Dr Tessa Daffern is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Education SOLAR Lab at La Trobe University and Co-director of Literacy Education Solutions. Tessa has contributed to education in various capacities for over 20 years: as a Highly Accomplished Teacher and school leader, academic, literacy education policy advisor, keynote speaker, and professional development consultant.

Her research and consultancy work are driven by her passion for empowering teachers to implement evidence-based literacy teaching. Tessa’s award-winning research has been disseminated in national and international peer reviewed and professional journals, book publications and at national and international conferences.

In 2017, she was the recipient of the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association Doctoral Thesis Award. In 2021, Tessa was the winner of UKLA Wiley Research in Literacy Education Award for her research on teaching and learning the PhOrM components of spelling. Her doctoral research (2013 to 2016) and subsequent related research has provided empirical validation of Triple Word Form Theory through the development and validation of the PhOrM Components of Spelling Tests (CoST & CoSTEY) and PhOrM instructional approach. Her main areas of research have been on assessment and instruction in writing and spelling, with a focus on developing evidence-based teaching and assessment resources including the PhOrM CoST and CoSTEY Manuals and Dashboards, the PhOrM Compendium of Standard English Spelling, and PhOrM Spelling Out Words.

Tessa has served as an academic advisor for ACARA and NESA on curriculum reforms and she regularly delivers professional learning to teachers in schools and at education sectorial levels, as well as to organisations and associations such as Think Forward Educators and Learning Difficulties Australia. In 2012, Tessa received a Recognition of Excellence Award for her teaching and leadership by the Canberra - Goulburn Catholic Archdiocese Schools and was certified as a Highly Accomplished Teacher.

Please contact Dr Tessa Daffern for tailored professional learning and/or instructional and assessment resources on spelling for your school.
Further information is also available at www.tessadaffern.com