School Staff
Clare Thompson
Teacher and Adaptive Education
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 and I also undertook study of Auslan at TAFE SA. 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. I love working with the students at Dara.