IPPN

Deich mBliana ag Fás - charts the first ten years of IPPN in a 'Reeling in the Years' approach, describing key events from 1999 to 2010.

1. The first informal meeting of what would become the Interim National Committee took place in Kildare Education Centre on 19th March 1999.
2. The first people to take up National/ Executive Committee Roles
3. The first IPPN staff member - Sue Cowburn, confirmed at IEC 29th June 2001.
4. The first full-time Director, Seán Cottrell, seconded from Glounthaune NS, Co. Cork from 2000.
5. The first official IPPN paid membership was submitted by the late Moira Lynch, Principal of St Manchan’s NS, Tubber, Co. Westmeath.
6. The first National Executive Meeting was held on 31st May 2001 in the Ormond Hotel, Dublin.
7. The first IPPN County Network meeting took place in Monaghan on 18th September 2000.
8. The first IPPN Principals’ Conference was held between 15th and 17th Feb 2001, at the Corrib Great Southern Hotel, Galway.
9. The first Education Expo was at the Citywest Hotel during Conference 2004.
10. The first membership fee was £75 for the academic year 2001/2002.
11. The first associate memberships were offered to retired Principals, academics and educational institutions in 2003.
12. The first Deputy Principals’ meeting was held on 19th Oct 2002 at the Heritage Hotel, Portlaoise.  Among topics discussed were the role of the DP and how IPPN could help DPs in their role.
13. The first DPs’ Professional Development Seminar - ‘Deputy Principals - Looking to the Future’ – was held on 30th May 2003 at the Corrib Great Southern Hotel, Galway. The seminar was attended by 65 DPs.
14. The first IPPN press release was issued on 15th February 2001 - ‘Crisis Looms as 67% of Teachers Spurn School Principal Position’, by Tomás Ó Slatara PRO and Seán Cottrell, Director.
15. The first media interview was on 16th February 2001, during the first IPPN Conference - SeánCottrell interviewed by David Hanley on Morning Ireland on the topic of the challenges of school leadership.
16. The first IPPN newsletter was sent to schools in March 2000. This was edited by Tomás Ó Slatara and printed by retired Principal Liam Stapleton of Lion Print, Cashel.
17. The first mailing list for Principals - networking@ippn.ie was initiated in October 2000 with 250 Principals participating.
18. The first mentors identified to support newly-appointed Principals in September 2002.
19. The first edition of PIMS Desk Diary was sent to all schools in June 2006.
20. The first IPPN Bursary – a Study Visit to New Zealand sponsored by AIB - was awarded to Helen O’Sullivan and Marie Dunphy in July 2004.
21. The first sod was turned for IPPN’s permanent Support Office on Friday, 26th June 2009 by founding President Jim Hayes.
22. Website for recruitment in schools - EducationPosts.ie - was launched 1st July 2002 at St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra.
23. TextaParent.ie was established in October 2004 - attracted much media attention including Sky News!
24. DES Circular 14/2002 advised Boards of Management that IPPN’s membership fee was an allowable Board expense.
25. DES conferred ‘Designated Status’ to IPPN – recognising IPPN as an official Education Partner with corresponding consultation rights - Conference 2007.
26. First international links – Colm Cregan and Tomás Ó Slatara attended bi-annual World Convention of the International Confederation of Principals (ICP) in Korea, July 2001.
27. First North/South links – meeting with the National Association of Head Teachers (NI) in Belfast in 2001.
28. First Irish Principal elected to the Executive Committee of the ICP – Virginia O’Mahony, Scoil Chaitríona Senior, Galway in April 2006.
29. First North/South Conference of Primary Principals was held in November 2004 in the Slieve Russell Hotel, Cavan.
30. First invitation for an IPPN nominee to participate in a DES policy group - Pat Goff, to the National Consultative Forum of the NCSE in 2007.
31. Tomás Ó Slatara & Paul Murphy were IPPN’s first representatives at NAHT Conference in Jersey 2000.