Olivia Watson
East Kalgoorlie Primary School, WA
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Teaching Fellow
Olivia Watson is a classroom teacher, Head of Literacy and Disability Coordinator at East Kalgoorlie Primary School, combining culturally responsive pedagogy with explicit, evidence-based instruction to lift outcomes at an outer regional WA school where 90% of students are Aboriginal and educational disadvantage is significant.
Olivia’s leadership has transformed the school’s approach to inclusive education and disability support. Recognising the need for greater consistency in supporting diverse learners, she worked with school leadership to establish and shape the Disability Coordinator role. She coaches and mentors teachers and support staff to effectively plan, teach, assess and make adjustments for students with disability. Through case conferences, she brings together families, educators, school leaders and health professionals to build a shared understanding of each child’s strengths and needs and establish clear, coordinated plans for support.
With the high levels of staff turnover often experienced in regional and remote education, Olivia has created sustainable processes and resources to support students with disability across the school in a way that will continue to make positive change on students, staff and families well into the future. With a focus on building staff capacity, student self-advocacy, and neuro-affirming practises, she has created a school environment where staff have a deeper understanding of inclusive education and have the skills and knowledge to respond to students with diverse learning needs.
Olivia’s approach rests on the belief that students must feel safe and connected before they can learn. She builds trust with historically disengaged families through sustained contact, home visits and tangible proof of their child’s progress, earning her a strong relationship with members across the whole school community.
As Head of Literacy, Olivia leads evidence-based literacy improvement through coaching, developing whole school assessments and initiatives and moderation. Her impact now extends beyond her own school through the QTS Lead School initiative, where she mentors teachers from other schools across the state. Her culturally responsive practice has also been featured in a WA Department of Education video on embedding Aboriginal perspectives in the classroom.