Executive Profiles

Executive Officers:

President:

Natalie Hatton Grad Cert (Special Education), Grad dip Education, Bachelor Social Sciences, Principal Joondalup Education Support Centre. Natalie commenced working at Burbridge School in 2000. She has worked as a volunteer, Education Assistant, Teacher, Associate Principal and now Principal in numerous Education Support Centres and Schools both north and south of the river. Natalie has been the Principal at Joondalup  for 5 years and is a member of numerous networks, and collegiate groups within the Education Support and Primary   field. Natalie.Hatton@education.wa.edu.au.

Vice President:

Margaret Keen B.Ed. Grad Cert (Spec Ed), M.Ed (Spec Ed). Principal, Rockingham Beach ESC. Margaret began her teaching career at Pegs Creek Primary School in Karratha. She left the Education Department of WA in 1986 to travel Australia. Upon return eight years later she was offered a position at Rockingham Beach ESC and found her niche teaching children with special needs. She completed Graduate Certificate in Special Education and Masters of Education at Edith Cowan University. She took on the acting Principal role of Rockingham Beach ESC for five years before being appointed to the position in 2008. Margaret.Keen@education.wa.edu.au.

Secretary:

Debi Taylor - M.Ed Special Education Needs, B.Ed. Hons (Spec. Edu). Principal, Cloverdale ESC. Debi commenced her teaching career as a Technology teacher teaching metal work in a large secondary school in Portsmouth UK, before moving into Special Education. She was a Deputy Head Teacher at a PMLD school and helped establish a new special needs school in Portsmouth which amalgamated two existing schools. She moved to Australia with her family in 2009 and gained her first position in WA as a Deputy Principal at Durham Road in 2010. In 2014 she moved to Padbury to work as a Consultant in the More Support for Students with Disabilities Initiative. In 2017 Debi became the Principal at Cloverdale ESC. Deborah.Taylor2@education.wa.edu.au.

Treasurer:

Jo Kriziotis - M. Ed (Special Education), B.Ed (Special Education), B.Arts (Primary) Deputy Principal, West Coast Secondary Education Support Centre. Prior to her teaching career Joanne gained extensive experience working in the disability sector as an education assistant and social trainer. Since 1996 she has worked, both locally and in the UK, as a special educator for students with mild to severe and multiple disabilities across the primary and secondary sector as both a primary and secondary classroom teacher, Upper School and VET Coordinator. Over the past 7 years she has held leadership positions within various education settings as Deputy Principal and Principal. Joanne.Kriziotis@education.wa.edu.au.

Executive Committee Members:

Paul M Jones - B.Ed Hons with QTS - University of Liverpool, Psychology (Education)  – University of London, Graduate Basis for Registration (GBR) in Educational Psychology, Principal, Cyril Jackson Senior Campus ESC. Paul commenced teaching in the UK, working in a number of special education schools and centers including a school which provided intensive intervention to support emotional and behavioral difficulties. During a gap-year in Australia, he worked in a school for specific purposes in Western Sydney.  Paul became a teacher, senior teacher then Deputy Principal at Durham Road School before gaining the Principal role at CJSCESC. He is a strong advocate for students with disabilities in the wider community. Paul regularly represents CJSCESC and the Department of Education at district or system level through network principal meetings, providing professional learning for ASDAN.  Over his time with the Department of Education, Paul has led professional development across many regions for Ngaanyatjarra Lands Remote School, to facilitate collaborative practices within ASDAN network of schools. As a principal, he is a passionate ambassador for innovation and best practice in the provision of education for students with disabilities.  His role within WAESPAA is to support country and regional members. Paul.Jones2@education.wa.edu.au

Jodie Norwell – B.A. Education (Primary), M. Ed (School Leadership) Principal, Gwynne Park ESC.  Jodie started her career in rural WA at Avonvale PS and Avonvale ESC.  She has 24 years of experience as a special educator, both in local and education support settings, and across high school and primary school year levels.  She has held various leadership positions over the last 6 years, ably fulfilling acting Principal roles in a number of schools, however most recently as Principal at Gwynne Park ESC during 2018 - 2019. She has an interest in Autism and complex behaviour and has previously coordinated a successful Autism program which supported students with ASD at Canning Vale College. Jodie has been part of WAESPAA Executive for the past 2 years, overseeing the WAESPAA Aspirant Portfolio and running the first WAESPAA Aspirant Leader’s Professional Learning Series throughout 2018 – 2019.  She has a keen interest in supporting aspiring            leaders. Jodie.Norwell@education.wa.edu.au

Brendon Bleakley - B.Sci (Human Movement), Post Grad. Dip. Education, M. Ed (School Leadership) Associate Principal, Atwell College. In charge of leading and managing the Education Support facility for students with special education needs, Brendon has worked in the disability and education sector for over 20 years, firstly as a sports coordinator of WA Disabled Sports before moving into education. Within the complexity of an integrated setting, Brendon has developed an effective education program for students with the highest of support needs through to students with disabilities who are sitting ATAR exams. Atwell College now caters for over 100 students with disabilities offering a full scope of special education program.  Brendon has a genuine interest governance and school leadership. He is a member of the Developmental Disability WA Board and has completed a Masters of School Leadership at UWA. Brendon has been an active member of WAESPAA assisting with the organisation of the WAESPAA conference, presented at WAESPAA Big Day Outs, hosted country based WAESPAA members at his school, represented WAESPAA on advisory panels and reviewed DOE policy documents on behalf of WAESPAA.  Brendon.Bleakley@education.wa.edu.au

Karen Macri - Principal, Merriwa ESC. Karen stepped into the role of Principal at Westminster ESC after a few years in leadership roles while teaching in the ES classroom setting. Her position allowed her to continue the good working partnerships with two host schools and ensure structures were embedded into the every-day practice of the ESC.  Karen became a member of WAESPAA in 2007 and joined the association as a committee member for a short time around 2009 - 2011. She has enjoyed various leadership roles within our Northern Network of Education Support principals, heading the Professional Learning committee for several years from 2011 until 2017 and  their executive committee.  Karen was appointed to her current position at Merriwa ESC in July, 2012 and has worked tirelessly to create a culture of high expectations to enable achievement for the students at Merriwa. Karen.Macri@education.wa.edu.au

Penny Nunn - Principal, Newton Moore ESC.  Penny has been the at her current school for the past two decades and hgas provided strong, effective leadership to facilitate long term reform across all aspects of education, including community engagement.  She has a proven record of implementing highly innovative and succesful curriculum, policies, systems, programs and processes.  Penny believes that all students require the highest quality teachers and has transformed Newton Moore ESC to a school recognised as a leader and innovator at both educational and community levels.  Penelope.Nunn@education.wa.edu.au

WAESPAA Executive Officer

Katherine Green - School Officer, Gwynne Park ESC. Kathy has supported the work in various Education Support contexts as a School Officer for the Teaching and Learning Support Team at Canning Vale College before moving to Gwynne Park ESC. Kathy has previously supported the Education Support South Network (ESSN) in the management and coordination of Annual Conference registrations and continues  to support WAESPAA in an Administrative role supporting the Executive Team since 2015. Katherine.Green2@education.wa.edu.au