphere of Rome, pushed our research further than ever before. Conversations quickly turned into concrete outcomes, helping us shape our research agenda and build practical tools. The best part? These tools are now freely available to school leaders and educators worldwide via the HEADstart | ESHA platform.

Debating Shared Leadership: On March 11, 2025, we participated in a European panel discussion during the Educational Leadership Network Europe (ELNE) webinar week. The topic? "Shared Leadership in Education: A Hydra or a Clear Concept?" Alongside international experts, we debated the complexities and practical realities of distributing leadership within modern schools. EELW 2025 - Shared Leadership in Education, a Hydra or a Clear Concept?

From Research to Practice: Turning Questions into Impact

The true power of our cloud lies in how we listen and co-create with school leaders. Sparked by a question raised at a previous EAPRIL Conference, we teamed up with four EAPRIL members (researchers and practitioners) to develop a brand-new feedback tool for school leaders. Designed to facilitate deep, meaningful dialogues between leaders and their team members, this tool bridges the gap between theory and daily practice. To ensure wide accessibility, both the tool and a guiding article will be published and shared through the ESHA Magazine and the HEADstart platform.

Looking ahead, we are thrilled to bring our insights back to the international stage. In November 2026, we will be facilitating hands-on workshops at the DIPS Leadership Conference for leading international change—a brand-new, immersive European leadership experience. Post | LinkedIn. And of course we will share our insights on the Eapril Conference 2026 in the Cloud spotlight session.

Join the Movement

Whether we are collaborating locally within our Dutch-Flemish partnership or connecting globally on European panels, our mission remains the same: empowering school leaders to foster continuous learning.

Are you a researcher or a school leader passionate about driving educational change? We invite you to join our network, share your insights, and help us shape the future of educational leadership. We warmly invite you to join our interactive spotlight session at the upcoming EAPRIL conference, where we will dive deep into Distributed Leadership: Leadership Practices, Beliefs, and Dilemmas.

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