School Board

Principal
Shelley Collins

Secretary of the Board
Louise Clark – Parent Representative

My name is Louise, and I am a proud mum of two boys who have DLD. They have both attended NEMLDC which has benefited them immensely. This early intervention and support has set them up with a solid foundation in their schooling journey.

As a parent representative, I value our schools mission and am honored to have been appointed Secretary of the Board. Professionally I have spent the last 20 years working in the Mental Health sector. I specialize in welfare, advocacy & holistically supporting consumers in their recovery journeys.  

I look forward to contributing to the board from a parent’s perspective and working together to support our school community.

Chair of the Board
Jessica Paterni – Parent Representative

Karolina Berson
Parent Representatives

As a mum of a daughter who has progressed so quickly and happily at NEMLDC, I am honoured to be a parent representative.

I have experience working in a range of small businesses including my own and have worked in Federal Government investigative and project management roles for the past 9 years.

I’m thrilled to be part of a school and board that works tirelessly to give children with DLD the best education and support possible.

I look forward to aligning my interests and strengths of building engagement, supporting learning differences and making things happen to contribute to this beautiful school and its families.

Agnes Kraiss
Parent Representatives

Kelly Wheeler
Parent Representatives

Annette Hopkinson
Associate Principal – North Balga Campus

I started my teaching career with 3 years at a mainstream school in a small wheatbelt town, and then I applied for a job at the NEMLDC! I started here in 2002 and am passionate about working with children with DLD and their families to help them achieve to their full potential. I have worked across many different NEMLDC sites and all year levels. I have worked with the Outreach team delivering professional learning to staff from mainstream schools, both in the metro area and the wheatbelt. I have been the ICT coordinator, Technologies coordinator and STEM coach in the more recent years and I love to spark children’s curiosity and to encourage them to use their oral language to explore the world around them in interesting ways.
I am now an Associate Principal and am privileged to be given the opportunity to support staff to make our school exceptional, and to be able to be there for students and families in their educational journey.

Katelin Neil 
Teacher

I feel very fortunate to be a teacher at the North East Metropolitan Language Development Centre. Prior to NEMLDC, I taught Kindergarten and Pre-primary in a mainstream school for 4 years. I believe all students have the potential to succeed and enjoy creating an inclusive and engaging learning environment. I aspire to create a classroom environment whereby families and the wider community can connect and share their knowledge. I am passionate about ensuring all children with Development Language Disorder are provided with quality learning experiences. I am dedicated towards advocating for awareness about Development Language Disorder and sharing greater knowledge of how we can ensure all students with Development Language Disorder can thrive. I look forward to representing NEMLDC staff on the school board to continue to support our students, families and community.

Sarah Brown
Teacher

 I have been teaching at NEMLDC since 2021 and hold a Master’s degree in Special Education Needs. Prior to this, I worked in community services across a range of roles, including advocacy and supporting people with disabilities. These experiences deepened my understanding of diverse needs and the importance of equity and access. I believe quality education is both a fundamental human right and a matter of social justice, ensuring every person has the opportunity to overcome barriers and reach their potential. I was motivated to transition into primary teaching to have a greater impact by supporting children from the earliest stages of their learning and development.

At NEMLDC, I value working alongside passionate colleagues, speech pathologists as well as an occupational therapist, where evidence-based, data-informed practices are central to teaching and learning. I am dedicated to ensuring students with Developmental Language Disorder have a strong start to their schooling and receive the support they need to successfully transition back into mainstream education. As a School Board member, I look forward to bringing a teacher’s perspective and supporting the school in building on students’ language and communication skills for lifelong success.