April 2019 - CSL Update
- Published: 03 April 2019
Mentoring
“A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” Oprah Winfrey
321 principals (260 primary and 61 post-primary) are currently being supported by CSL mentors.
Cohorts One and Two gathered for their Professional Learning Days in Athlone on Tuesday and Wednesday March 12th and 13th. This event was attended by 260 mentors, 210 primary and 50 post-primary. IPPN was represented by CEO Páiric Clerkin, Deputy CEO Pat Goff and President David Ruddy. Coaching was the thematic focus, with participants being addressed by Professor Christian Van Nieuwerburgh from the University of East London and Viv Grant from Integrity Coaching in London. IPPN and NAPD facilitated a meeting of group mentors while CSL Cairde met with those involved in one-to-one mentoring.
Cohort Three attended their Professional Learning Days on March 28th and 29th. 85 principals attended this event, 74 primary and 11 post-primary. On this occasion, participants were addressed by Dr. Joe O’ Connell on the Difficult Conversations Framework, by Dr. Tony Bates on “Changing the Story, Changing the World", and by Adam Harris of AsIAm on how to build an inclusive school for students with autism, in addition to partaking in Cairde Mentor meetings.
Coaching
“No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” Albert Enstein
One-to-one coaching is now accessed by 550 principals. Team Coaching is presently available to schools in which the principal has accessed 4 one-to-one coaching sessions. Plans are being made to extend the coaching service to group coaching, and to training a limited number of principals in professional coaching.
The CSL team would like to encourage principals to consider availing of one-to-one coaching at this time of the year rather than waiting until September and the beginning of another hectic school year.
Professional Diploma in School Leadership (PDSL)
“It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.” Nelson Mandela
Applications are now open for Cohort Three, with capacity for 300 participants. These places are filling fast, and will cost participants approximately €2,000 with the remainder subsidised by the DES. This is a blended learning experience with three semesters running from September 2019 until December 2020. There are three centres in Dublin-Blackrock, UCD and Blanchardstown, and centres in Cork (CIT), UL, Waterford (WIT), Galway (NUIG), and Carrick-on-Shannon and Donegal Education Centres, with a sraith Gaeilge in NUIG. Applications close on Wednesday, April 17th.
Endorsement
“Excellence is the unlimited ability to improve the quality of what you have to offer.” Rick Pitnio
The quality assurance pilot is just completed, and the learning from it included a change to an endorsement process, in line with international research and the work of colleagues in Scotland and Wales. The team is currently completing the review of the process to begin endorsing provision in September. CSL will work with the National Academy for Educational Leadership (NAEL) in Wales and the Scottish College of Educational Leadership (SCEL) in Scotland to peer review processes, and to learn from each other’s experiences.
Shared Calendar
“Always plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.” Richard Cushing
The testing phase with primary stakeholders is just completed, the post-primary testing phase will finish before the Easter holidays, and the calendar will be open to stakeholders to add their full range of professional learning provision for principals and deputy principals in the 2019/2020 school year from May 1st onwards.
Leadership Clusters
“If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.” Henry Ford
101 schools have begun working on 24 projects. The Opening Seminar took place in Athlone on March 28th with an attendance of 230 principals, teachers, Education Centre Directors, business, third level and support service representatives and CSL Facilitators. Presentations were made by CSL, IPPN, NAPD, business and third level colleagues in the areas of project management, distributed leadership, communication and collaboration. The learning and networking from this event was rich, the clusters are now focused on their projects, and are familiar with the supports available to them with guidance from 24 CSL Facilitators and the 13 Education Centre Directors involved.
