Meet the Team

Kathy Norton

Founder of Rise Up Education 

Sounds-Write Practitioner and Qualified/Experienced Primary and Early Childhood Teacher at Rise Up Education

Here's a little bit about me. I am a qualified and registered (Victorian Institute of Teaching) early childhood and primary teacher with over 15 years experience working with students of all ages and over 30 years working with children.

I have worked in schools as a classroom teacher, teaching from Prep to Year 6. I have been employed in schools as a literacy support teacher and tutor as part of the Victorian Tutoring Initiative in schools, introduced as a response to the lockdowns in schools over the past two years. 

I have my Bachelor of Education in Primary and Early Childhood Teaching as well as a Diploma in Children's Services, having been a Director of an early learning centre in a previous life 😁.

In 2020 I completed the training in Sounds Write, a linguistic phonics approach to teach children to read, with Sounds Write Australia, and have successfully used this approach to teach many children the skills needed to decode and become successful and confident readers.

I have also completed several literacy courses and offer tutoring in all subject areas. My passion for literacy and all things related to reading and books stems from a childhood with my head buried in a book, even resorting to using a torch under the covers to continue reading after being told to turn the lights out! 

I am a mum to two adult children, Mark, 29 and Emma, 27. I also have a 10yr old fur baby, Bo, our Weimaraner, who thinks he is a human 😄.

I love staying fit and active, walking in the bush on my 50 acres near Buninyong, reading (when I sit still long enough) and practising my gardening skills 🌻.

calvin tromp

Sounds-Write Practitioner and Qualified/Experienced Teacher at Rise Up Education

I have been teaching since the year 2000, after graduating with honours from the University of Melbourne. Since then, I have taught across all primary grades and subjects, teaching kids in Melbourne, Ballarat and rural schools.

I retired from my last position in 2023 and have been relief teaching and tutoring. I have a passion to ensure that kids get a solid understanding of the skills and knowledge needed to go on to further education, especially in reading and mathematics.

I trained in Sounds-Write in 2020 and am an advocate for the explicit and systematic teaching of the forty-four sounds of the English language and the many ways these sounds are spelled (around 175 ways!). I have had great success with this program.

I live in Ballarat with my wife and two Labradors: Chipper and Max. We love to go caravanning all together, exploring the terrific Australian beaches. I also enjoy painting, bike riding, bush walking, reading, gardening and going to Western Bulldogs games.  

AMBER MCINTYRE

Experienced P-12 Teacher at Rise Up Education

I am a qualified Mathematics teacher, Prep to 12 as well as a Generalist teacher Prep to Year 9, so fully understand the trials and challenges of transitioning between primary and secondary education. I love to teach all maths topics,  however my most favourite topic is Algebra! I have also spent time within the Humanities,  English and Science Key Learning Areas and can assist with any questions surrounding these subjects. 

I have been teaching for more than 25 years,  dedicating my life and lessons to making a child feel at ease,  building confidence, and in particular making links between education and real life. My passion is seeing a child reach and then go above the goals they have set,  building a life long understanding of Mathematics. Your child is shown that they can and will succeed with a little bit of dedication and a lot of laughter!