Jenny Vanderzweep
Founder, Centre Director and Blue Door Teacher
Jenny Vanderzweep has worked in the field of education for over 40 years. Starting out as a Primary Teacher in her country of birth, the Netherlands, she developed a keen interest in those students in her class, who despite being bright and intelligent, found learning to read and write very difficult. Deciding that her teacher training had not fully equipped her to support these students in reaching their potential, she decided to expand her knowledge in the field of individual learning needs, gaining a post-graduate degree in Special Education, with a main focus on Specific Learning Disorders.
Jenny started working in a Specialist School setting, before joining a team of specialists in the Government School Support and Assessment Centre in Rotterdam. Here she worked closely together with an Educational Psychologist, Speech Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, Medical Practitioner and Social Worker. This multi-disciplinary approach to supporting individual students appealed greatly to Jenny and had a life-long influence on her philosophy of best practice in student support.
On migrating to Australia in 1990, Jenny decided to return to the direct teaching and support of students within mainstream schools in Melbourne’s Independent School sector. She gained a position as Head of Special Education at Mowbray College, later followed by Geelong Grammar School and Ivanhoe Grammar School, where her employment is currently ongoing.
Jenny’s work and ongoing studies within the field of individual student needs and learning disorders continued to fan her passion in this area. She became a Consultant Member with Learning Difficulties Australia, while exploring and trialling private specialist teaching. In July 2017, she fulfilled a long-held dream, opening the ‘Blue Door Learning Support Centre’ in her hometown of Gisborne in the Macedon Ranges. In her role as Founding Director, Jenny leads a team of dedicated teachers, who support students, their parents and teachers through individual student assessments, specialist teaching, parent advocacy and teacher professional development.