Associate

Karen joined Early Life Foundations and the Walker Learning Team in 2010 after 35 years with the Victorian Department of Education as leader, consultant and teacher. Over these 35 years Karen worked in many sectors of education: metropolitan, regional and rural schools teaching all levels, special school settings, special education consultancy and as a Language consultant at School Support centre in Western Metropolitan Region. She has also taught overseas in Ontario, Canada for a year.

Karen's formal qualifications are Diploma of Education and Graduate diploma in Special education. Her last position before retirement was Assistant Principal at Altona Green Primary School where she worked alongside the principal, staff and parent community to develop and implement an inclusive, exciting and vibrant child centred indoor-outdoor learning environment in the junior level. This move towards effective personalised learning through active hands on investigative approaches was to frame the School's pedagogy for successful and consistent teaching and learning practices during that time.

Karen was fortunate enough to develop a close professional relationship with Kathy Walker as she led and mentored us along our journey and was also able to facilitate many school visits and study tours to Altona Green as well as share our successes and stories at presentations.

Karen's desire to personally and professionally continue her involvement and work in the early childhood learning and programs evolved during this time and she established networks with local early childhood settings to assist in creation of seamless and informed transition practices between early childhood and school settings.

Karen's special areas of interest are multi-age education, multi-cultural education, learning through play and investigation, learning disabilities, emotional and social development of children, transition between and within educational settings and social justice.

As an educator Karen's passion has always has been working with families, school communities and school connectedness. In whatever her role communication, connectedness , support and trust were vital elements I developed and encouraged as a means to ensure the child's best chance of meaningful and sustainable learning for them as an individual.

Karen is mentoring and providing professional development to teachers in Schools across the country.