Meet Our Staff

Karyn Byles

Karyn is a dynamic, collaborative, highly organised Early Years educator with twenty years’ experience, teaching in small, large metropolitan and regional schools. Her engaging pedagogical approach has enabled her to provide a learning environment that has high expectations with flexibility to cater for the diverse backgrounds of students, staff, parents, and school community. Karyn is committed to developing resilient, environmentally aware, and creative lifelong learners who have an ability to engage with a growth mindset approach.

Karyn builds strong and trusting relationships with students, by listening and acting on their feedback. Through promoting a positive and caring classroom climate, students feel valued because learning is celebrated, and everyone has a sense of belonging. She empowers students by co-developing personalised classroom essential agreements and having class meetings to discuss issues in preparation to validate student voice. Karyn develops professional and collaborative relationships with parents by employing an ‘open door’ approach with a service culture orientation.

Karyn feels honoured to teach at Rose Park Primary School and is passionate about the school’s future direction. She is a valuable member of our school community, and as an educator strives to inspire students to achieve their full potential, in all aspects of a holistic education.

 

Tiani Jeffries

Tiani is excited to continue as a Reception teacher at Rose Park Primary School. She completed her teaching and disability studies degree at Flinders University in 2022 and since then has worked for Autism SA in their Foundation Skills Group and School Inclusion Program. Tiani has also worked as a relief teacher in a range of different South Australian schools.

Tiani is passionate about working within the early years and is looking forward to getting to know her new students, parents/caregivers, and to continue building relationships with the wider community. Tiani feels honoured to be working at Rose Park Primary School.

 

Clare Rodger

Clare Rodger has over 20 years teaching experience, and has taught reception to year 7 in Australia, Scotland, Sweden and Spain; in both public and private schools.

Clare’s invaluable exposure to a wide variety of teaching methods and strategies has been instrumental in the establishment of her strong and effective teaching pedagogy. Clare is a passionate teacher and loves to inspire students to wonder, question, imagine and create. She finds it very fulfilling to watch her students learn, grow and flourish.

Clare values excellent relationships with pupils, parents/carers and colleagues. She also thoroughly enjoys working as part of an effective, collaborative teaching team. Clare feels very privileged to work in such a dynamic school that always seeks to provide the best for student’s education and wellbeing.

Clare graduated from Glasgow University with an Honours Bachelor of Education degree. In her spare time Clare enjoys reading, cycling, swimming, walking, and spending time with her family.

Sophie Cooper

Sophie is delighted to join the Year 1 teaching team and feels grateful to continue being a part of the Rose Park community after working as a SSO and relief teacher. Sophie has a Bachelor of Primary Education and has gained valuable experience across a range of Adelaide schools.

She is passionate about creating a positive, engaging, and supportive learning environments. Sophie looks forward to building strong relationships with her students and their families, and is excited for a year filled with curiosity, growth, and meaningful learning experiences.

Outside of the classroom, Sophie loves to travel, go for walks with her dog Ned and spend time with family & friends.

 

Sally Colburn

Sally Colburn is an accomplished and passionate teacher, rich in experience from teaching Reception to Year 6 throughout her 20+ years as a teacher. Sally completed her Bachelor of Education (Junior Primary and Primary) at the University of South Australia and has taught at both public and private schools in the Adelaide Hills, Southern and Eastern suburbs.

As a proud Rose Park Primary School Old Scholar, Sally has long family connections to the school. She believes in reinforcing school pride by encouraging students to be principled, respectful and show they care about others and the school environment.
Sally particularly loves working with children in junior primary year levels. She fosters their curiosity and enthusiasm to develop strong critical thinking and questioning skills.

Experience using the MiniLit program assists Sally to support students to develop their literacy skills and aims to help students ‘read like a News reader’. With a keen interest in student voice, Sally provides many opportunities for students to have their say, make informed choices and feel organised.

Sally has followed her passion to learn more about Autism, Dyslexia, Wellbeing and Positive Education. She enjoys helping students, and their families, with Individual Learning Plans and managing ‘big feelings’. Sally incorporates many strategies into children’s lives while aiming for success at school.

