Strategy for School Leadership Success

School leaders face immense pressure to deliver equitable education while managing complex special educational needs with limited resources. This episode explores practical strategies for building inclusive school communities, developing needs-responsive educational practices, and fostering collaborative networks among educators. IPPN’s new podcast host Alan Sheehan is joined by Helena Trench, founding principal of Powerstown Educate Together National School, to discuss her experiences and actionable approaches to inclusive school leadership. Dr Alan Sheehan Alan was the founding principal of Douglas Rochestown Educate Together NS (DRETNS) in Cork. The school has grown from 20 children and 2 teachers to over 500 pupils and 58 staff since it opened in 2013. Alan was seconded to the Leadership Division of Oide from January 2025 to June 2026 where he was a member of the design teams for the Forbairt programme and for the professional learning day for Leading Curriculum Enactment. He has facilitated professional learning for school leaders on the Misneach, Tánaiste, Forbairt and Comhar programmes as well as bespoke school support visits. Alan served as a member of IPPN National Council for Cork City on the Advocacy and Communications Committee, as well as being a member of the Cork IPPN Committee. Alan has an MEd in the area of curriculum, a PGD in SEN and a PhD in assessment. He is currently completing a PGD in Coaching in Education. He was appointed to IPPN as Director of Member Supports & Services in September 2026. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT - Starting a new school from scratch - Child-centered education and early teaching experiences - Developing special education and nurture rooms - Collaborative approaches to admissions in Dublin 15 - Mentoring and supporting newly appointed principals GUEST DETAILS Helena Trench is the founding principal of Powerstown Educate Together National School in Dublin 15. Since opening in 2011, she has led its growth from a start-up into a diverse community of 381 pupils, 16 mainstream classes, 10 special classes, and 79 staff. She is a passionate advocate for equality-based education and needs-led approaches. Alongside her leadership, she contributes to national conversations on inclusive education and undertakes doctoral research on the educational equity of autistic pupils. MORE INFORMATION IPPN is the officially recognised, professional network for leaders of Irish primary schools. It is an independent, not-for-profit, voluntary association, with a local, regional and national presence. It provides practical resources, professional learning, and peer support to strengthen leadership capacity and sustainability. IPPN also advocates on behalf of school leaders, ensuring their perspectives influence education policy and practice. Learn more about IPPN and our work at ippn.ie Our podcast is produced by dustpod.io QUOTES - So I think it's really, really important that us as educators and as school leaders look at children in front of us. - Helena Trench - Our job is to try to support children, go to appointments, but also get the therapists to come to schools to support the children. - Helena Trench - We have to be open-minded and learn from the people around us. - Helena Trench KEYWORDS: #InclusiveSchoolLeadership #SpecialEducationProvision #PrimarySchoolManagement #SchoolStartupJourney

Educational underachievement remains a complex challenge, often limiting young people's potential despite their talents. This issue extends beyond the classroom, requiring a long-term, community-focused approach to foster personal growth and academic success. The discussion explores how a holistic, character-based philosophy, known as "The Citywise Way," provides consistent support and role models, creating clear pathways from primary school right through to third-level education. Key topics include integrating STEM programs like computer coding and robotics, the importance of long-term involvement, and the potential of community organizations to boost school leadership capacity and student opportunity. Joining host Brian O'Doherty is Daire Hennessy, CEO of the charity Citywise Education. With a background in business economics and social policy, Daire is also a past participant of Citywise, offering a unique perspective on the power of community-based leadership to drive profound, positive change. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Tackling educational underachievement and community Programs link with primary schools Character education: The Citywise Way Role model's pathway to CEO Advocating for alternative education support GUEST DETAILS Daire is a past participant, volunteer and staff member of Citywise Education. He first got involved in Citywise programmes when he was eight years old. With the support of Citywise he went on to study Business, Economics and Social Studies at Trinity College Dublin and a master's degree in social policy. He is now the CEO of Citywise having previously worked with the Trinity Access Programmes, coordinating the national college awareness campaign and leading a large-scale mentoring programme across six higher education institutions. He actively contributes to education and youth policy as a member of the local authority’s Community Strategic Policy Committee and is a member of the Young Ireland Advisory Council for Ireland's youth policy. MORE INFORMATION IPPN is the officially-recognised, professional network for leaders of Irish primary schools. It is an independent, not-for-profit, voluntary association, with a local, regional and national presence. It provides practical resources, professional learning, and peer support to strengthen leadership capacity and sustainability. IPPN also advocates on behalf of school leaders, ensuring their perspectives influence education policy and practice. Learn more about IPPN and our work at ippn.ie Our podcast is produced by dustpod.io QUOTES So essentially, we're trying to get young people in the door at a very early age, so age of eight. - Daire Hennessy A big part of that work is, I always say, cross pollination, or basically, the young person might come because they're interested in something, but you stay for the people - Daire Hennessy KEYWORDS: #SchoolAchievement #PrimaryLeaders #CommunityPartners #CharacterBuilding #AlternativeSupports

