IPPN

E-scéal 5: Motions For INTO Congress

Published: 15 January 2003

By now you will have received your copy of Tacaíocht 3 which addresses several key issues for Principals and Deputy Principals. You will be aware that IPPN as a professional association, cannot process issues relating to pay and conditions on behalf of our members. With this in mind we are suggesting that Principals and Deputy Principals use the only structures available to them i.e. to submit motions to their local branch of the INTO, for annual congress next Easter. Included are some suggested motions, which address certain key issues in this area:

Congress demands that all school staff members, teachers, ancillary and part-time, should count (a) towards the point where an administrative principal is appointed and (b) should count in reckoning release days for principals and deputy principals.
Congress demands that the allowances for principals and deputy principals be increased significantly to reflect the increased responsibility in managing whole school staffs, which now consist of teachers, ancillary and part-time members
Congress demands that an agreed procedure to allow principals to step down after seven years, without loss of allowance, should be put in place as soon as possible.
Congress demands that the CEC negotiate a separate salary scale for principals and deputy principals where the minimum allowance for a principal teacher is greater than the allowance of any deputy principal.
Congress demands that there be an agreed hourly allowance for overtime and that there be agreed system to recoup expenses for school related activities.

I hope you will see the importance of using this opportunity to raise this important area of concern through the appropriate channels.

Is mise le meas,

Seán Cottrell
Director

E-scéal 4: Tacaíocht 3

Published: 10 January 2003

Key Issues in recruiting & retaining Principals - INTO

See attached document "Tacaíocht 3"

Mentors Required for Newly Appointed Principals

Almost 200 new principals have been appointed to primary schools this year. Requests to IPPN for mentoring support from newly-appointed principals have grown considerably reflecting the huge challenge facing teachers when appointed to school leadership for the first time. In order to meet this increased demand for mentoring services, IPPN has initiated a mentoring scheme in each of our 26 county networks. IPPN wishes to hear from Principals in each county who are willing to help mentor a first-time Principal.

The Department of Education and Science initiated the Leadership Development for Schools programme (LDS) in 2002 to provide comprehensive induction, training and support for school leaders at primary and post-primary level. Part of LDS's function will involve the establishment of a mentoring programme for school principals. At primary level, IPPN has been working closely with LDS - sharing experience of our existing mentoring programme - with a view to providing a comprehensive and effective mentoring service nationally which will meet the professional needs of each newly appointed principal.

Principal teachers with 3 or more year's experience, when appointed as mentors, will be offered training and guidance by LDS to help them fulfil their role. Through our structure of 26 county networks, a mentoring organiser will then match each mentor with a newly appointed principal.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please contact the IPPN office at: 1890 21 22 23, e-mail: info@ippn.ie, or write to: Mentoring Service, IPPN, Glounthaune, Co. Cork.

E-scéal 3: Query Lines / Why are Principals 'handing back the keys'?

Published: 10 December 2002

New e-mail services available for members on www.ippn.ie

legal@ippn.ie
This is a query line dealing with legal issues in schools. General queries of a non-confidential nature will be answered by Mr. David Ruddy - IPPN's Legal Advisor.
The email address of this query line is: legal@ippn.ie

insurance@ippn.ie
This is a query line dealing with school insurance issues. General queries of a non-confidential nature will be answered by Mr. Brian Tobin, Allianz Church & General.
The email address of this query line is: insurance@ippn.ie

finance@ippn.ie
This is a query line dealing with school finance issues and 'Airgead Bunscoile'. General queries of a non-confidential nature will be answered by either Mr. Donal Kerins, Principal Rushbrooke NS, Cobh, Co. Cork or Ms. Áine Stack, IPPN financial advisor.
The email address of this query line is: finance@ippn.ie

curriculum@ippn.ie
This is a query line dealing with curriculum issues. General queries of a non confidential nature will be answered by Ms. Áine Lawlor, National Co-ordinator PCSP.
The email address of this query line is: curriculum@ippn.ie

sdp@ippn.ie
This is a query line dealing with School Development Planning issues. General queries of a non-confidential nature will be answered by Ms. Eileen Flynn, National Co-ordinator SDP.
The email address of this query line is: sdp@ippn.ie

What are the benefits of subscribing?

Principals / DPs will be able to pose specific questions (not confidential) about an issue which is pertinent to your school situation. These queries will be answered by a specialist in the subject area and you will be sure of a speedy response. In times when it's so difficult to get people to return messages or even answer telephones, it is esential that principals can have their questions answered. In addition each member who is subscribed to these query lines will be able to view the response given to other members. In this way, you will have access to informaton which may be relevant to your school now, or at some stage in the future.
As Frankie Byrne used to say "it may not be your problem today but it might be some time in the future"

These query lines are not for general discussion rather the provision of answers / informed opinions by area specialists. Discussion about amongst members will continue on networking@ippn.ie

If you wish to subscribe please log on to www.ippn.ie and click on 'mailing lists'

"Why Are Some Principals Handing Back The Keys?"