You might find Sally in Wendy’s Garden with the Green Thumbs gardeners. She loves growing, harvesting and cooking with produce from the garden to help students try new foods. Sally feels it’s a joy to see children flourish and to guide them through their educational journey at Rose Park Primary School with care and compassion.

 

Tom Lynch

Tom has been a valued member of the Rose Park Primary School community since 2017 and completed his primary teaching degree in 2019.

A passionate and energetic educator, Tom prioritises student well-being by nurturing their mental, physical, and academic growth. He believes that strong relationships are the foundation of learning, helping students develop confidence, resilience, and a love of learning. His classroom is a supportive and engaging environment where students are encouraged to strive for their best and build essential life skills.

Outside the classroom, Tom is an active sportsman and currently plays football for the Goodwood Saints Football Club. He enjoys staying active, travelling, and finding new ways to integrate well-being into everyday learning. Tom is proud to be part of the Rose Park Primary School team and finds great joy in guiding students through their early years of education.

Kelly Fitzpatrick

Kelly Fitzpatrick is a dedicated teacher who values fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment. Kelly creates student-centred learning experiences by combining her knowledge of the IB and Australian Curriculum. She has worked in a number of IB schools and enjoys the inquiry-based learning approach with focus on student agency.

An enthusiastic, approachable and collaborative teacher, Kelly builds strong relationships with her students built on trust and respect. She understands that we are all life-long learners with a multitude of different strengths and needs. Kelly engages in regular conversations, questioning, constructive feedback and assessment, to support students and identify achievable learning goals and appropriate actions.

Kelly has a love for sports, playing both football and netball in her free time. When she has some time to herself, she loves to sit on the couch with her puppy (Rufus) and crochet.

 

Angela Klenke

Angela Klenke is an experienced and dedicated teacher, she is compassionate and a genuine nurturer. Angela has been teaching at Rose Park PS since 2003 and thoroughly enjoys the community culture at Rose Park. She has taught in a variety of schools in differing demographics; including Milingimbi (an Aboriginal Settlement in the NT), and country and inner city schools in SA.

Angela has had 2 very successful and special teacher exchanges to Canada, followed by being involved in the SAETL committee (S. A. Exchange Teachers League), and being the editor of the SAETL magazine, published through the Ed Dept quarterly. These experiences have motivated Angela to continue travelling and be a global citizen.

Angela has a passion for Maths – both learning and teaching! She empowers and inspires students to enjoy and excel in Maths. A previous student was quoted saying “Angela engages her students to have fun and learn during Maths lessons.
Angela believes “WE ARE ALL LIFE LONG LEARNERS!”

 

Georgina Palmer

Georgina is excited to continue teaching at Rose Park Primary School. With experience as a classroom teacher, School Services Officer and a Bachelor’s in Primary Education with Honours, Georgina has enjoyed teaching in a range of educational settings.

Georgina’s goal is to foster a supportive and inclusive classroom where every student can thrive and achieve their best. Georgina loves making learning engaging and relevant by tapping into students’ interests and strengths. With a focus on Humanities and Social Studies, she is passionate about inquiry-based learning and empowering students to lead their learning journey.

Georgina is looking forward to an exciting year!

Corey Cuffe

Corey is excited to be returning to Rose Park Primary School in 2026. He completed his Bachelor of Primary Education (Honours) at the University of South Australia and previously taught Year 3 at RPPS in 2024. Since then, he has worked as a relief teacher across Adelaide and surrounding regions.

Originally from the Flinders Ranges, Corey grew up on several sheep and cattle properties and completed his primary education through the School of the Air. He also enjoys playing sport and has played cricket in both Australia and the United Kingdom.

Corey is committed to ensuring that every student feels valued, confident, and empowered to reach their full potential. He strives to create a classroom culture where students feel safe to be risk-takers, develop independence, and enjoy the learning process.

Corey is eagerly looking forward to meeting all the wonderful RPPS families and is enthusiastic about the year ahead.

