Taylah Griffin is Kerry Street’s Deputy of Teaching and Learning. Taylah also teaches in Year 3/4 on Mondays and Year 5/6 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Taylah holds a Bachelor of Education (Primary), majoring in Special Needs, and is part-way through a Master of Education in Learning Difficulties and Educational Leadership. She has a strong passion for life-long learning and is continually upskilling her knowledge and understanding, particularly in the field of Psychology, where she focuses on trauma-informed restorative care and inclusive education and intervention.
Taylah joined Kerry Street in 2019 and has quickly become a pivotal member of the team, providing our Principal Melissa Kennedy with administrative support across a wide range of business areas, and leading projects like the development of the school’s Reconciliation Action Plan. Her professional background in supporting students with complex needs makes her an empathetic and approachable member of our school’s community and a much-loved colleague and friend.
In the Year 5/6 classroom, Taylah takes care to create Inquiry based educational experiences in which students are accountable for their own learning, and collaborative opportunities in which students who have expertise in specific areas can teach and support their peers. The class spends their days exploring the curriculum in whole class, small group, one-on-one and individual lessons, using problem-solving strategies to investigate authentic, real-life issues.
“I love the atmosphere, culture and support of the school community here at Kerry Street. I have never felt more welcome and at home at work ever before in my life, with the community not just welcoming me, but also my family.
Progressing our school’s Reconciliation Action Plan was essential to me given my experience volunteering in a small Aboriginal community called Ali Curung, in central Northern Territory. The importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture simply cannot be overstated.”
Taylah Griffin
Taylah confidently maintains, endorses and practices the philosophy that learning is holistic. It is the development of the whole person – their physical, emotional and social well-being, and not just the cognitive and linguistic attitudes of a child – that contributes to the acquisition of knowledge and becoming strong, vibrant and active members of society. She aims each day to provide a learning environment in which each student is able to achieve their own goals and push themselves to higher limits.
Dave Exham teaches the Year 5/6 classroom on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Dave Exham is a new addition to the Kerry Street community and will be teaching in Kaarla Mia every Wednesday and Friday. He recently attained a Bachelor of Primary Education from Curtin University, following on from two decades in the hospitality industry. This culminated in the ownership and operation of Little Lefroy’s, in South Fremantle, which Dave and his wife, Cat, established in 2014.
Dave’s teaching philosophy is one of mutual respect, inclusivity and collaboration, and he is passionate about supporting all children in their continued journey to become creative and independent life-long learners. He is hugely excited by the prospect of developing his craft as a teacher in the unique and highly supportive environment that Kerry Street has to offer.
Dave’s hobbies include cooking, gardening, reading and keeping fit. He shares a passion for all things Science and is fascinated by the natural world. His teaching style reflects this, and Dave strongly believes nature-based pedagogies to be highly effective in sparking curiosity and engaging students in their learning.
“I am really looking forward to getting to know the whole-school community. My primary goal for this year is to help the kids at Kerry Street develop their thinking processes, and to provide them with plenty of authentic opportunities to develop their skills and understanding.”
Dave Exham
Belinda Allen joined the Kerry Street team in 2021 as a relief staff member and is currently employed as Education Assistant in the 1/2 class on Tuesday to Friday.
Before joining us at Kerry Street, Belinda worked in accounts roles within large organisations. Over the last few years, she had spent a lot of her time volunteering at her son’s school, and it was there she decided it was time to follow her heart in supporting and nurturing children on their education journey.
I enjoy watching and talking to the children as they play and explore in the Wilderness Area at Kerry Street. It reminds me of the times my family and I explore the beauty of Western Australia when we go camping.
Belinda Allen
Caroline Colliss works as an Education Assistant in the Year 5/6 class on Mondays. Caroline is extremely versatile and has worked in many roles throughout the school. This has allowed her to form and maintain strong relationships with many students. Caroline also maintains the role of Art Specialist throughout the school. To read more about Caroline, please visit our Visual Arts Program page