My name is Jim Ryan and I am teaching in Clondalkin, Dublin 22. I have been teaching there for the past eighteen years and hold the position of assistant principal.

I am appealing for volunteers to assist me in a dissertation I am writing as part of the coursework for the Masters In Education (Educational Leadership) in St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9, under the supervision of Dr. Ciaran Sugrue, Head of Post Graduate Studies. I have contacted the I.N.T.O. and the D.E.S. in relation to the study. The I.N.T.O. informed me that they would not have that information. The D.E.S. asked me to forward a request, in writing, and I am awaiting a reply, but they are unsure if they will be able to supply me with the information required.

The purpose of the study is to try to illicit reasons why some primary school principals are relinquishing their position as principal and stepping down, often returning to teaching in a classroom setting, resource teacher, etc. The fact that many return to class teaching implies (I feel) that they enjoy the teaching aspect of the job but must have found some aspect(s) of the principals role unsavoury.

On completion of the study I imagine that there may be numerous different reasons for persons stepping down. A trend may be obvious in relation to a certain size school, urban, rural, disadvantaged, etc, - I'm not sure. If certain aspects of the role are put forward by a number of participants then suggestions and recommendations could be put forward in the study to try to remedy these concerns. This, in time, if acted upon may relieve the pressures from others considering stepping down, may encourage others to remain in the role, and may encourage more to apply for the position of principal, which has been on the decline in recent years.

The methodology to be utilised in the study in to be in two parts.

Firstly, I hope to send a questionnaire to all willing candidates. This can be completed anonymously. The last question on the questionnaire will ask " if you are willing to put your name forward to be interviewed for this study could you please supply contact details." Only persons completing this section will be identifiable to me.

Secondly, I hope to conduct a more in depth interview with five willing candidates who supply contact details in the questionnaire. (The reasons for interviewing five is the time factor involved - I start the study in Jan 2003 and it must be completed by June 2003) This exercise would involve tape recording the interview to allow me to refer to points raised, when I am writing the dissertation. The five candidates who would be interviewed will not have any personal details whatsoever mentioned in the thesis. If citations from the interview transcripts are necessary they will take the form of ..."interviewee A, who teaches in a two teacher school, in a rural setting, in the West of Ireland, stated.......................................". The identity of the interviewees will not be revealed in the study.

Seán Cottrell has agreed to send this message through your electronic newsletter to assist me in trawling as wide as possible for my research. I was hoping, through IPPN, that I may be able to find volunteers who would be willing to complete a short questionnaire. The problem is I do not know how many principals are out there who have stepped down. I would be extremely grateful if you could see fit to volunteer to complete this questionnaire. Even if you are not interested in completing the questionnaire but have stepped down from the position of principal I would be grateful if you could let me know, to give me an idea of the overall figure involved. The questionnaire is being designed, at present, and should be ready to be sent out in late January/early February 2003.

I have informed Sean Cottrell, director I.P.P.N., that I would make the findings of the study available to him when completed, which will be late June 2003.

Thanking you for taking the time to read this.

If the study is applicable to you I would be extremely grateful if you would contact me to (a) volunteer to complete questionnaire or (b) inform me that you have stepped down but are not interested in completing a questionnaire.

Thanking you,

Jim Ryan,
St. Bernadette's S.N.S.,
Quarryvale, Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
(01) 4502629 (home) jimryan@utvinternet.com

E-scéal 2: Airgead Bunscoile / ICP On-line

Published: 15 November 2002

Airgead Bunscoile

All current 02/03 IPPN members have received their copy of Airgead Bunscoile for managing school accounts. The letter which accompanied the CD referred to training to be provided by the National Centre for Technology and Education. IPPN wishes to clarify that the issue of training courses for Airgead Bunscoile has been discussed with NCTE but no agreement has been achieved as yet.

Meanwhile, please note that there is a comprehensive "help manual" contained in the CD - airgead.chm

The instruction page which was sent with the CD contains directions on how to load shortcuts to the help manual on your desktop. The initial password for the programme is contained within the help manual. The reason for this is to ensure that your treasurer or school's accountant must read the manual before they attempt to setup the programme.

It should be noted that Airgead Bunscoile is a proper accounting programme designed for use by the school's treasurer (if he/she has accounting skills) or by the school's accountant.

Airgead Bunscoile is not intended for use by the principal/DP - the manager of any other small-to-medium size business would not be doing his/her own accounts! It's a specialised area of expertise which needs the dedicated attention of an experienced bookkeeper / accountant.

