Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ

Head of Inclusive Education

Deb was appointed as Head of Inclusive Education at The Hutchins School in 2025, bringing an extensive amount of experience to the role. With over 20 years of experience working in schools both locally in Tasmania and internationally in the international school system in Norway, Deb is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and Å·ÃÀÊÓƵive environment for all Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ.

Deb holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of Tasmania and a Master of Inclusive Education from Flinders University, completed in 2015. Throughout her career, she has held various teaching and leadership roles, including classroom teacher and leader in Inclusive Education, Wellbeing and Safeguarding.

Passionate about leading inclusive educational practices and pedagogy, Deb is a strong advocate for using evidence-based practices and collaborating with Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ, families and staff. Deb takes a holistic approach, always focusing on the ‘whole child’ in an ever-changing and diverse world. By prioritising the needs of the whole child, she is dedicated to ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.

Deb believes that embracing diversity in the classroom and beyond enriches our community and society as a whole. She recognises that as individuals our unique perspective, background and capabilities add immense value to our collective growth and understanding. Deb’s commitment to inclusive education is not only about empowering Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ, but also about cultivating a vibrant and compassionate community where diversity is viewed as a strength, enriching us all.

Learning Support Coordinator

Kristy Baker is a passionate and dedicated educator with 20 years of experience in the field of education. She began her journey by graduating with a Bachelor of Education (Primary) in 2005 from New South Wales. Driven by a deep commitment to Å·ÃÀÊÓƵing all Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ in their Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ, Kristy pursued her Master of Education (Special Education), completing the degree in 2016.

Kristy’s career began in Melbourne, where she taught in the Early Years at a large co-educational school. Her love for teaching and helping Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ thrive led her to return to Tasmania in 2008. There, she taught at a small co-educational school across Kindergarten to Year 6, where she also took on leadership and administrative responsibilities before becoming the Prep to Year 10 Learning Support Coordinator.

In 2021, Kristy commenced at The Hutchins School as a Learning Support Teacher. Her dedication to fostering inclusive Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ environments was recognised, and in 2022, she stepped into the role of Learning Support Coordinator, where she continues to play a key role in Å·ÃÀÊÓƵing Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ and staff.

Kristy is committed to creating an inclusive, Å·ÃÀÊÓƵive Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ environment where every student can reach their full potential.

Coordinator of Gifted and Talented

Sam Judd’s journey into education is rooted in a passion for the environment and a love for working with children. After completing a Bachelor of Science in Biodiversity and Conservation in Sydney, Sam worked with the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, discovery guiding and sharing her knowledge of the natural world. It was during this time that she discovered her love for walking and talking with children, which led her to pursue a career in education.

Determined to combine her passion for the environment with teaching, Sam went back to university to complete a Bachelor of Primary Education, majoring in Environmental Education. This blend of expertise in both ecology and education allowed her to develop a unique approach to teaching, one that emphasised sustainability and outdoor Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ.

Sam began her teaching career in a small rural school in Sydney, where she quickly realised the importance of becoming an integral part of the school community. She embraced the values of collaboration and connection, making a lasting impact on both her Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ and colleagues.

In 2007, Sam moved to Tasmania, where she took on various casual and part-time teaching roles across the southern region of Hobart. After gaining valuable experience, she landed a position at St Michael’s Collegiate, where she taught upper primary grades. As her career progressed, Sam moved to The Hutchins School, where she initially focused on curriculum modification and Middle School literacy Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ classes.

It was here that Sam found her true calling when she was offered the role of Gifted and Talented Teacher for the Junior School. This position proved to be both fulfilling and challenging, allowing Sam to nurture and inspire the unique abilities of her Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ. She is now the coordinator of the Gifted and Talented program at Hutchins, where she continues to provide exceptional Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ to Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ, fostering their growth and helping them reach their full potential.