The current structure of school leadership is often unreasonable and resource-constrained, leading to high levels of stress and burnout for those who commit to the role. This systemic pressure often distracts leaders from their core purpose of fostering teaching and learning, compromising their ability to thrive. Host Brian O'Doherty speaks with Professor Patricia Mannix McNamara about how the sector must shift its focus from merely sustainable leadership to enabling leaders to truly flourish. They delve into the origins and decade-long impact of the Postgraduate Diploma in School Leadership (PDSL), balancing theory with practice, and the collaborative advantage of uniting primary and post-primary leaders. Crucially, they explore the systemic and personal changes required to protect the wellbeing of those at the helm. Patricia Mannix McNamara is the Director of Human Rights and EDI at the University of Limerick and an established Professor. She is a leading voice in human-centered leadership, organizational culture, and human rights, committed to supporting school leaders. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Vision for PDSL: demystifying school leadership Balancing theory to scaffold leader practice. Collaborative advantage of cross-sectoral learning. Moving beyond sustainable to flourishing leadership. Systemic conditions for leader well-being. GUEST DETAILS Patricia Mannix McNamara is the Director of Human Rights and EDI at the University of Limerick, where she is also an established Professor. She advocates for human-centered leadership and has researched workplace culture for almost 30 years. Her main skills and contributions include leadership coaching, mentoring, and opening up the space for the humanity of leadership. MORE INFORMATION IPPN is the officially-recognised, professional network for leaders of Irish primary schools. It is an independent, not-for-profit, voluntary association, with a local, regional and national presence. It provides practical resources, professional learning, and peer support to strengthen leadership capacity and sustainability. IPPN also advocates on behalf of school leaders, ensuring their perspectives influence education policy and practice. Learn more about IPPN and our work at ippn.ie Our podcast is produced by dustpod.io QUOTES The space for a school leader to thrive and grow is as important, as important as the space for a child in that school to thrive and grow. - Patricia Mannix McNamara

Caroline Sheill spent 12 years in corporate finance before discovering her teaching vocation during maternity leave. After training in Montessori and Special Education she eventually became Deputy Principal in an ASD specific school before moving to St. Michael's House in Ballymun as Principal. Arriving at the end of COVID to lead 60+ masked staff she'd never met, Caroline made a crucial decision: spend September meeting every staff member individually before implementing any changes. This listening-first approach helped her understand existing expertise and build trust before transformation. Those conversations led to key innovations which prevented burnout, built whole-school capacity, and shifted the culture from reactive to proactive behaviour strategies, making both students and staff feel genuinely safe. Join us to hear practical strategies for leading change, preventing specialist burnout, and building effective transition programmes that prepare students with complex needs for adult life through real community partnerships with hairdressers, libraries, and cafés. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Meeting every staff member before changing anything Mixing classes and building whole school approach to needs Reactive to proactive behaviour strategies making students and staff feel safe at school How new classrooms impact on the physical environment matters as much as staff Community links transition programme to give students real life skills

Gemma Maher failed her Leaving Cert once but found her way to teaching through Colraine and Glasgow University. Now she's principal of Rathcoole Educate Together National School, which opened in September 2020 without having any building keys until the night before. Gemma champions genuine inclusion through relationships, every staff member knows every child's name, story, and family. The autism class is integral to school life, not isolated in a separate wing. As a parent of an autistic son thriving in mainstream education, she understands how crucial skilled SNAs are, calling them the "golden ticket" to inclusion. Teachers will learn practical approaches to building inclusive school culture, supporting diverse needs through relationships rather than separation, and why Gemma advocates loudly that the teaching principal role for new schools is "unsustainable, unmanageable, and unfair". THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Relationships and how staff knowing kids, families and each other enables inclusion Opening a school during COVID without keys night before How September 30 numbers penalise growth unfairly SNAs are golden ticket to inclusion SIMS project is excellent but needs funding and training GUEST DETAILS Gemma Maher is the founding principal of Rathcoole Educate Together National School in West Dublin, which opened in September 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. After starting at Catherine McAuley dyslexia school, she spent 14 years at St. Catherine's working in specialist classes and becoming AP2 and Acting Deputy under principals April Cronan and Karen Jordan, where she participated in the SIMS (School Inclusion Model) project that influences her current practice. MORE INFORMATION IPPN is the officially-recognised, professional network for leaders of Irish primary schools. It is an independent, not-for-profit, voluntary association, with a local, regional and national presence. It provides practical resources, professional learning, and peer support to strengthen leadership capacity and sustainability. IPPN also advocates on behalf of school leaders, ensuring their perspectives influence education policy and practice. Learn more about IPPN and our work at ippn.ie Our podcast is produced by dustpod.io QUOTES It's a different role you're stepping into. Give yourself time to get the skills that you need to do the job. - Gemma Maher I don't think any school should be opened with a teaching principal. It is unsustainable, unmanageable and unfair. - Gemma Maher Every child gets greeted by the staff in the morning by name because we know everybody's name. - Gemma Maher I think at the crux of everything we do is relationships. The heart of our school is that my staff know my kids, my staff know my families, my staff know each other. - Gemma Maher SNAs are fundamental to inclusion. Having access to SNAs and applying for SNAs and training of SNAs, they are the golden ticket to inclusion. - Gemma Maher