Joanne Olsen

Jo brings an international lens to the Berry Street Education Model (BSEM), having extensive experience with public and private education systems in both New York City and Singapore. Her areas of expertise are teaching literacy in junior secondary schools and leading division-wide wellbeing programs.

Through years of classroom and leadership experience, Jo developed a passion for supporting school staff in using trauma-informed strengths-based strategies, and in 2019, she moved to Australia to join the BSEM team. She believes that schools can be places for personal and academic growth for all young people and she deeply values culturally responsive curricula that honours and celebrates diverse backgrounds, experiences, and strengths.

As Senior Manager for Program Delivery, she continues her personal commitment to making schools better for all young people.