Jenny Leaper - Testimonial

Through the generosity of the Leaper Foundation, the Research in Effective Education in Early Childhood (REEaCh) Research Centre was established in 2019. Jenny wants the Research Centre to be the guiding light in ‘Early Childhood Education’. Through robust research into major issues, seminars and collaboration with other institutions, she envisions the Centre as a place where people come to learn about what can be achieved in the early years - from the moment of birth.

At primary school, Jenny decided she wanted to be a teacher so she ‘could write on the chalk board’. As a recipient of a Commonwealth Scholarship, she studied for a Bachelor of Arts in 1967 and completed a Diploma of Education in 1970, then went on to complete a Master of Education in 1981. Jenny’s career includes teaching in Victorian state and private schools, both city and country; secondary schools in Perth; a junior high school in North Carolina, USA, and a boarding school in Bournemouth, UK.

Throughout her career Jenny was inspired by her students and fellow teachers, and she developed a particular energy for teaching young adolescents. Jenny wants to share her passion with educators who will have a major positive influence on the lives of others – through the education of the whole person and the encouragement of life-long learning.

As an advocate for education and a recipient of a scholarship herself, Jenny wanted to give back and established the Jennifer Duggan Leaper Scholarship in 2014 to support a high-achieving Bachelor of Arts student in the Master of Teaching. The scholarship is intended to enable someone who might not necessarily have continued with their studies, to follow their dream of becoming a teacher.

Jenny’s interest in Early Childhood Education was sparked by the joy of interacting with her grandchildren. Having the opportunity to watch their development highlighted that there is no age too early to start the teaching and learning process, as little people are desperate to learn, explore and discover.

Part of Jenny’s motivation for getting involved with the Melbourne Graduate School of Education was a desire to help dispel the notion of Early Childhood Education as just ‘childminding’.

Through the generosity of the Leaper Foundation, the Research in Effective Education in Early Childhood (REEaCh) Research Centre was established in 2019. Jenny wants the Research Centre to be the guiding light in ‘Early Childhood Education’. Through robust research into major issues, seminars and collaboration with other institutions, she envisions the Centre as a place where people come to learn about what can be achieved in the early years - from the moment of birth.

The Faculty of Education is profoundly grateful for the support of Jenny and John Leaper and The Leaper Foundation.