 

Imogen Henderson

Imogen Henderson is excited to be teaching Year 3 at Rose Park Primary School in 2026. Having been part of the RPPS community since 2019 in a range of roles, she values the strong relationships that make Rose Park such a connected and welcoming school. Imogen is passionate about creating a calm, inclusive classroom where every child feels safe, seen and ready to learn.

In Year 3, Imogen enjoys supporting students to grow as confident readers, writers and mathematicians through clear learning intentions, high expectations, and plenty of opportunities for student voice, creativity and inquiry. She believes strong learning happens through curiosity, kindness and consistency, and she looks forward to working in partnership with families and colleagues to help every student thrive academically, socially and emotionally throughout the year.

 

Savannah Scaife

Savannah is teaching a Year 3 class in Room 6. She has a Primary Middle Education degree and has completed work placements in a variety of teaching settings including metropolitan, APY lands and overseas, namely in Vietnam teaching English students from ages 5 to 50 years. She spent time teaching in remote Indigenous communities and working with students with English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD). These placements have re-ignited her passion for EALD learning which is reflective of some of our students and families in the RPPS community.

Savannah promotes Literacy and Numeracy practices and supporting student wellbeing. Savannah strongly believes that wellbeing is interwoven with the academic and social and personal development of all children’s education. Having a safe and engaging classroom and school environment enables every student to flourish and grow. Adapting to changes while enjoying the journey of growing up with its highs and lows is how Savannah hopes to support all students to learn and grow.

Caitlin Petrou

Caitlin Petrou is a dedicated teacher who encourages students to be actively involved in their learning, supporting the development of lifelong learners. Since completing her Masters of Teaching, Caitlin has worked in a number of IB schools and successfully combines her knowledge of the IB with the Australian Curriculum to create student-centred learning experiences.

An enthusiastic, approachable and collaborative teacher, Caitlin cultivates a Growth Mindset amongst all students, resulting in a safe and nurturing classroom environment. She identifies the strengths and needs of students through regular conversations, questioning, constructive feedback and assessment, and supports students to identify achievable learning goals and appropriate actions.

Caitlin holds a Bachelor of Arts (Writing and Creative Communication) and Graduate Diploma of Journalism, and worked in PR prior to her teaching career. She still writes copy for websites in her spare time. Caitlin’s love of the written word is evident in the classroom, where she works with students to develop skills around effective writing and speaking.

Outside of school, Caitlin is a self-confessed foodie who enjoys spending time with her daughter and Chihuahuas (Bruno and Olly).

 

Eliza Suto

Eliza is a passionate educator, committed to creating a positive, inclusive and dynamic learning environment. She loves empowering students to recognise and develop their unique strengths, fostering a lifelong love of learning that extends beyond the classroom. Eliza strives to ensure that every student feels supported and inspired through engaging tasks that cater to diverse learning styles, helping each student unlock their full potential.

She previously completed an undergraduate degree in business, majoring in tourism and event management, which she believes supports her organisation in the classroom today. Her journey into teaching was sparked by her love of learning and the desire to make a positive impact on the lives of young people.

Outside of teaching, Eliza loves exploring new cultures through travel. She also loves cooking, craft, snowboarding and spending time with her two cats, Otis and Franklin. Eliza is really looking forward to nurturing her students’ academic achievements and personal growth this year!

Chanell Bonfiglio

Chanell is a passionate and dedicated educator with a strong understanding of Primary Years Pedagogy. She graduated from The University of South Australia with a Bachelor of Education Primary/Middle degree.

Chanell views respectful and trusting relationships as the cornerstone of establishing a positive and success-orientated school climate. She is a dynamic educator who seeks to recognise and understand the holistic child, so that purposeful learning can be planned and implemented. She prides herself on developing a class climate that embraces diversity, nurtures creativity, and enriches life-long learning. Hence, empowering students to become agents of change, not only for themselves but for the greater good of others, and the world. She achieves this by appreciating and promoting participation, facilitating curiosity and most importantly, encouraging questions and wonderings.

Chanell seeks to cultivate a positive growth mindset in her students by modelling appropriate language and encourages students to relish challenges, embrace mistakes, value effort and respond to constructive feedback.

