Gerard Ruane, IPPN Treasurer
- Published: 29 May 2014
Gerard Ruane is originally from Co. Mayo and spent part of his childhood in Co. Leitrim. He attended Ballinamore National School, Co. Leitrim and Bonniconlon National School, Co. Mayo. Following his secondary education in St. Muredach's College, Ballina, Co. Mayo, he trained as a teacher in Mary Immaculate College. He holds a Diploma in Management from Trinity College, a Diploma in Special Education Resource Teaching from Froebel College and a Masters of Arts in Special Education Needs from Roehampton University, London.
Gerard spent seven years teaching in St. Patrick's National School, Slane, Co. Meath, where he was also a post-holder. In 2007 he became Teaching Principal of Kilskyre National School outside Kells in Co. Meath. It initially had two mainstream teachers and a shared learning support teacher. Over the course of four years in grew to become a four teacher school with a shared learning support teacher. In 2011 he moved to Co. Clare and became Teaching Principal of Scariff National School. It had six mainstream teachers, a learning support teacher and a resource teacher. He became Administrative Principal of Parteen National School, Co. Clare in 2014. It had fourteen mainstream teachers, seven support teachers and five special needs assistants. In 2021, he moved to Barefield National School, which has fifteen mainstream teachers, seven support teachers (including one teacher of a special class for children with autism) and ten special needs assistants. He has an acute understanding of the challenges facing Principals of small and large schools.
He has facilitated the IPPN Summer Course, Ciall Ceannaithe, for a number of years. He delivered a seminar on Workload Management for Teaching Principals at conference. He is a member of the Leadership Support Panel and is a member of the Clare County Committee and the IPPN Board of Directors. Gerard was elected as IPPN Treasurer in June 2019. He is married to Aoibheann, who is also a primary school Principal, and has one son, Mícheál, and two daughters, Méabh and Aela.
