Poppy Brennan
Preston
Summary
I am a resourceful and enthusiastic Learning Support Teacher & Library Assistant with 11 years’ experience running day-to-day school library operations and supporting diverse student learners. I bring a warmth, with a patient customer service style, along with a consistent and a genuine desire to work as part of a team to keep services running smoothly. I am confident with the key tasks detailed in the role including; resource circulation, shelving accuracy, logistics and handling student front-of-house enquiries; physically capable with strong attention to detail (including strong knowledge of the long alphanumeric sequences and Dewey). I value inclusive practice, clear communication and continuous improvement. I’m excited by the opportunity to contribute to La Trobe’s Library Environments team.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Learning Support Teacher (Primary)
St. Mary's Primary School
01.2013 - Current
- Lead small-group literacy and numeracy interventions aligned to classroom programs.
- Track progress and share updates with teachers and families; adjust supports as needed.
- Contribute to inclusive practices that build student confidence and engagement.
- Delivered personalized educational, behavioural, and emotional support to individual students to enable positive learning outcomes.
- Promoted a positive classroom environment by establishing clear expectations and fostering open communication.
- Prepared instructional materials for group and one-on-one use to comply with established curriculum.
- Set up visual aids, equipment, and classroom displays to support the teacher's lesson delivery.
- Documented student behaviours, interventions, and outcomes to enable the lead teacher to address issues.
- Monitored student classroom and outdoor activities to promote student safety.
- Served as a member of the school''s intervention team, collaborating with other professionals to design targeted supports for at-risk students.
- Developed students'' critical thinking skills with engaging activities and group projects.
- Enhanced learning experiences by utilising diverse teaching strategies and methods tailored to individual student needs.
- Instructed students with physical and cognitive disabilities.
- Led activities that developed students' physical, emotional, and social growth.
Library Assistant / Learning Support Teacher
St. Mary's Primary School
01.2013 - Current
- General Library operations and resource maintenance.
- Monitored library environments to maintain safe, hazard-free settings.
- Handled check-in and check-out process of library books and materials at circulation desk.
- Maintained a well-organised collection through diligent shelving, shelf-reading, and inventory management tasks.
- Organised library shelves, materials and equipment in clear, alphabetised order.
- Stayed up-to-date on library policies and procedures to smoothly enforce standards.
- Helped students select appropriate reading level library books.
- Gained strong understanding of various methods for cataloguing books and other materials.
- Developed library displays and implemented innovative inclusive activities for improved student engagement.
- Served as a reliable point of contact for students needing technical support with computers, printers and other equipment.
- Created welcoming and comfortable space by keeping library clean and organised.
- Utilised computer databases (Oliver/Bookmark) to locate library materials.
- Provided basic computer assistance to help students access needed resources.
- Deliver courteous, effective service across face-to-face, phone and email enquiries and escalate when appropriate.
- Support events and daily operations: room setups, directional support, printing/photocopying guidance and basic device assistance.
- Provide targeted literacy/numeracy support one-to-one and in small groups; differentiate tasks to student needs.
Education Leader
Raleigh Street Childrens Centre
01.2010 - 12.2012
- Collaborated with colleagues on curriculum development, sharing best practices and incorporating innovative ideas.
- Managed classroom behaviour effectively, creating an orderly environment conducive to learning.
- Developed strong rapport with students by maintaining open lines of communication and demonstrating genuine interest in their wellbeing.
- Promoted a positive learning environment by enforcing classroom rules and fostering respectful relationships among students.
- Mentored new teachers to help them acclimate to the school culture and improve their instructional skills.
- Implemented staff development and in-service training programs to enhance knowledge and skills of new staff.
- Worked well in a team setting, providing support and guidance.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
Library/Administration Assistant
St. Hilda's Anglican Girls School
04.2007 - 12.2008
- Staff circulation desk; manage reservations, overdue and basic cataloguing tasks.
- Support inventories/stocktakes and routine item repairs; handle deliveries and mail.
- Assist with event logistics and day-to-day operations across the school office and library.
- Answered multi-line phone system, routing calls, delivering messages to staff and greeting visitors.
- Maintained inventory of office supplies and placed orders.
- Assisted coworkers and staff members with special tasks on daily basis.
- Built and maintained excellent customer relationships through timely response to inquiries and going above and beyond to accommodate unusual requests.
- Managed phone and email correspondence and handled incoming and outgoing mail.
Education
Diploma in Children Services - Education
NMIT
Preston, VIC12-2000
Year 12 or Certificate II/III -
Santa Maria College
Northcote, Victoria 12-1993
Skills
- Experience with library software solutions
- Classification: Dewey Decimal; call-number sequencing; shelf-reading
- Productivity: Apple OS / Microsoft 365 / Google Workspace for Education; Adobe Scan / Basic image/PDF tools for digitisation and general data entry
- Devices: printers/copiers/scanners; iPads/Chromebooks; basic troubleshooting
- Collaborative teaching and teacher support
- Student engagement and equitable classroom engagement methods and support
- Activity planning for optimised classroom management
- Parent-teacher communication contribution
- Documentation of student progress and learning plans
- Customer service, relationship development and excellent problem resolution
- Computer proficiency: Microsoft 365 suite, Google for Education and general proficiency with in house applications for educational purposes
Accomplishments
- Trained fellow teachers and learning support teachers on the procedures for completing Individual Education Plans (IEP's)and Library System use and maintenance (Oliver, Bookmarl)
- Collaborated with team of three in the development of implementation of LLI reading program across primary years.
- Trained fellow teachers on iPad for educational purposes.
Certification
Currently completing speech pathology certificate IV
Languages
Greek
Full Professional
Interests
- Avid Reader
- I enjoy helping others and giving back to the community
- I enjoy sketching and painting which helps improve my creativity and attention to detail
- I am an avid horitculturalist growing many indoor variety of plants
Key Strengths (HEO3-Aligned)
- Frontline customer service: courteous, solution-focused enquiry handling; triage complex questions to specialists; friendly concierge presence on desk and during events.
- Collections & circulation: accurate pick-list retrieval, returns processing, shelving/shelf-reading, stock maintenance, minor item repairs, and off-site transfers/mail.
- Space & events: room setups, safe relocation of furniture/equipment, directional support, and step-by-step guidance for printing/photocopying.
- Accuracy & systems: apply literacy/numeracy to sort long, mixed call numbers; follow procedures; meet deadlines and agreed quality standards.
- Safety & manual handling: confident with ladders, stairs, trolleys and furniture moves; mindful of EHS practices.
- Teamwork & improvement: open collaborator; relay user feedback; contribute ideas that improve workflows and service delivery.
Timeline
Learning Support Teacher (Primary)
St. Mary's Primary School
01.2013 - Current
Library Assistant / Learning Support Teacher
St. Mary's Primary School
01.2013 - Current
Education Leader
Raleigh Street Childrens Centre
01.2010 - 12.2012
Library/Administration Assistant
St. Hilda's Anglican Girls School
04.2007 - 12.2008
Diploma in Children Services - Education
NMIT
Year 12 or Certificate II/III -
Santa Maria College
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