It’s such a privilege to work alongside Karen as a Genius Educator. Her vast experience as an educator and trainer is invaluable in what she does with YEA and Genius camps and her relaxed, approachable yet professional manner makes her the perfect mentor to those of us settling into our Genius educator roles.
My son signed up for the Kids Camp and I had the chance to see Karen in action on a call. I believe 1000% in this mission and hope to get my son more involved in the future, and I hope to be personally involved in creating hands-on in-person learning opportunities in Portugal by the end of 2021.
Recently I had a family debrief session with Karen with my husband and three kids. I had already worked with Karen in other programs and knew she was the expert in Talent Dynamics for Young People but I was surprised how much more there was to learn! She studied all five of our profiles and not only explained it so everyone was comfortable, but also walked through how we interact and communicate with each other. Since then, there’s been some changes in the family in terms of better harmony and more fun working with each other on tasks and projects. We’re even planning a family retreat to explore and plan for the next three months. Thank you so much, Karen.
Karen has recently provided us with Childrens Talent Dynamics debriefs for my three children. This has been on the back of my eldest having just completed the first pioneering Young Entrepreneur Academy which Karen presided over. It’s so clear that Karen has such a passion for empowering young children to allow them to be the best versions of themselves using these powerful resources. She was really thorough and skilled with all three children and gave them the time and space to engage with the results of their profiles; really allowing them to “get” who they are by recognising themselves in their profiles, and the value and contribution that this brings. It’s been a pleasure and an honour working with Karen, and I know it’s has made a tangible difference for our kids, not just for now, but I’m sure in the years to come as they grow into themselves, with a greater level of freedom in expressing their unique greatness. Thanks Karen!
I am about to do my first Teen Dynamics debriefing assignment as a Genius Educator. Thanks to Karen’s recent excellent additional online training on Teen Dynamics Debriefing, as well as the extensive user materials and slides provided, I am confident and well prepared to continue accordingly. Again, true to the United Nations Sustainability Goal of Quality Education, I commend Karen as a committed and dedicated expert in providing materials and training for uplifting the youth to become the best they can be, and as such becoming a valuable member of the community they live and work in. Karen is my mentor regarding Teen Dynamics debriefing. I thank you with gratitude.
Karen has been so supportive of my journey into the Genius School team. I know that I can count on Karen for her great leadership skills! Her knowledge of Talent Dynamics and Teen Dynamics is very high and her guidance is easy to follow and fun to learn!
Karen is so dedicated and committed to bringing out the best in every child. She has so much compassion, commitment and knowledge, with an absolute reverence for every child/young person. I would recommend Karen to any family, parent or caregiver who wants to grow their child’s confidence, self awareness and learning motivation.
Karen is a woman with determination, expertise and intelligences, she shares informative and meaningful findings and relevant information aligned to the UN Global Goal of Quality Education. I look forward to seeing the growth and development of her Parents with Purpose enterprise and truly believe she will be successful in all she undertakes. Through her leadership, her impact and contribution to the greater good for our children is inspiring.
Thank you Karen for investing time with James and I and going through his “Talent Dynamics” results.
It was really exciting to see James understand the characteristics of the different profiles and how, by understanding his own profile, he can get more into “flow”. We have had many interesting conversations about what profiles other people we know may be and how we can best work together leveraging off each other’s strengths.
Thank you.
I only had a few weeks of school left and I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do at the end of Year 12. After spending time with Karen talking about my [Talent Dynamics for Young People] profile report, I was very comfortable with how the report described me. The strengths and challenges were just so me! There was also information about what types of jobs would suit me and I’m a lot clearer now about what I want to do next year.
