ABOUT KARLENE
WELCOME FROM MARY CROWLEY OBE
Chair, International Federation for Parenting Education
Karlene Rickard is a childcare expert who has overcome paralysis in order to write an acclaimed parent’s guide to raising happy, well-adjusted children.
Karlene began her career as a science teacher and later got involved in community work and counselling. She has worked extensively as a parent facilitator, trainer and counsellor in the UK, USA, Jamaica, Grenada and Trinidad for over 15 years. Her powerful ‘Empowerment for Parents’ parenting programme is credited with changing lives and creating happier families.
She co-founded KJ Academy, a supplementary school in Leyton, East London, and a nursery/infant school in Jamaica where she worked holistically with families to develop their confidence and self-worth.
Karlene is determined to do all she can to have a positive and lasting impact on society through empowering families to raise their children as happy, successful adults who will build healthy communities.
She created ‘Empowerment for Parents’ programme and published the A to Z of parenting, a simple, easy-to-digest guide. Unlike other childcare manuals, the guide places equal emphasis on the wellbeing of both parent and child, recognising that physically and emotionally stressed adults are unlikely to be great parents, in spite of their best intentions.
Karlene developed a family primary school in Jamaica; she was one of the pioneer facilitators in the UK of the innovative programme Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities, and she presented the programme in the USA at a fatherhood conference 2001.
Karlene’s book, The A to Z of Parenting, deals with parents giving clear and honest feedback to their children and dealing with behavioural challenges. It highlights the value of spending quality time with children, outlines ways to educate them in the early years and focuses on the critical life skills that will carry them through to successful adulthood.
Karlene was awarded the Millennium award in 1999 for developing a parenting programme for African Caribbean families
Karlene’s autobiography, “He Speaks” has been widely read and has spread her message that positive relationship, genuine love and being attuned to the voice of voice of God is essential to build well-balanced adults. She has achieved all of this despite the challenge of living with Multiple Sclerosis.
Karlene the Educator
Is a qualified adult literacy and science teacher who has taught in secondary schools in Wolverhampton and London. Whilst teaching in London, she also managed a team of Secondary support teacher’s for children with English as a second language. She has supported and guided children through their science course at exam level. As well as taught adult literacy and horticulture at Hackney Community College.
Karlene spent a year in Jamaica as part of an exchanged teaching programme that involved teaching children of all ages in Jamaica. She is the co-founder of a supplementary school in Leyton and an Infant nursery in Jamaica.
Karlene as the Parent Facilitator
She has been awarded for her work in developing the programme called ‘Empowerment for Parents ‘ which focus on working with parents. Her work in this area was acknowledged and encouraged by Dr Dobson parenting expert on Focus on the family.
Worked with families on the mission field in Jamaica coordinating summer family programmes both in Jamaica and the UK by focus on parenting principles. Started research degree and worked with many parents. Trained as parenting facilitators on a number of established parenting programmes. First to deliver Strengthen Family Strengthen Communities Programme in the UK and went and shared the work being done with the programme in the USA for the Race Equality Foundation (REF) at the international fatherhood conference. Delivered to many parents. Written Empowerment for Parenting programme used to train many facilitators and worked with parents in Britain and Jamaica. Run workshops in Trinidad and Grenada. Written an outstanding A to Z of parenting hand book endorse by Stephenson Scot a prominent parenting specialist. Once the family specialist with the Christian and Muslim forum under Archbishop Rowan.
Karlene the Writer/Author
Written research paper for New Scientist on the relationship between gall wasps and sessile oak leaves, followed by various science and social development booklets and a mode three science syllabus which catered for children from low academic ability. It was awarded all grades. First published book A to Z of African Caribbean Foods, followed by a Child’s Guide to Tropical Foods, then A to Z of Parenting Also a parenting Programme. Presently I am working on two books: The body being a template of systems and tools invented and developed by man.
Karlene the MS Champion
Diagnosed with MS over 30 years ago, started totally paralysed, later became partially paralysed after recovering for four weeks. Now walking and drive using a left foot accelerator. An encourager to other MS sufferers through voluntary counselling for a large teaching hospital and running a teleclass for an MS organisation. As well as volunteering for the MS Society.
Karlene the Counsellor
A qualified counsellor registered with British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy(BACP). I have over fifteen years experience of bereavement counselling at a large teaching hospital. She has worked in secondary schools, counselled in churches and has bee involved in delivering a Christian counselling course.