VAGTC Committee
President - Carmel Meehan
Carmel is an Independent Educational Consultant. She is a former primary school principal with twenty years’ experience in both Victoria and NSW. Carmel’s particular interests are in school and curriculum development that allows gifted students to reach their true potential. Carmel joined the VAGTC after completing a Post Graduate Certificate in Gifted Education at Monash University in 2003. She also has a Master of Education, a Graduate Diploma in Religious Education and Counselling and Infant Teacher training.
As a principal some of the most alarming and challenging conversations I had with my bright students occurred after they were removed from their classrooms for what was termed “disruptive behaviour”. It was obvious that they were disengaged on a personal and academic level and for me it became a justice issue, that I become involved in learning how to deliver exemplary educational practice that would engage all Gifted and Talented students. The answer is as unique as the children we serve and for me the search for solutions has become a lifelong passion.
Vice President - Dr. Susan Nikakis
Dr Susan Nikakis works at the Catholic Education Office Melbourne. Her role is Senior Gifted Education Programs Officer for the state of Victoria. Her Doctoral thesis was entitled ‘What makes an expert teacher of the gifted?’
She works with the National Gallery of Victoria as a ‘critical friend’ in the gifted programs. She develops curriculum for the gifted, present’s workshops on differentiating the curriculum for gifted students at both primary and secondary Catholic schools around the state, assisting with pilot projects for gifted clusters as well as lecturing in the Masters of Education course at Melbourne University. Her first book entitled ‘Expert Educators’ was published in 2009 and at the moment her next book ‘Justice for all Gifted Students ‘is nearly ready for the publishers.
She is available for staff decision making processes re gifted students and is always keen to be part of any discussion re gifted students and education of all students.
Susan has taught in six Catholic secondary and primary schools, holding the positions of Individual Differences Coordinator, Director of Studies, Director of Learning, Director of Welfare and Discipline and Deputy Principal. She is Vice President of the Victorian Association of Gifted and Talented Committee. She assisted ACU Sydney develop the Post Graduate Certificate in Gifted Education. This hopefully will be offered at ACU St Patrick’s campus in the near future. She sees catering for the needs of gifted students as a matter of justice.
Vice President - Mark Smith
Mark is the creator and co-ordinator of Altitude, a multi-faceted enrichment and extension program for highly able primary students that has been running at Carey Baptist Grammar School, Kew Campus for the past eight years. Mark has a Master of Education, specialising in gifted and talented education, his research thesis completed as part of his Monash studies focused on a combined mentoring and inquiry learning process as a means of catering for highly able students through investigative research. Mentoring is a particular area of professional interest for Mark who coordinates a large mentoring program for highly able students at Carey. Other areas of professional strength include individual programming, student acceleration, community projects and innovative program development for the highly able.
Treasurer - Pam Lyons
Pam has been involved in the field of gifted education since 1998 and is currently the Coordinator of the Able Learners’ Enrichment Program at La Trobe University, Bendigo. This program has been running for ten years and in 2004 received a two year Telstra Community development Grant. She has advocated for gifted children in schools in Melbourne since 1998 and continues this advocacy in schools in rural Victoria. She is currently a sessional teacher in the School of Education at La Trobe, Bendigo. Pam is a qualified secondary science teacher with post graduate qualifications in Special Education and Human Services, completing two research projects in gifted education as part of this qualification. She is currently completing a Masters degree in education. In 2007 Pam helped establish a teachers’ network in Bendigo across all sectors providing professional development for teachers and professionals. In 2008 Pam was awarded the Pauline Toner Award by La Trobe University for her significant contribution in social issues and education through her work with the Able Learners’ enrichment Program and gifted education in general.
AAEGT Representative - Christine Ireland
Christine has been a full-time Secondary Teacher of English, Science, Geography and History for twenty years. Christine also lectures part time at Melbourne University in the Gifted Education units of the Master of Education. She has completed her Master of Education, a post graduate Certificate of Gifted Education, and two Harvard Certificates of Education. Christine is currently completing a PhD in Gifted Education. Christine has been President of the Victorian Association of Gifted and Talented Children for five years, and has published several academic education papers. Christine’s passion is providing educational opportunities that allow children to reach their full potential.
Michael Bond
Michael was the Vice President of the VAGTC between 2010 and 2011. He presented on "NAPLANing for Underachieivng Gifted Students" at the last VAGTC conference. He is the Gifted and Talented Education Coordinator in the Junior School (K-6) at Oxley College. He has also worked as a Gifted and Talented Education Special Project Manager. He advocates for gifted education on the Teaching and Learning Committee at Oxley College and has assisted in the development of a Gifted and Talented Education Program at the College through serving on a Gifted and Talented Education Working Party. Michael has worked in Government and Independent schools and has taught in Australia and the United States of America. He has a Master of Science in Education specialising in K-6 Education. Upon graduating, Michael was recognised as the ‘Most Outstanding Student in the College of Education’. He also has a Bachelor of Information Systems degree and a Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Michael developed a passion for gifted education after completing the ‘Gifted and Talented Education Professional Development Package for Teachers’, which was developed by GERRIC. He has also completed the extension and specialization modules. Michael has professional interests in curriculum development, upper primary and middle years of formal education, identification of gifted and talented students and also the use of standardized testing in education.
Lisa Dooley
Lisa Dooley is a teacher of Psychology, English, History and English as a Second Language and is currently teaching at Carey Baptist Grammar School. She has taught in public and private schools in Victoria, interstate and overseas and has worked as a corporate trainer. What excites her about working with Gifted and Talented children is the sheer surprise and excitement that they offer their teachers daily, in their responses to the world, knowledge, skill development and discovery.
Lynn Ordish
Lynn is a primary teacher who has taught for 19 years in both non-government and government schools. Her roles during this time have included classroom teaching, Curriculum Director, Educational Support Co-ordinator and Vice Principal. She has a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership. Lynn’s interest in Gifted Education began when confronted with a gifted boy who was doing Year 9 work in Year 5. As a result her classroom successfully caters for gifted students through inquiry based learning with extensive use of thinking tools.
Jennifer Scholes
Jennifer obtained her Bachelor of Education before starting teaching in 1977 and has specialised in English, Drama and Literature. She has taught at Mt. Waverley Secondary College for the past 17 years, including serving as the Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator. She helped establish the need for the gifted and talented program and a range of extension activities. Jenny’s work is focused on identifying gifted students and building support and understanding within the school culture.