Mentoring Programme for Newly Appointed Principals
- Published: 31 May 2021
Mentoring is available to all newly appointed Principals in their first and second years of leadership.
CSL organises and oversees One-to-One Mentoring during year 1 of the Newly Appointed Principal’s career.
IPPN organises and oversees Group Mentoring for all Principals in their second year of leadership. This is a formal mentoring relationship which commences in September and continues until June of the following year. The focus of Group Mentoring is to provide participants with a support network of principals, at the same stage of leadership, under the direction of a trained Group Mentor. IPPN recruits and trains the Group Mentors, who are all experienced principals.
Each Group Mentor is assigned a group of 4 to 8 Mentees, depending on the number of Mentees in a particular locality. The Groups meet 5 times per year and provide a safe and confidential space for members to discuss issues of particular concern to them. Additionally, Group Members often form a network of contacts to support them between meetings. Each Group organises their meetings at a time and place to suit the members. Where it may be impractical to organise all meetings as face-to-face meetings, some meetings may be organised online.
On completion of Group Mentoring, principals are encouraged to join a Local Support Group to continue establishing networks of support throughout their leadership careers.
For further information on availing of a one to one or group mentoring please email jackie.oreilly@ippn.ie
Kathryn Corbett, IPPN Board Member
- Published: 21 April 2021
Dr. Kathryn Corbett is currently principal of Bishop Galvin NS, a large senior primary school in Templeogue, Dublin. She is a member of the IPPN Board of Directors. Previous to this, she was seconded to the National Induction Programme for Teachers (NIPT) as a Regional Development Officer. She also worked as Professional Learning Officer, a member of the senior management team with the Teaching Council.
Kathryn completed her M.Ed. with Maynooth University, and in 2020 was awarded a PhD from UL, with her research on teachers’ professional learning portfolios. She also has a Diploma in Counselling Skills. She has worked as an occasional lecturer on the B.Ed. programme with Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education in Maynooth University, and on the Post Graduate Diploma for School Leadership (PDSL) with University of Limerick. She recently co-founded the WILL (Women In Learning & Leadership) Network, to support aspiring and inspiring female leaders across all sectors in education.
Bryan Collins, IPPN Board Member
- Published: 06 January 2021
Bryan is originally from Kilmihil in West Clare and is Administrative Principal of Scoil Naomh Feichín, Termonfeckin, County Louth.
Following his graduation from Mary Immaculate College of Education in 1985, he was appointed as a mainstream class teacher in Termonfeckin National School where he worked for the following 16 years. In the summer of 2001, he became a teaching principal at St. Peter’s Church of Ireland National School in the town of Drogheda and taught in this school until 2012. His experience in working in this small 5 teacher school has provided him with a deep understanding of the challenges faced by school leaders with teaching responsibilities. Leading and managing a school under the patronage of a minority community was also a valuable learning experience.
In 2012 Bryan returned to work at Scoil Naomh Feichín in the role of administrative principal. Following the construction of a major school extension in 2019, this school has now been extended to accommodate 16 class teachers.
Bryan has been an active IPPN member for several years and has represented County Louth at National Council level since 2016. He has coordinated the active Principals Networking and Support Group in the Louth/East Meath area in recent years and in 2020 he established a new Deputy Principals Support Group which is now up and running.
During his teaching career, Bryan has been actively involved in the promotion of Gaelic Games in schools and in recent years he has contributed to developing school programmes in tennis and golf.
Bryan lives in Drogheda with his wife Eimhear who is a landscape and seascape photographer.
They have three grown up sons.
Shane O'Donnell, IPPN Board Member
- Published: 05 March 2020
Shane is a native of Roscommo
n town and graduated from St. Patrick’s College in 1988. He completed a post-graduate diploma in Educational Leadership in 2004. He taught in various DEIS Band 1 schools in Dublin before becoming teaching principal of Glenealy NS, Co. Wicklow in 2006. He spent six years in Wicklow before returning to his home county in 2012. He is currently teaching principal of Scoil Bhríde, Fourmilehouse, Roscommon. Shane spent five years as an IPPN National Council member before joining the IPPN Board of Directors in February 2019.
Shane is a firm believer in the value of small schools and the key position that they occupy in rural Ireland. He recognises that small schools face many challenges but believes that with proper support they can have a viable future. He hopes to bring the voice of the small school to the Board of Directors.
Deirdre Kelly
- Published: 26 November 2019
Deirdre qualified as a Primary Teacher from Froebel College, Blackrock, Dublin in 1993 and completed a Post Graduate in Trinity College in 1994. Deirdre’s experience during her 7 years of teaching in a special school setting in Scoil Eoin, Crumlin, Dublin encouraged her to complete her Masters in Educational Leadership.
Deirdre has taught in both urban and rural locations and has experienced teaching in varying educational contexts. She was appointed as teaching Principal in St Michael’s N.S. in 2004, a 5 teacher rural school located in south County Sligo.
Deirdre is an active member of I.P.P.N. She has served as a National Committee Representative for Sligo for many years, is a trained CSL mentor and is currently facilitating Group Mentoring.
Her commitment to and belief in small schools, recognition of the central role these schools play in rural communities and the significance of supporting principals in these schools will be central to her role as a member of the Board of Directors.