Chanell is delighted to be joining the Rose Park Primary School community and looks forward to working in partnership with students, staff and families, to help all individuals to become confident, creative and innovative learners.

 

May Daniel

May Daniel is excited to be teaching Year 5 at Rose Park Primary School. Having worked within the Rose Park community for the past two years, she values the strong relationships and shared commitment to learning that make the school such a supportive and connected environment.

May is passionate about creating a calm, structured classroom where students feel safe, supported, and confident to challenge themselves. She emphasises student voice, high expectations, and the development of resilience and a positive growth mindset.

With a strong interest in Wellbeing, Sport, and The Arts, May enjoys supporting students to grow academically and personally through clear routines and engaging learning experiences. She looks forward to working in partnership with families and colleagues to support every student to thrive.

 

Ali Parletta

Ali is a creative educator who is delighted to begin teaching at Rose Park Primary School in 2022. She completed a Bachelor of Psychological Science before her Masters Degree in Primary Teaching.

Ali creates a safe classroom with a focus on wellbeing. She practices mindfulness with students and fosters a nurturing and inclusive environment. By promoting student agency and valuing effort, Ali encourages students to take responsibility for their learning and meet their goals. Ali strives to inspire resilient students who are willing to take risks in their learning by teaching a growth mindset approach.

Ali is passionate about sustainability and connection to nature. She has introduced green waste and other recycling programs at her previous school. Ali believes it is crucial that children connect with and consider their impact on their natural environment.

Emma de Cure

Emma is an experienced and passionate educator who loves supporting every child to succeed in their school journey. She began at Rose Park Primary School as a mid-year Reception teacher, quickly becoming an active member of the school community. Emma is now excited to teach Year 6 and looks forward to working closely with the Year 6 team.

Emma has extensive experience teaching across the primary years, particularly in Years 2 to 5. She brings a wealth of knowledge and a strong commitment to building positive relationships with students. Her classroom is engaging, supportive, and inclusive, ensuring every child feels safe, valued, and inspired to learn. Her teaching philosophy focuses on recognising and nurturing each student’s unique interests and abilities, empowering them to reach their full potential.

Emma has a strong interest in multicultural education, shaped by her time teaching at the Shanghai United International School. This experience deepened her commitment to inclusive teaching and supporting students from diverse backgrounds. She is dedicated to celebrating student growth and fostering a sense of belonging and leadership in her classroom.

Emma feels privileged to be part of the Rose Park Primary School community and looks forward to a fantastic year of learning, collaboration, and achievement with her Year 6 staff team and students.

 

Dion Karagiannis

Dion is a passionate and caring educator who has over 9 years of experience teaching across R-7 after completing his Bachelor degree with Honours in Education in 2016. His passion for learning ensures that he is constantly developing as an educator to unlock the full potential in each learner.

As an educator of our future leaders, he has a strong focus on establishing and maintaining professional and positive relationships. Dion creates a classroom space that is a supportive and high performing environment where students feel valued, safe and are actively involved in their learning through the learning design process.

Dion has a strong passion for physical and mental well-being and understands the importance of health on the human being and learner. He has played soccer since he was 6 years old and has a strong passion for sport which has helped to develop his team work skills. Dion communicates effectively and collaborates as part of a team with all staff to ensure continuous improvement of learning outcomes for students.

 

Brad Schutz

Brad is excited to be teaching Year 6 students this year. He taught Year 5 from 2018-2020 and Year 6 in 2021 and 2022 at Rose Park Primary School. Brad has a deep understanding of the curriculum content for each year level and what is needed to prepare students in readiness for their transition to high school.

His reputation as a strong public speaker is evidenced when he comperes school events as Master of Ceremonies.

Brad is committed to mentoring and guiding his students by creating positive relationships and providing relevant knowledge and skills to support each individual’s academic, social and emotional wellbeing. By getting to know his students and how they learn, he will personalise learning and connect to student’s interests. He targets teaching to cater for the needs and different learning styles of each student and in diverse ways to promote student engagement and motivation.

Brad’s warm and approachable manner enables the creation of a safe, happy and organised learning environment underpinned by promotion and enactment of our school values and IB learner dispositions.

