Lead the Way | Education Leadership Skills

Paul Fitzgerald is a primary school teacher at Holy Trinity National School in Leopardstown, Dublin. He has been a teacher just two years having had a former career in the banking sector since 2002. He is here today to talk about making the transition to teaching, why he did it and what he has noticed upon entering the profession. https://www.linkedin.com/in/fitzgeraldpfp/

NQT Paul Fitzgerald, who worked in banking before deciding to become a teacher in his 40's, talks about how he could use skills he already had to navigate this career change confidently.

The Droichead Programme, an NQT's view with Paul Fitzgerald. https://www.linkedin.com/in/fitzgeraldpfp?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3BQjTnxeV0TquphPYlHdfiZg%3D%3D

Seyi Agbede is from Nigeria and in the process of registering with the Teaching Council. Here is one barrier to the Irish language requirement he is quickly discovering.

Seyi Agbede is a primary school teacher in Ireland having previously held the position of Head teacher, the Irish equivalent being principal in Nigeria. He came to Ireland when his wife, a doctor, got a job here. He talks about the barriers that exist in Ireland for teachers to enter the system from outside and we explore how inclusive the system really is at entry point if we want to promote a re...

Micheál Brennan is a primary school teacher based in St Stephen’s National School, Johnstown, Navan, Co. Meath. He has been teaching for 9 years and has just completed his first year as an APII and completed the MESL in UL back in January. He is also involved with the management committee of Navan Education Centre and the local INTO branch. He will talk to us about the steps he has taken towards l...

Graham Maher is a secondary school Business teacher in Clogher Road Community College, Crumlin, Dublin. He is here to share his Masters in Educational Leadership research he completed in 2022-23 with Maynooth University titled, ‘Outdoor Education: is it meaningful education or jut a lovely day out?’ We will discuss his research and what he perceives as a result, to be the positives of and barriers...

A quick preview of our next episode on Outdoor education.

Ann Marie McGovern finished her research Masters in Maynooth in 2018 titled, ‘A case study of parents’ and children’s experiences of family life and in marginalised communities with implications for parenting interventions, educational welfare policy and practice.’ It specifically looked at parenting interventions in DEIS schools. This focus was informed by her previous role as Home School Communi...

Dave Tidswell is an Assistant Principal in St. Clement’s College, Limerick. After completing his undergrad in Science Education closely followed by the Prof Dip in Maths Education in UL, Dave began his studies in school leadership as a student of the PDSL and progressed to the Masters of Ed in School Leadership. In this episode I will be discussing the focus of his Masters thesis which was titled,...

Sinead Collins is a teacher in a DEIS school in North Dublin who has just finished a period of 5 years as a Home School Community Liaison. She has also this year, completed her Master of Education through Maynooth University on Trauma Informed Practices. Throughout the last five years she has supported families of students with attendance issues, ran whole school initiatives including DEIS target...

Damien Fallon is a teaching principal in Killavullen national School, Mallow, Cork and has been chairperson of Ficheall since it was established in 2017. Ficheall is the network of primary school teachers in Ireland who promote the playing of chess for the social and cognitive benefits it has for students. The organisation facilitates training courses for teachers and develop online resources to t...

Rena Bright also known online as The Calm Coach, talks to us today about her own challenging journey through the first 10 years of being a primary school teacher. An Adult diagnosis of ADHD explained much of her struggles.  Experiencing burnout as a primary school teacher, led to her personal growth journey and onto gaining a qualification in Coaching, Now, she hopes to support others to prevent b...

Ultan MacMathúna is the Director of Dublin West Education Centre for the past two years. Having been a Principal for 22 years in two schools in Dublin, he talks about his leadership journey, his new role and the benefits of teacher education to a person's career trajectory. An insightful and inspiring discussion.

As founder of Avenue’s Consultancy and Coaching firm, Ingrid works with organisations who want to foster an environment that allows them to recruit, retain and nurture a diverse workforce, and provides engaging, practical and strategic content aimed at sustainable change. She is one of 60 CSL approved and recommended coaches working with Principals and Deputy Principals around the country. She tal...

Living in Oranmore, Co. Galway, Dr. Fidelma Healy Eames, PhD, MSc(Ed), BEd., has a long background in teaching and learning and teacher education. She began offering ‘Learning to Learn’ and Wellbeing courses to schools and colleges nationally from 2002 with a team of specially trained teachers. In 2006 she published ‘Switching on for Learning: A Student Guide to Exam & Career Success.' Fid...

Karen Jordan is Principal of St Catherine’s National school under Church of Ireland management, a school located in Dublin 8. Currently, the school has eight full time teachers, four Special Education Teachers and four special needs assistants. St Catherine’s is a primary school battling for almost a decade for upgraded classroom accommodation. Currently, 18 staff are forced to use one disabled ba...

Des Sutton and Meree O’Sullivan worked together as colleagues since 1994 when Des moved from the job of Principal in Ballyroan, Co. Laois into what was at the time the CBS in Portlaoise. The pair clicked as they both had a common vision of education and a desire to help the student who needed it most. Meree, came to Laois from Donegal aged 11 and stayed working in the same school throughout her ca...

Martin Hanly is teaching Principal at Edmonton National School in Kilucan, Westmeath. The school had been facing the threat of closure in the last decade due to declining numbers but in 2021, students returned from their Easter holidays to a completely revamped facility. Martin shares the highs, low and the learning from both experiences.

Principal Regina Halpin has experienced cancer not once but twice and here she talks to Lead the Way about the challenges she faced, the trust she had to place in others to take over her role and the long and winding road back to physical and emotional recovery and ultimately to a new identity. An honest account of coping with a personal crisis and the impact it made on her on so many levels. &nbs...

Linda Quigley Boland is the Home School Community Liaison for Esker Educate Together School, Lucan, Dublin. IN her fourth year in the role, she would like to share her experience of what the role entails and inspire others to consider trying it. 

With two decades of experience in training, coaching and people development across multinationals, SMB and the public sector and with qualifications in psychology, training and development, coaching and psychometric assessment, Gillian McGrath founded Change Grow Succeed in 2015. Gillian leverages a strengths-based approach - an experience that leaves clients feeling empowered, energised and looki...

Lesley Byrne has been Principal of Clogher Road Community College in Crumlin, Dublin since March 2019. Before this she was Deputy Principal in Belvedere College, Rotunda, Dublin. . Lesley talks to us today about how education should be fair and how we need to continue to talk about senior cycle reform for that very reason.

Ciara is the former National Director of the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST), and since departing that role last year she now works as an independent educational consultant, researcher and professional speaker in the areas of teacher education, school leadership and curriculum while also working as a part-time lecturer with Maynooth University. Here she explores the leadership...

Michelle Stowe is a teacher at heart and a restorative practice practitioner, trainer and consultant who is interested in creating relational communities that promote connection and wellbeing in the work place. In her role as the director of Connect RP she supports organisations in growing a restorative culture that puts people and relationships at the heart of the workplace. Restorative Practice...