School Staff
Clare Thompson
Adaptive Education Teacher
My name is Clare Thompson. In 2006, I graduated from Flinders University
with a Bachelor of Education: Junior Primary/Primary and began my teaching
career in Mount Gambier. I taught in several schools in Upper Primary classes,
before moving into Special Education settings. In 2009, I completed my
Graduate Diploma of Library and Information Services (Teacher Librarian)
through the University of South Australia before moving into a role within a
library at St Peters College. There, my interest in Gifted Education was
sparked, and I began an extension programs for students who had already
mastered the basics of their Junior School classes. I was awarded my Masters
of Gifted Education through Flinders University the following year.
After working within the Department of Education for several years, I moved
into the Adelaide Hills, where I worked as the Adaptive Education Teacher at
Heathfield High School, before moving to Mount Barker High School and
working with students with disabilities, who needed their curriculum
adjusted. I also spent some time within an Autism Intervention Program
there, developing programs aimed at improving student’s self-regulation.
During this time, I worked closely with a teacher who was hard of hearing; she
began tutoring me in Australian Sign Language or Auslan. When the role of
Auslan teacher at Dara School became available, I jumped at the chance to
come and work with this amazing group of students.