It will be an exciting year comprising of many wonderful learning opportunities for both year levels including the Year 5 Musical, Year 5 & 6 Debating and The Year 6 IB PYP Exhibition. The Exhibition represents a significant event in the life of an IB PYP school and is celebrated with the whole school community.

Physical Education

Anna Nichol

Anna Nichol is the specialist physical education teacher at Rose Park Primary School. She has a Bachelor of Education from the University of South Australia in Junior Primary/Primary teaching, specialising in physical education. Anna has been a teacher for over 25 years both as a classroom teacher and a PE specialist, predominantly in South Australian Independent Schools and at Rose Park Primary School since 2016.

Anna enjoys working as a specialist teacher in the subject area that she is passionate about along with coordinating SAPSASA sports, swimming carnivals and sports days. Her teaching methodology promotes a happy and safe learning environment where students are encouraged to be individuals, to always try their best, and to have fun while learning. Her teaching includes an active approach, where learning occurs through hands-on practice, inquiry, cooperative learning, and reflection.

Outside of school Anna loves spending time with her family and friends, keeping fit, being at the beach and going on holidays!

 

Science

Ida Capozzi

Ida was born in Adelaide, South Australia however her family originate from Italy. She graduated from The University of Adelaide with a BA Degree (majoring in English and Italian) and then went on to complete a Masters in Teaching (Junior Primary/Primary) at the University of South Australia. Ida has also completed her Postgraduate Certificate in International Education (IB PYP) which has strengthened her knowledge, skills and understanding of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program.

Over the past 15 years, Ida has taught a range of roles including teaching French, Music and Drama, Italian, Science as well as classroom teacher for Grades 2, 3, 4 and 6. In 2022, Ida applied her knowledge of the IB PYP program as part of her role on the Leadership Team.

Ida’s enthusiasm for an IB Education began when she taught for 2.5 years at the International School of Siena, Italy. Whilst living in Italy, she also visited the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre in Reggio Emilia. These experiences have strengthened her professional skills in inquiry-based learning and in nurturing and developing curious, respectful and open-minded global citizens who want to bring positive action in the world.

 

Leah Rippin

Leah has been teaching at Rose Park Primary School for 10 years! She now works part-time and enjoys the balance between family and school. Leah has a great love for Rose Park Primary, and the wider school community. She has thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated her time here.

Leah has a young family and lives in the gorgeous Adelaide hills. Her family enjoy spending quality time together, making lasting memories in the great outdoors.

Leah is a passionate and nurturing early childhood educator, whose goal is to inspire a lifelong love of learning where children are intrinsically motivated to wonder, imagine, create and make new discoveries each and every day.

Leah looks forward to many more wonderful teaching and learning experiences with the beautiful students and families at Rose Park Primary School.

 

Japanese

Niki Peak

Niki Peak has been teaching Japanese at Rose Park Primary School since 2008. She studied Japanese language and gained her Bachelor of Junior Primary and Primary Education at The University of South Australia. She has spent a considerable amount of time studying and sightseeing in Japan. As an Endeavour Language Teacher Fellowship awardee, in 2014, Niki took part in an intensive course of Japanese language and cultural immersion and gained much insight into the future direction of primary school language education.

Niki first travelled to Japan when she was in year 7 on a school exchange trip, and fell in love with the country. Her passion for Japan, its people, and its language and culture has led her to continue to share this with her students. When she started in her role as Japanese teacher at Rose Park, Niki worked to set up a sister school exchange programme. In 2014 Rose Park Primary School signed a sister school agreement with Jyosei Elementary School, Hikone, Japan.

Niki believes that learning a language should be fun, so endeavors for all of her lessons to be hands on and engaging for a wide variety of learners. Japan’s many wonderful cultural aspects, both traditional and modern, provide Niki’s lessons with many points of fascination for young learners. Niki hopes that through learning Japanese at Rose Park, students gain an appreciation of other cultures and languages, and are fostered to develop their international mindedness.

