My teaching and education based background spans over 28 years. My career has centered around early childhood education specialising in  teaching children 4 - 6 years of age. I have taught in all sectors of early childhood from childcare to year 1. I have also had some experience in special education and higher primary classes. I have held leadership positions within the schools that I have worked in and have enjoyed working with people from many different walks of life.

Time spent working with children in foster care as an employee of the Commision for Youth, Children and Parent Guardian gave me a deeper understanding of the plight of many families and the young children that we see in our classrooms and society.

I am now a full time academic lecturing into the Education faculty in early childhood and primary coursework. I have extensive experience in planning, implementing and reflecting on a play based pedagogy in the classroom. 

I am currently studying my Doctorate in Education. My research focuses on the decision making process used by parents when making a choice of childcare centre for their child.  I plan to complete my research in early 2014. I am using a mixed methods approach using a three phase data collection process.

Nominated for the 2014 Vice Chancellor's Learning and Teaching Award
for 'Approaches to the support of learning and teaching that influence, motivate and inspire students to learn'.

The nomination reads:

Kathy’s course content delivery exemplifies professionalism, dedication, knowledge and passion for the education profession.  By modelling teaching strategies that consider different learning approaches that incorporate hands-on learning activities in conjunction with explicit teaching students are inspired to learn. Kathy’s supportive, relaxed and nurturing manner ensures that students feel that a successful course result is not only achievable but will be encouraged at all times during lectures and outside lecture times.  The respect for student’s learning and aspiration for growth is evident in Kathy’s daily interactions with students and course material. Kathy will be supporting these claims with evidence in her application.

My previous teaching experience ranges over 30 years from 1984.
 
I began teaching in Preschool and contiued to do so for many years.  I have worked as an early childhood teacher in Education Queensland State Preschools;  C&K Kindergartens on a contract basis;  a district relief teacher and a local supply (relief) teacher in both Preschool and Primary classrooms, a lead teacher in Preparatory classrooms;  and preservice teacher mentor and placement co-ordinator within my school.

I now work at CQUniversity at the Noosa campus in Queensland where I teach the early childhood coursework and primary coursework to preservice education students.
My expertise is in all areas of early childhood with links to the primary classrooms.

Current financial member of:
Early Childhood Australia
Early Childhood Educators Association

Professional member of:
Prep - 3 discussion forum for teachers
Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY)

Professional development and consultancy for the Sunshine Coast Libraries to assist in the development of literacy corners in the libraries suitable for young children to extend on the experience of the books available.  Literacy sessions were delivered to library staff to extend knowledge and skills related to reading to young children in the library.