Instructional Coach (Junior School) / Gifted and Talented Teacher

Jo French began her teaching career in rural Tasmania as an upper primary teacher, where working in small school settings meant taking on a range of roles. It was here that she developed a strong belief in the importance of being an active contributor to the school community beyond the classroom.

Seeking to broaden her experience, Jo moved to Germany to teach at an international school, where she worked alongside colleagues and Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ from diverse cultural backgrounds. This experience provided her with a global perspective on education and reinforced her passion for fostering inclusive and dynamic Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ environments. Living in Germany also fuelled her love for travel and exploration.

Upon returning to Australia, Jo continued her teaching journey in Canberra, where she was drawn to the school’s strong sense of community. She then returned to Tasmania to join The Hutchins School, where she has taught upper primary and Gifted and Talented classes and has held leadership positions within the Junior School.

With 25 years of experience in education, Jo is passionate about fostering a love for Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ and developing Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ into deep thinkers and problem solvers. She believes in creating a Å·ÃÀÊÓƵive and engaging classroom environment that sparks curiosity and encourages Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ to reach their full potential. She is motivated by the ever-evolving nature of education and thrives on the challenges and opportunities it presents.

Intervention Teacher/Support Case Manager

Kate completed a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Teaching at the University of Tasmania in Hobart. She commenced her teaching career at The Hutchins School in 2009, where she has developed a passion for guiding Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ through both their academic and social growth. Over the years, she has been a classroom teacher across various levels, including middle and lower primary, with a focus on fostering an environment that encourages Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ to thrive in all aspects of their development.

As a classroom teacher, Kate incorporated numerous community-based projects into her teaching, encouraging Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ to become active citizens who are aware of their responsibilities and capable of making meaningful contributions to society.

One of Kate’s career highlights was the opportunity to teach a group of teachers in Cambodia, where she shared valuable teaching strategies and best practices to improve educational outcomes in the region. This experience reinforced Kate’s commitment to empowering others through education and highlighted her ability to inspire both Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ and fellow educators.

Since 2020, Kate has been a Learning Support teacher for the Centre for Excellence. She has remained dedicated to her belief that every student deserves the opportunity to grow, not only as a learner but as an active, engaged member of the community. She is passionate about Å·ÃÀÊÓƵing Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ with diverse Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ needs, with a strong belief in the power of early intervention. Kate is a passionate advocate for providing tailored, explicit and structured teaching methods in Literacy and Numeracy.

Kate’s commitment to early intervention has allowed her to see firsthand the profound impact that tailored Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ can have on a student’s confidence and academic growth. Her approach reinforces the importance of a Å·ÃÀÊÓƵive, structured Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ environment in the early stages of education.

Intervention Teacher/Support Case Manager

With over 20 years of experience teaching and Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ in primary education, more recently in specialised Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ, Philippa brings a strong commitment to nurturing the whole child.

She enjoys working closely with classroom teachers to deliver engaging, inclusive lessons while providing targeted Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ to meet individual needs. Her approach is rooted in a strong sense of pastoral care, ensuring every child feels valued, Å·ÃÀÊÓƵed, and safe within the school community.

She takes pride in building meaningful relationships with Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ and fostering a positive, respectful environment where they can grow both academically and emotionally.

Intervention Teacher/Support Case Manager

Jayne is an experienced educator and Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ specialist who joined The Hutchins School in 2023. She brings over 20 years of teaching experience and a background in speech pathology to her role, where she is passionate about helping Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ thrive through targeted and individualised Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ.

Jayne holds a Bachelor of Teaching from the University of Tasmania and a Bachelor of Speech Pathology from Flinders University. She began her career as a speech pathologist, working in adult neurological rehabilitation and inpatient care in both Hobart and London, before following her calling to work with primary-aged children.

Prior to joining Hutchins, Jayne spent 18 wonderful years at St Mary’s College, teaching Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ in Years 3 to 6. While she loved classroom teaching, she always felt drawn to Å·ÃÀÊÓƵing Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ with diverse Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ needs. Her move to Hutchins allowed her to focus on this passion, working closely with Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ across the primary years to build their confidence and help them achieve their Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ goals.