I was really wondering what this Talent Dynamics [For Young People] was going to be about. But after Tianna had her debrief session with Karen she was a different person. She was bubbly and excited about what she found out and really keen to share everything with me. She seems to be more focused now on what she wants to do after school is finished. As a parent that is a big relief
Karen’s offer to undertake the Talent Dynamics test came at a time where I was reviewing my business and looking to expand and needing to analyze my strengths and weaknesses to further develop. The test itself was very quick and easy to complete and the report was delivered via email immediately after I completed the test. The report was comprehensive and easy to read, confirming traits and personalities that I was already aware of but also highlighting those that I hadn’t considered.
The real benefit in doing the Talent Dynamics test was the discussion I had with Karen of the report contents. Karen explained my talents with such ease and confidence, prompting me to consider options that I had not thought of with my desire to expand my business. Karen also invited me to attend the 2 day seminar with Roger Hamilton in Brisbane and it is something I would highly recommend everyone attend. The end of the 2 day seminar left me with not only a concrete plan of action for the short and long term but also with a sense of positive direction that I had lacked before speaking with Karen.
The offer to undertake the Talent Dynamics test came at a time where I was questioning my professional direction and needing to analyse my strengths and areas to further develop. The test itself was quick and easy. The report that arrived directly after the test was comprehensive and easy to read, confirming traits that I was already aware of but also highlighting those that I hadn’t considered.
The real benefit in doing the Talent Dynamics test is the debrief session of the report contents with Karen. Karen brings an objective and pragmatic approach to this in-depth discussion of your talents, prompting you to consider options that you may not have previously thought were possible. The end of the session left me with not only a concrete plan of action for the short and long term but also with a sense of positive direction that I had lacked before speaking with Karen.
I took the opportunity to take the Talent Dynamics Profile Test as I am very interested in the way teams are formed and how they work in schools. From a personal perspective, I find having an understanding of my own profile with its gaps, strengths, weaknesses and thinking patterns, is also extremely useful and, to that end, have taken a range of profile tests.
The Talent Dynamics Profile that I received was user-friendly. It was easy to read and the explanations made sense. What I found really useful was the concept of building flow and trust not only in oneself but within a team, with the connectivity of the profiles, as shown in the Talent Dynamics Square, making it very clear. Of particular value is the concept that there is a leader who is right for each season of a business or, in the school environment, a project. That makes perfect sense and is a concept I think is overdue for introduction to schools.
I will be investigating the possibility of introducing the use of Talent Dynamics profiling in our school.
Talent Dynamics feedback from Karen has shown my strengths and how to complement these within a
team. From my discussions I am able to identify my natural skills and how this fits with others within
any organisation. Karen’s feedback has given me a practical direction to move forward in my work and
volunteer positions to maximise my performance.
Taking the Talent Dynamics test and receiving my profile was only the first step in this rewarding evaluation. The follow up debrief has proved to be a valuable and insightful learning curve to guide my business acumen and energies. The detailed and professional debriefing provided by Karen Bonanno has been an enlightening and informative experience that has helped me focus my energies. Karen has explored all aspects of the profile and helped me to not only identify personal strengths and challenges but to also set clear goals to maximise my potential and find solutions for elements that are inhibiting growth. Of special value for me, was not only understanding my own strengths, but discovering the types of people who will value add to my business. Thank you Karen, the Talent Dynamics profiling has been a very worthwhile experience.
ASLA citation, awarded in recognition of contribution to teacher librarianship in Australia, October 2001.
Recipient: Karen Bonanno (Queensland)
The Australian School Library Association (ASLA) is honoured to announce the winner of the ASLA Citation Award for 2001 and to commend and give recognition of services rendered to the profession.
This citation, awarded biennially at the ASLA National Conference is given for outstanding leadership in promoting and developing teacher librarianship in one or more of the following fields:
- Policy formation
- Program implementation
- Publications
- Administration of the Association
- Research
- Innovation
- Education
The recipient for 2001 was deemed outstanding in six of the seven fields and her work and dedication has had, and will continue to have, far reaching positive consequences for the state of teacher librarianship across Australia.
