Staff Profile

Career Summary

Biography

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Newcastle, 30/08/2002
• Bachelor of Educational Studies, University of Newcastle, 30/04/1983
• Diploma in Education, University of Newcastle, 28/04/1979
• Master of Special Education, University of Newcastle, 26/09/1997
• Bachelor of Arts, University of Newcastle, 22/04/1978

Research

Research keywords

• Early Childhood Intervention
• Reading Acquisition
• Reading Difficulties
• Values Education

Research expertise

My research interests span a number of areas including learning difficulties, learning to read in English as a second language, early childhood intervention, and values education. After teaching for over 20 years, I am committed to engaging in research that addresses current educational issues and problems within schools. I have conducted a longitudinal investigation of factors impacting on children's reading acquisition, using structural equation modelling techniques and multiple regression analysis. This study revealed that inattentive behaviour has a significant influence on disrupting children's reading progress over and above phonological awareness skills. This earlier interest in the effects of self-regulation on student learning and quantitative methods has led to my involvement as a university advisor to two clusters of NSW primary schools implementing values education projects. These collaborations have yielded important insights into the transformative effects that ensue from whole-school approaches to values education. Publications from these projects include a chapter in the International Research Handbook on Values Education and Student Wellbeing and a chapter in Teacher Education and Values Pedagogy: A Student Wellbeing Approach.

I have also been involved in a longitudinal evaluation of an early intervention program delivered via remote mediums, including tele-conferencing, video-conferencing, email and video exchanges to families of young children with sensory disabilities living in rural and remote areas of Australia. The implementation of this program compared favourably with elements of best-practice in early childhood family-centred approaches.

Fields of Research

Appointments

Awards

Research Award.

Collaboration

From 2006-2009, Kerry was involved with primary schools in the Newcastle and mid-North Coast regions as a University Advisor in the school's Values Education projects. Kerry has presented guest lectures at some of the schools and during 2010 provided workshops on Values Education for the NSW Department of Education and Training and for the Hong Kong Institute of Education.

Administrative

Administrative expertise

During 2010 I was appointed to the role of Acting Director of the Special Education Centre. The Special Education Centre hosts a number of agencies which provide a range of services for children with disabilities and their families and teachers. Firstchance provides an Early Childhood Intervention Program which is staffed by a multidisciplinary team including teachers, teacher aides, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and family workers. Positive Partnerships provides online training for families and teachers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder while the National Disability Coordination Officer facilitates networking opportunities and information sharing for school students and those leaving school and transitioning to work. The centre is also home to the national office of Keyword Sign Australia which distributes resources for supporting the communication skills of people with no, or very limited, language. As Acting Director I am responsible for managing the administrative functions of the centre including Occupational Health and Safety matters, authorisation of affiliated staff through the University systems, and liaison with University services such as Information Technology, Facilities Management and Legal Services.

Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Early Childhood Education
• Early Childhood Special Education
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills
• Learning Difficulties

Teaching expertise

My teaching experiences prior to lecturing at the University included Special Schools (SSPs), primary school, and inclusive Early Childhood Intervention as an itinerant teacher. I am currently lecturing in Special Education (Learning Difficulties and Interpersonal Skills) and Early Childhood courses (primarily Early Childhood Intervention) at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level.