Dr Tessa Daffern has contributed to education in many capacities for over 20 years: as a classroom teacher in schools, teaching and learning specialist, literacy coordinator, academic and education consultant.

Tessa is currently a Director and Principal Literacy Education Consultant at Literacy Education Solutions. Tessa is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Canberra and has previously held academic positions at the University of Wollongong, University of Canberra and Charles Sturt University. Tessa’s research is driven by her passion for English language education and for empowering teachers and undergraduate teacher education students to develop contemporary understandings that can inform their teaching of language and literacy. Tessa’s PhD examined the teaching and learning of spelling and writing in Australian school contexts and involved almost 1400 students across 17 schools.

In 2017, Tessa was the recipient of the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association Doctoral Thesis Award. Tessa’s research has been disseminated through publications in national and international peer reviewed journals and edited books, and at national and international conferences. Prior to her career in academia, Tessa received a Recognition of Excellence Award by the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Catholic Education Office for her contributions and achievements, and in 2012 Tessa become one of the first Australian educators to become certified as a Highly Accomplished Teacher.