Supporting our gifted and talented learners to thrive
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Certified Lead Teacher at Mary MacKillop College Nundah, Karyn Chapman, has challenged her community to support all students to reach their academic potential, including gifted and talented learners.
Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers (HALTs) are educators who have a powerful and positive impact on their students and colleagues. The certification process is a rigorous national approach to recognising highly skilled teachers.
As the Gifted and Talented Coordinator at the College, Karyn established the Da Vinci Decathlon Extension Program to provide a structured, transparent, and sustainable program to extend gifted and talented students.
“Students who have high potential require rigorous and engaging learning opportunities aligned with their individual learning needs, strengths, interests and goals,” Karyn said.
“We have seen students in the program thrive with challenging, discipline-specific extension, leading to increased confidence and resilience.”
Beyond academics, the program has strengthened the social and emotional wellbeing of the school’s gifted and talented learners.
“While we hoped that working with like-minded peers would support wellbeing, it’s been incredibly rewarding to see the growth in leadership,” Karyn said.
“Opportunities for older students to mentor younger peers have not only reinforced their own learning but also revealed genuine leadership development in action.”
Mary Mackillop College Nundah Principal Erin Wedge said Karyn’s impact as a Certified Lead Teacher has extended beyond the students in the program, inspiring her colleagues and strengthening the school’s professional culture.
“Our teachers are finding renewed fulfilment through opportunities to apply their disciplinary strengths in focused coaching, where the impact on student learning is immediate and rewarding,” Erin said.
“The formal policy guiding application, selection and coaching ensures transparency and trust, while our students’ success in external competitions continues to affirm our commitment to academic excellence and gifted education.”
BCE currently has 33 certified Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers, 41 teachers awaiting certification results and another 135 applicants working towards HALT certification.