Karen Collum is the founder and Director of Think Smarter Training & Resources.

About Us

Think Smarter Training & Resources is the culmination of over a decade of study and work experience for Director, Karen Collum.

 

Karen began her career as a primary school teacher after graduating with First Class Honours from the University of Tasmania in 1996. She taught for seven years in Tasmania and Victoria in both the private and public school systems, before moving to Queensland and starting a family of her own.

 

While teaching, Karen developed particular expertise in the area of behaviour management and was passionate about the plight of ‘difficult’ students. She experienced great success with these students when they were approached with compassion, empathy, a firm set of boundaries and a relationship built on mutual respect.

 

Karen developed an interest in optimism after witnessing the powerful impact optimistic thinking had on students, teacher and parents alike while teaching “Bright Ideas”, an optimistic thinking skills program distributed by Oz Child (for more information please go to www.ozchild.org.au). Karen is an agent for Oz Child in Queensland and is a registered trainer for the “Bright Ideas” program.

 

Karen is currently completing her Masters in Education, specializing in Behaviour Management.  She is the co-author of the optimism and resilience program for children in foster care, “OPT IN”. “OPT IN” is currently being piloted in Queensland and Victoria with wonderful results.

 

In her spare time, Karen is a budding song-writer and author. She hopes to have her children’s books published in the near future.