 

Performing Arts

Julia Mayer

Julia is a Performing Arts teacher and a practicing theatre maker. She studied at Adelaide College of the Arts and graduated with an Advanced Diploma (Acting) and continued further study at UniSA with a Bachelor of Media Arts and a Masters of Teaching (Primary).

As a performer, Julia has worked with various theatre companies including State Theatre Company of South Australia, Frank.Theatre, Tutti Ensemble, Colourwheel Productions, and Splash Theatre. In 2019 Julia traveled to France to study Clown at École Philippe Gaulier, a skill which she has since enjoyed sharing with her students. In 2021 she called upon those clown skills to write, direct, perform and produce her award-winning debut solo show, ‘Nella’, at the Adelaide Fringe.

Julia is thrilled to be part of the team at Rose Park and to be teaching in the field in which she is most passionate. She believes Arts Education opens a world of possibilities. Not only does it create opportunities for students to experiment, collaborate, build self-confidence and expression, it also provides avenues to develop understanding and empathy for different people and points of view. Julia prides herself in creating supportive and safe environments in which students are encouraged to be bold and take risks, prompting a growth mindset and a love for learning.

 

Technologies

Lucinda Manning

Lucinda is excited to be joining the specialist teaching team in 2026 as the Junior Primary Technologies Teacher. Now entering her sixth year of teaching, with experience working as a classroom teacher in Years 2, 3 and 4, Lucinda looks forward to bringing her passion for creativity and hands-on learning into the technologies space.

Lucinda is dedicated to building strong, positive relationships with her students. She believes that learning happens best when students feel connected, supported, and are able to have fun, and she takes pride in helping each child work towards their individual goals.

She holds a Master of Teaching and brings a valuable psychology background to her practice, supporting her understanding of student wellbeing, motivation, and engagement.

When she’s not at school, Lucinda loves spending her days with her daughter, Ruby. She also enjoys being in the garden, spending time with animals, and appreciating the natural environment which she’s so lucky to have right at her doorstep in the beautiful Adelaide Hills.

 

Steph Walker

Steph is an enthusiastic and dedicated teacher, and is excited to teach Technologies as a Specialist subject in 2026. Steph is passionate about STEM subject areas, and encourages students to inquire and develop problem-solving skills through team work and creativity.

Originally from regional NSW, Steph pursued a career in sport playing AFLW for the GWS giants in the Inaugural AFLW season before moving to Adelaide and commencing her teaching degree at Charles Darwin University. Steph has been a member of the Rose Park community since 2019, and is excited to continue to grow and develop her teaching practice.

Steph has worked in many different roles, and brings the skills she has gained from these experiences to the Technologies Room. Steph values building relationships with students and families, and believes that it is paramount in establishing a positive, safe and successful learning environment.

EALD

Maria Miranda

Maria has been teaching for 14 years, working predominantly within the Intensive English Language Program (IELP). She has taught in Northern Adelaide areas and has worked within mainstream settings to teach English to newly arrived refugees and migrants from a vast array of cultures at Salisbury North Primary.

She thoroughly enjoys teaching a range of positive English language strategies to support students to become confident in speaking, reading and writing the English language and to develop their sense of independence and resilience to learning.

This year she works collaboratively with the English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD) teaching team and class teachers at Rose Park PS to provide intervention programs for our EALD students. She will support students and teachers in classroom and in small groups in literacy and writing for assessment and learning. She looks forward to working with students, families and the wider school community.

Business Manager – Pipi D’Ambrosio

Administration & Finance Officer – Crystelle Ferguson

Administration & Enrolment Officer – Helen Moyes

Curriculum Support Officers – Jack Aherne, Tamara Carroll, Jo Kinsella, Dakota Langanis, Lara Martin, Sophie Nietschke, Paige Nitschke, Lucie Shaw, Charlie Sproule

After School Sports Officer – Jack Aherne

Inclusion Support Officer – Tamara Carroll

Library Officer – Jane Salb

Pastoral Care Worker – Denby Tamms (social and emotional support, lunch time clubs)

OSHC Director– James McDonnell

Grounds/Maintenance – Stephen Kricskovics

ICT Technicians – Joe Zhou and Kevin Xie (IP Partners)