Our staff

Mary Porter, Principal and Assistant Principal Religious Education

• • • • • at St Joseph's School, Tara from 1988-2010 and principal since 2015
        • Master of Educational Leadership Australian Catholic University (ACU), Master of Religious Education commenced: units at ACU Brisbane, Notre Dame University Jerusalem and Leuven University Belgium, Bachelor of Education University of Southern Queensland (USQ), Diploma of Education (primary teaching and physical education specialist) USQ, Essential Skills in Classroom Management (behaviour management) Facilitator and Profiler level 1
        • Expertise: teaching and learning pedagogy and practice, early years pedagogy and practice, P-6 curriculum, behaviour management, Religious Education, Catholic identity, workplace health and safety, wellbeing, physical education specialist
        • Interests: family, the school and local Tara community, painting, dancing, robotics, gardening, walking, reading, movies and travel

Kylie Williams , Acting Principal

• • • • • at St Joseph's School, Tara since 2023
        • Master of Education (Mathematics), Master of Religious Education, Grad.Dip.Ed., B.CrArts (Music)
        • Expertise: 29 years teaching experience in Catholic Education
        • Interests: gym, reading, swimming, picnics, bushwalking, travelling and seeing new people and places

Heather Sheppard, Prep Teacher

• • • • • at St Joseph's School, Tara since 2023
        • Bachelor of Education, Primary Teaching (Current) (USQ)
        • Interests: reading, cooking, craft, swimming, animals, movies and family

Tammy Ash, Year 1-2 Teacher

• • • • • at St Joseph's School, Tara since 2023
        • Bachelor of Education, Primary (USQ)
        • Interests: reading, art, relaxing with family and friends

• • • • • at St Joseph's School, Tara since 2001
        • Master of Special Education (Newcastle), Graduate Certificate of Religious Education (ACU) and Diploma of Teaching (RCAE)
        • Essential Skills in Classroom Management (behaviour management) Profiler level 1
        • Expertise: multi-age and classroom practice
        • Interests: travel and Toastmasters 

Katie Davis, Learning Support and Specialist Teacher

• • • • • at St Joseph's School, Tara since 2023
        • Bachelor of Education with a Major in Intellectual Impairment and Multiple Disabilities (Griffith)
        • Experience: 15 years previously with Education Queensland
        • Areas of expertise: Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA), Possitive Behaviour Learning (PBL) and Curriculum modification
        • Interests: cooking and spending time with my children

Tara Fisher, Intervention Teacher

• • • • • at St Joseph's School, Tara since 2018
        • Bachelor of Early Childhood and Primary Teaching, (ACU)
        • Essential Skills in Classroom Management (behaviour management) Profiler level 1
        • Areas of expertise: early childhood teaching and learning, multi-age teaching and learning, classroom pedagogy and practice and behaviour management
        • Interests: reading, art, outdoor activities, animals, swimming, therapy dog training and family

Margaret Bowman, Teacher Librarian

• • • • • at St Joseph's School, Tara since 2014
        • Master of Education (Teacher Librarianship) Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Bachelor of Education, QUT and Diploma of Education (Primary Teaching) BCAE (Mt Gravatt)
        • Expertise: teacher librarian, library information systems, literature, inquiry learning, and digital pedagogies
        • Interests: family, sport, reading, card making, puzzles and camping

Monica Moran, Administration/Finance officer

• • • • • at St Joseph's School, Tara since 2022
        • Certificate in Business and IT
        • Expertise: first aid officer and mental health first aid officer
        • Interests: baking, hiking, family, gardening and reading

Dorene Warwick, School Officer, Assisting Student Learning

• • • • • at St Joseph’s since 2013
        • Certificate III in Education, currently completing Certificate IV in Education
        • Expertise: Telehealth support, Indigenous histories, culture and language, Essential Skills of Classroom Management,
        • Interests: cooking, gardening, building and fabric upholstering

Anne Furniss, School Officer, Assisting Student Learning

• • • • • at St Joseph's School, Tara since 2023
        • Expertise: telehealth support, learning assistance
        • Interests: family and travelling

Krissy Aylott, School Officer, Assisting Student Learning

• • • • • at St Joseph's School, Tara since 2023
        • Diploma of Education Studies 
        • Expertise: Telehealth support, Classroom support, Early literacy engagement and development, emotional wellbeing.
        • Interests: Sociolgy and Ancient History, reading, writing, meditation, horse riding and nature.

Leeanne Carden-Smith, Library Learning Assistance

• • • • • at St Joseph's School, Tara since 2015
        • Expertise: library support, telehealth support, learning assistance and administration
        • Interests: family, cake decorating, golf and dining out

Ben Aylott, Work Health & Safety and Groundsperson

• • • • • at St Joseph's School, Tara since 2023
        • Expertise: Landscaping, horticulture, specializing in Greenskeeping
        • Intrests: Gardening and nature, music (guitar), motorcycles

• • • • • at St Joseph's since 2009
        • Expertise: Indigenous history and culture
        • Interests: family