Lead the Way | Education Leadership Skills

Regina Halpin is Principal of Divine Mercy Balgaddy SNS in Lucan in Dublin. She was previously the Deputy Principal here for over 12 years. Regina is also an associate with the PDST Leadership team. Regina talks to us today about the stand out moments since she became a school leader and what she has taken away from them.

Sarah Roche is Principal of Kennedy College in New Ross, Co. Wexford.  This school is a Waterford and Wexford ETB school. Sarah is new to the role of Principal having taken a novel route through the world of education. She supports 27 teaching staff and four ancillary staff and her refreshing approach to making the job manageable will hopefully inspire our listeners.

Hugh Coughlan is an Assistant Principal and teacher of French and Irish in North Presentation School, Farranree, Co Cork. Having worked there for 9 years and over 12 years experience in total. As part of his Masters of Education from UCC, Hugh focussed on integrating peer observation into his school, something, many school leaders find a challenge. Today he will share his strategy with us.

John Cullinane is Principal of St. Anne's Secondary School in Tipperary Town, Co. Tipperary and was Deputy Principal in Presentation De la Salle College, Bagnelstown, Co. Carlow. John did an Advanced Diploma in Law and Education and is here today to share his learning around the many legal requirements schools are bound by and how he tries to implement practices that can help to prevent challengin...

Dr. Sinéad McCauley Lambe is an Assistant Professor in Inclusive and Special Education DCU. She is an enthusiastic advocate for inclusive and playful learning in the early years. Prior to joining DCU, she lectured in the area of Early Education in Marino Institute of Education and before that, taught for 11 years in St. Fintan’s Boy’s school in North William Street. Here, she discusses the role th...

Karl Hegarty is Principal of Leinster Senior College and Co- founder of 'Phoneawaybox' along with colleague Gerry Ryan. Prior to Covid, in 2019, the pair realised the usage of phones was becoming a major distraction in schools. They sat down and developed a product called PhoneawayBox that helps to support students in their own learning. 

John Healy has been a Primary school Principal for over 9 years in St. Joseph’s National School, Gortnamona, Tullamore, Co Offaly. He previously served as Principal of St Mary’s school in Co. Offaly and has over 15 years’ experience in the role of Deputy also. He has learned some practical ways to achieve a work life balance while acknowledging the need to accept the vocational role of Principal a...

 Margo McGann is a Programme co-ordinator in St. Augustine’s College, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford a school with almost 900 pupils. As TY co-ordinator, she explores the passion and hard work that goes into developing such an important year for young people and hopefully her wisdom will assist others beginning this journey in their own career.

Linda O’Hara is an AP1 postholder in Coláiste Iognáid, better known as ‘The Jes’ in Galway city and is a non-fee paying co-educational secondary school. After leaving college she went abroad to work in the European Schools and did so for the following 15 years splitting her time between Luxembourg and Brussels. Having returned to Galway, she now leads the SSE process in her school and shares her i...

Nessa Hill is a co-founder of Neurodiversity Ireland and lives in Dublin. She has a 5 year old autistic girl with ADHD. In order to overcome barriers to securing educational places, she and two other mothers with similar  experiences decided to set up this organisation to highlight how all educators needs to be supported with adequate training to develop the skills and tools to support these...

Linda O' Hara, the SSE co-ordinator in Coláiste Iognáid, Galway briefly explains how she appraoched the SSE process in her school. 

Orla Dempsey, formerly a teacher, is now a Career coach and works alongside teachers and school leaders to help them to communicate their experience more effectively and support them with job applications and interviews. She also provides coaching and explains how it works here along with giving practical tips for interview preparation long before we even get called for one. 

Orla Dempsey, Career and Life Coach explains the STAR technique for the interview process. 

Garrett Malone is a Primary school teacher in Holy Family Senior school, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. Teaching since 2001 he has worked under three different Principals and is currently a 6th class teacher. He has strong opinions on educational leadership and draws much inspiration from leadership in the sporting world and believes there is a huge crossover between the two. 

 Gregg O’Neill has been working for 12 years as a teacher and the last two as a year head in CBC Monkstown, Dublin, a Catholic boys’ school with a student population of 544. Gregg is also the author of educate.ie 's best selling textbook for Junior Cycle history, Artefact, and their LC History book, the Making of Europe and the Wider World and consequently has given a wide range of CPD sessio...

Garrett Malone, primary school teacher, believes we need to acknowledge a love of people is at the heart of teaching. 

A quick overview by year head Gregg O'Neill on how to support students struggling socially. 

A taster of our second year head interview which with Gregg O’Neill, a year head in CBC Monkstown who talks here about an effective tutor system. 

Today I talk to Claire Kilroy who is Ethos Leadership Officer with Le Chéile SchoolsTrust for the last 6 months. Up to taking on this new role she was Deputy Principal of Coláiste Bhaile Chláir, Co Galway for four and a half years. She is also a UL Tutor on Post Graduate Diploma for School Leadership (PDSL) for aspiring leaders. She is very passionate about how values can be embedded for all in a...

Primary school teacher from Portlaoise, Garrett Malone on what he notices about his students and how they can lift his mood on the tougher days. 

Brian Flood , Primary school Principal answers ths question succintly. Full podcast below, episode 3. 

 Ann Marie Bergin works as a year head in Kilkenny Vocational School, a DEIS school. She also leads the SSE in the school while having her own teaching hours in her main subject English. This school has about 38 staff including support staff. Her role as year head is a vital component in the day to day running of the school. She is currently about to act as year head to 6th year students whic...

Ann Marie Bergin tells us what all year heads need in less than two minutes. Full podcast released 23rd Aug. 

Paul Reidy , Principal of St. Joseph's Secondary School, Spanish Point makes a vital point. 

Mary Gilmore is Deputy Principal of St Louis Secondary, Dundalk since 2017. A Dundalk native, Mary understands the cultural context of her school, having lived there as a child. From 2013 to 2017 she was an Education advisor for Junior Cycle teachers. She is currently the chairperson for the Network of School Planners Ireland and has been since 2016, a network set up to support the work of senior...