I’m honoured to join The River School in 2026 as Principal. As a veteran educator and elder, I am dedicated to fostering a compassionate, inclusive learning environment guided by the Neohumanist values of universal love, respect for all Beings (people, animals, plants, and the environment) and through a holistic approach.

I joined the River School in 2007 and have loved every minute of being emersed in this community.

Connecting with students and their families, being a part of the learning journey and watching the growth of the children, socially, emotionally and academically is  truly wonderful.

I gained my Degree in Education at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane. I majored in psychology and sports science as they were my interests at that time. I absolutely loved my years of study there and knew, without a doubt that I had chosen the right career as I knew I wanted students under my care to sincerely believe in themselves and feel valued, supported, understood and encouraged as learners and as people and also to embrace their own subtle individuality and creativity. 

It is important to me to foster self- awareness, self-management, motivation &  independence in my students as well and be a catalyst in their life long love of learning.

I have taught at a variety of schools ranging from small schools with a dominant indigenous demographic, such as my first position at Stradbroke Island where I experienced the most amazing professional and personal life, surfing with many of my students and enjoying the rich, indigenous culture to large inner-city schools.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of my many and varied teaching experiences spanning over the past three decades of my life and have held a variety of positions within this time. My other passions have included English and Speech and Drama, so I have spent time pursuing an associate degree with Trinity College –London in Speech and Drama ( A. S . D. L – Hons) and another associate degree with Speech and Drama of Australia, (Hons). I have run many drama workshops and staged musicals and child drama productions in Brisbane. I also used my skills to support psychologists and other related professionals with motivating and helping young students in crisis and experiencing difficulty, as an act of service outside of my working life.

I started my Japanese studies at Griffith University and completed a BA in Asian studies and then a Graduate Diploma in Japanese language.  I then received a Japanese Government Monbusho scholarship to attend Akita University in Northern Japan where I completed a 1-year intensive Japanese language course and then a 2-year Master of Education. I then returned to Sydney to work for Nikko Securities and after 1 year,  I was transferred to their main office in Tokyo.  Nikko was bought by Citibank so after 3 years in Japan I was transferred to Citibank London and 2 years later I moved to Tokyo Mitsubishi Ginkou London.  In 2004 my daughter was born so I moved back to Australia and complete a 1-year Graduate Diploma in Education at USC.  I hope that my students, by learning Japanese, will be able to access some of the amazing opportunities that I have.  In the words of Frank Smith,”One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.”

I am a passionate advocate for integrating creativity with learning, and promoting quality Arts, Media and Environmental education for young people. I love being the Arts and Cultural Studies Teacher at the River School; teaching Visual Arts and Media Arts to the students across the school. I have a Bachelor Degree in Visual Arts and a Grad Dip in Primary Teaching.

I have a professional background of over 15years working in digital video production, particularly working with young people and Indigenous communities on diverse community cultural development projects. In Media Arts classes at the River School, I teach students clay animation and video editing skills. I was asked to provide work samples to the Australian Curriculum Authority (ACARA) for the national Media Arts curriculum.

Each year I program numerous Arts and Cultural experiences for our students to engage with, such as excursions to theatres, participation in local art events and workshops with local artists and parents.  I am really proud of The Arts program offered at the River School! In 2015 I trained as a facilitator for the ‘Celebration Day for Girls’ program. This is a unique program offered at our school, which celebrates what it means to be a Girl!

I also co-ordinate the Year 5 River School student’s involvement in the ‘Kids in Action’ environmental conference. Each year, we explore a new theme and I work with the students to create a workshop, display and film about their topic.

I have been involved with the River School since 2006, when my daughter first came here. I have three children and they all have attended to the River School. The River School nourishes children’s childhood and grows a deep love of learning and belief in self. Equally, the River School is a great environment to teach in!