IPPN

Published: 04 September 2007

Ag tús na scoil bliana nua gabhaim gach dea-ghu agus sláinte ort mar Cheannaire Scoile.

New Appointments

Congratulations to all Newly Appointed Principals and Deputy Principals. We wish you every success in your new leadership role and hope that you will find it rewarding and stimulating on both a professional and a personal level. This time of year also sees the appointment of a number of Acting Principals and IPPN acknowledges that this role, although not permanent, is equally challenging and in need of support. If you are aware of any new appointments, please advise those Principals and Deputy Principals to make contact with the IPPN Support Office as soon as possible (details below) to avail of IPPN's supports and services.

Retirements

It is also timely to congratulate our colleagues who have retired recently and are beginning a new phase of life. Given that many Principals take early retirement, for them it is more a change in career direction and we wish them every success in their new endeavours.

Ciall Ceannaithe - Sound Advice and Borrowed Wisdom for Newly Appointed Principals

This is IPPN's latest publication supporting Newly Appointed and Acting Principals. It contains a wealth of practical strategies, useful tips and advice in the critical first year of school leadership. If you have not received your copy of Ciall Ceannaithe, please contact the IPPN Support Office.

Principal's Information Management System (PIMS) 2007/2008

PIMS is IPPN's desk diary for Principals and their Deputies and is an invaluable resource in enabling effective planning and prioritising on a daily, weekly, monthly and termly basis. If you are a new Principal you should have received a copy of PIMS along with Ciall Ceannaithe during the summer. If not, please contact the IPPN Support Office. There is a small number of PIMS diaries available for those Principals who did not place their order last June. These will be issued on a first-come first-served basis to those who contact the Support Office.

New IPPN President

Congratulations to Mr Larry Fleming, Principal of Ballinamere National School, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, who has taken up the role of President of IPPN from 1st September 2007. The presidency of IPPN is a two-year term during which Larry will be seconded from his school to fulfil a key leadership function on behalf of Principals. This involves leading the IPPN Executive and National Committees, consulting with IPPN members nationwide, developing policy as well as representing IPPN at meetings with the Education Partners. Larry is a founding member of IPPN and has been a leader in the establishment of special units for children with Autism in the Midlands. He has also been Editor of Leadership+ for three years and has played a significant role in IPPN's Principals' Conferences to date. I look forward to working closely with Larry in his new role and wish him every success.

IPPN Past President

Mr Tomás O Slatara completed his term as President on 31st August 2007 and has returned as Principal of Grange National School, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. Tomás has given exemplary service to Principals since the foundation of IPPN but particularly in the last two years. His passionate commitment to the role of Teaching Principal and smaller schools was instrumental in getting the Department of Education and Science to begin to focus on the needs of small schools. IPPN's publication, Breacadh Ré Nua - New Horizons for Smaller Schools and Teaching Principals is the key reference point now for policy-makers on 'small school' issues and is testimony to Tomás' vision and commitment in this area. Tomás also contributed significantly to the development of strong North/South links between school leaders and policy-makers in both jurisdictions through the North/South Seminars and Exchange Programmes. Gabhaimid Ár mbuíochas do Thomás ar an méid a rinne sé ar son Príomhoide na hEireann. Rath Dé air agus ar a chlann.

IPPN Assistant Director

Responding to the growing needs of Principals and their Deputies, IPPN has appointed Ms. Virginia O'Mahony as Assistant Director for Membership Services. Virginia is well known to you as Conference Coordinator (2001, 2002) and President of IPPN (2003-2005). Her role will focus mainly on developing and delivering the supports and services required by members, ranging from professional development events to Principal Advice - the various ways in which individual members can learn from the experience of others. Virginia has 25 years' experience of school leadership in Scoil Chaitríona Senior School, Renmore, Galway. She has a remarkable track record of supporting fellow Principals both locally in Galway and nationally and her appointment enhances IPPN's capacity in delivering quality supports and services to our members.

Is mise le meas,
Seán Cottrell

IPPN Support Office, Glounthaune, Co. Cork 1890 21 22 23 info@ippn.ie