Karen Chaur

Director of Learning - Primary Years

My professional Junior School teaching career spans over 30 years and I have taught all levels of the Junior School, from ECC to Year 8. I have held educational leadership roles such as Deputy Head of Junior School and curriculum leadership roles such as PYP Co-ordinator and Head of Learning in both Independent and Catholic School systems.
 
As a member of the IB Educator Network, I am a Workshop Leader, School Visiting Team Leader and Consultant. I have experience as a consultant and coach in the PYP program in Schools, the tertiary sector at Deakin University and in delivering School evaluations and teacher training internationally for the International Baccalaureate. This experience has exposed me to many progressive and leading schools across Asia Pacific (Hong Kong, China, India, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, New Zealand and Australia), where I have delivered IB training and School Evaluation.

I grew up around the corner from Penbank and was educated on the Mornington Peninsula. My mum was a local primary teacher so as a family, we were encouraged to read and be interested in how the world works. We spent time camping, exploring local beaches and had strong connections with many local families. The parallels with Woodleigh were our strong sense of community and feeling part of something that mattered. My experience in the schooling system was far more traditional. My motivation to learn was due to an innate curiosity rather than being part of engaging contextual experiences, like what we work so hard to develop for our learners at Minimbah and Penbank.

The final line of the IB mission statement has a goal for us to ‘understand that other people, with their differences can also be right’. I think living this mission is having international mindedness. Being part of the International Baccalaureate Educator Network, I have been privileged to have travelled and worked all over Asia Pacific. Working internationally requires international mindedness. Being culturally appropriate, taking time to understand language and customs. It starts with language. All of a nation’s history, culture and emotions are tied to the language and phrases they use. International mindedness is a cornerstone of Woodleigh’s mission and it starts with respect. Respect for race, religion, culture, customs and language.

Having an adventurous mind is being curious and intrinsically motivated to not only understand the world but to be solutions focused and take action. Adventurous minds are changemakers and positive contributors to the world.