Karen Bonanno: Recipient of the ASLA Citation Award 2001
Karen has been a leader in the field of teacher librarianship for a number of years and has displayed ongoing and outstanding dedication to promote the profession and role of the teacher librarian. Her commitment to professional development is personified in her own learning journey and her willingness to tackle new challenges:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Secondary)
- Graduate Diploma of Teacher Librarianship
- Certificate of Attainment in Performance Psychology – Personal and Professional Development
- Neuro-Linguistic Programming Level 1
- Certificate III in Competency Assessment
- Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training
- Diploma of Proficiency (Bowen Therapeutic)
- Touch for Health Level 1 & Level 2
Referees comments include:
“From the time she first took on the role of ASLA Councillor it was evident that she had the vision, dedication, drive, enthusiasm and attention to detail to be a future leader of the Association and Teacher Librarians.”
“Karen is a rare individual. She has been endowed with a wide range of skills and aptitudes with a strong people orientation. At the same time she is task orientated and able to drive a set of goals, both personal and professional. She has developed the problem solving and team building skills that underpin her leadership. More than that, she is a person of achievable vision and she has demonstrated the capacity to sell her visions.”
“Karen’s reputation in the field of teacher-librarianship reaches beyond state and national levels as her publications and international conference presentations have provided her with forums to advance ideas and open up debate and discussion on issues relevant to the field
Karen Bonanno has received this award in recognition of her services in:
Policy formulation of the ASLA policy statements co-jointly with Lyn Rushby and for the development of the ASLA website.
Program implementation including Project Officer for the production of the professional development video, Steps to Success: Information Literacy; Project Officer for the development of an in-service and promotional package on the EdNA Directory Service for teacher librarians in the primary and secondary sector – EdNA Train-the-trainer manual; Project Officer for the development of an CD-ROM, Teaching Information Skills.
Publication including co-editor with James Henri for The Information Literate School Community: Best Practice, numerous articles for Access, publication of the SLAQ Newsletter, conference papers – ISIS, national ASLA conferences, IASL and resources on her own website.
Administration of the Association including Past President, President and Vice President between 1994 and 2000 and the many associated duties she performed to an exemplary standard whilst in these positions.
Innovation reflected in the numerous projects listed and including the establishment and development of the ASLA website and involvement in the development of ASLA virtual rooms in LC_MOO to provide a virtual meeting place for members.
Education including the presentation of professional development for member associations on such topics as: information literacy, use of the CD-ROM Teaching Information Skills, delivery of EdNA Train-the-trainer manual, personal and professional profile, Project Parent, teambuilding, integration of learning technologies into the curriculum; as a Facilitator for Queensland University of Technology review (1997) for Teacher Librarianship course and currently involvement in the Reference Group for QUT TL course development.
Presentation of this award is a valued opportunity for her peers and colleagues to be able to acknowledge her depth and range of commitment to the profession and it is with honour that we bestow the ASLA Citation Award to Karen Bonanno, a fitting tribute to a very deserving candidate.
Congratulations Karen
“Thank you most sincerely for giving your valuable time on 19th September to present the very interesting session Implications for school communities in managing the transition from library to cybrary to participants at the seminar. It was a very informative and thought provoking session and appreciated by everyone who attended.
Evaluative feedback from the seminar was overwhelmingly positive. Comments ranged from: ‘provided effective ways of preparing students for Uni and ultimately lifelong learning’ to ‘more than met expectations and needs’ to ‘It was great. Excellent presentations by excellent presenters’.”
“Thank you once again for the visionary keynote presented at our teacher librarian gathering last week. In comments about the day, participants described your presentation as inspirational, awesome, challenging and affirming, so take a bow!
You certainly set the tone for the activities that followed and for the comments that continue via the Blackboard community established to keep the discussions of the day alive. Many participants suggested that we call on you again to speak in other forums and I will no doubt be contacting you about this possibility in the near future.
I look forward to a continuing association.”