Any queries about any aspect of this programme or school finances generally should be sent to: finance@ippn.ie

ICP Online

ICP Online is the official Internet website of the International Confederation of Principals. The website aims to be a useful professional resource, and an information and ideas sharing forum for school leaders in all countries.

There are eleven new Feature Articles on the website. Thanks to:

Dr Harold N. London from the USA ('The Hiring Dilemma');
Mr Stuart Foulds from South Africa ('Teacher Development Challenges in the Context of Curricular Reform: The Case of South Africa');
Mr Klaus Schenck from Germany ('The Erfurt Tragedy: How Could it Happen?');
Dr Peter West from Australia ('Being a Boy in Many Countries Around the World: A Bird's Eye View').

Other papers include those by

Ms Merelyn Devine (Australia);
Mr Anthony Gears (UK);
Drs Susan Rovezzi Carroll & David J. Carroll (USA);
Professor Alma Harris (UK);
Emeritus Professor Hedley Beare (Australia) and others.

We are always looking for new Feature Articles for ICP Online - can you help?

Feature Articles are a great way of sharing new information and ideas with others, for the benefit of all. Don't forget that if English is not your first language, and you are worried about a few minor language flaws, please remember that I always carefully edit all the material (and fix any small errors) before the article is posted on the website. Email Feature Articles (as plain unformatted text or as an attached Word file) from 500-3,000 words to me at: brydon@bigpond.net.au

Photos of yourself and/or your school, emailed as JPEG attachments, with the Feature Article, would be most appreciated.

The November issue of WORLD EDUCATION NEWS is now on the website and contains many news items of interest to educators.

ICP ONLINE'S CONFERENCE LISTING. Many new education conferences have been listed on the website for 2003-4. Do you know of any forthcoming conferences we might add to further build this useful professional development resource? If so, please email me the details.

If you can't travel anywhere but have a computer with an Internet connection, there's Phase 2 of the Technology Colleges Trust Online Conference, 'What Future - What Learning - What Teachers - What Schools?', which will be held (at no cost to participants) on the Internet from 24 November to 7 December 2002. This year the TC Trust Online Conference offers several new features, including an International Online Debate and a Cyber Classroom Tour. To register for this Internet-based event, please email your name, school/institution, its location and your role there to the TC Trust Online Conference Manager, Ms Debra Brydon, at: brydon@bigpond.net.au

For any further information on the International Confederation of Principals, and how to join, please contact MS MARGARET GRIFFIN, the ICP Executive Secretary, by email, at: mgrsha@aol.com

ICP Council Members. Please check that your name, position title and contact details are listed correctly on the website, and that your photo has been emailed to me (as a JPEG file). Thanks! Please don't forget to publicise the website address for ICP Online in your local principals' magazine and online publications. Please also forward this email on to your association's members, if you are able, so they can directly access ICP Online.

Please enjoy the new material on the website - and please consider sending some new material yourself.

After all this, it's time to log on! The Internet address of ICP Online is: http://www.icponline.org

E-scéal 1: Text-a-Sub - Recruit Substitute Teachers by Text Message

Published: 08 November 2002

'Text-a-Sub' - Recruit Substitute Teachers by Text Message

Worsening teacher shortages this year are leading to even greater headaches for principals in the recruitment of substitute teachers. This situation has prompted the introduction of a new service for IPPN members involving a direct text messaging service, which will significantly increase the efficiency of the substitute recruitment process.

Text-a-Sub is a system whereby:

The Principal / DP uploads the contact details of the school, the nature of the vacant class and the minimum duration for which the sub is required through www.ippn.ie This site will be accessible by IPPN members only from Jan 1st 2003.

This information is then automatically sent by text message to all the local substitute teachers who have registered their mobile phone numbers with www.educationposts.com - substitute teachers re-register their mobile phone numbers and choice of county every 14 days. Currently 247 substitute teachers are registered with TEXT A SUB in 25 different counties

The Principal / DP can offer a school, home or mobile number to receive calls from interested subs or allow the calls go to voice mail.

The Principal /DP then chooses from the most suitably experienced / qualified teachers that have replied.

Upload Substitute Vacancies on www.ippn.ie

Main advantages of this service are:

Only teachers who are actively seeking work in your county will receive texts.
The text messages are sent within 5 to 10 seconds!
When a Principal / DP uploads a substitute vacancy, (s)he is informed of the number of substitute teachers to which the text has been sent.
Sometimes the need for a substitute teacher is discovered outside school hours - text messages work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
The Principal / DP controls the times and the telephone numbers at which (s)he can be contacted by substitute teachers.
The Principal /DP can choose the most suitable teacher from the range of substitutes that reply.
The service is entirely FREE to IPPN member schools as well as free to all substitute teachers.
Less time will be spent by Principals / DPs on the telephone and fewer children waiting for a substitute teacher to arrive.
Substitute teachers, register your mobile telephone number with: www.educationposts.com