Jayne is committed to creating a Å·ÃÀÊÓƵive and inclusive Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ environment and finds great joy in helping each student discover their strengths.

Intervention Teacher/Support Case Manager

Em Dorney is an experienced educator with a passion for teaching and Å·ÃÀÊÓƵing Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ’ Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ journeys. It was during her time teaching English in a small town in South Korea that Em discovered her true passion for education. After a year of teaching abroad, she decided to pursue a career in teaching, leading her to complete her Bachelor of Teaching.

Em’s teaching career began at St Michael’s Collegiate, where she worked as a Primary School teacher for five years. After starting her family, she transitioned to Taroona Primary School, where she taught a wide range of classes from Prep to Year 6 over the span of 10 years. It was at Taroona Primary School that Em found her passion for Literacy Support, working with Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ who had specific Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ needs. She found it incredibly rewarding to help these Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ build confidence, enjoy Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ and achieve their academic goals.

Driven by her desire to have a greater impact on Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ’ Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ, Em applied for a position at The Hutchins School, where she currently works in Learning Support at the Centre for Excellence. In this role, she enjoys providing a Å·ÃÀÊÓƵive Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ environment tailored to meet each student’s unique needs. Em is dedicated to fostering a fun and inclusive atmosphere that encourages Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ and growth.

Intervention Teacher/Support Case Manager

Natalie has been a dedicated Middle School teacher for over 10 years, bringing expertise and enthusiasm to subjects including Mathematics, HASS, English and Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ classes. With a strong commitment to inclusive education, Natalie has extensive experience in managing student Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ plans to ensure every learner is Å·ÃÀÊÓƵed and challenged.

She is passionate about building strong, respectful relationships with Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ, fostering a safe and encouraging classroom environment where learners feel confident to take risks and try their best. By focusing on each student’s strengths, Natalie helps them develop both academically and personally, nurturing a belief in their own potential.

Intervention Teacher/Support Case Manager

Adam brings a wealth of diverse teaching experience to his role, having taught in South Korea, the UK and across the Huon Valley before joining The Hutchins School over 15 years ago. His career has spanned a broad range of educational settings, from junior intervention programs to senior school classrooms.

He has taught extensively in the areas of Mathematics, History and Religion across Years 7 to 11, with a strong focus on providing tailored Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ in senior school Mathematics. He has also worked in the field of Gifted Education, completing a Certificate of Gifted Education (COGE) through UNSW and presenting at the World Gifted Conference in Dubai.

Currently serving as an intervention teacher and case manager, Adam is committed to Å·ÃÀÊÓƵing senior Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ and their families in navigating Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ challenges. He places high value on building genuine, trusting relationships with Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ, believing that strong connections are key to improving engagement, confidence and Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ outcomes.

Outside the classroom, Adam is actively involved in AFL and golf and enjoys seeing Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ thrive in co-curricular settings. He believes that understanding Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ beyond the classroom leads to more meaningful communication and stronger Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ. Passionate about student wellbeing and future pathways, Adam works closely with each student to help them discover direction and motivation in their Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ journey.

Intervention Teacher/Support Case Manager

Alice grew up in Tasmania and was educated at Princes Street Primary School and St Michael’s Collegiate. She completed her university studies at the University of Tasmania. Like many teachers, Alice’s career has taken many wonderful turns over the years. With over 25 years of teaching experience, she has taught art in both primary and secondary settings, spent much of her career teaching in early primary, and in more recent years has thoroughly enjoyed working in the Centre for Excellence at The Hutchins School.

Teaching has provided Alice with opportunities both interstate and overseas. Gaining experience across a wide variety of school settings, both private and state, has given her a broad understanding of student diversity and individual needs, as well as the importance of engaging with the wider school community.

Alice is deeply committed to building positive relationships with Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ and families. She believes these connections are vital, as Å·ÃÀÊÓƵ need to feel safe, secure and connected within the school environment – from this, everything else stems.