Leading for Impact with IPPN

Teaching principals in small primary schools struggle to balance full time classroom instruction with an overwhelming invisible workload. Shared leadership structures and collaborative networks offer practical pathways toward long term professional sustainability.In this conversation, school leaders explore strategies for managing multi grade teaching alongside administrative duties. The discussion examines core principles of authentic co leadership, research on principal well-being, and the operational advantages of small school clusters.Aoife O'Connor serves as Deputy Principal and Acting Principal at Tierneevin National School in Galway. She brings deep experience across diverse educational settings, serving as a pioneer for distributed leadership as the first elected deputy principal on the IPPN Board of Directors.THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT- Career progression across different school settings and leadership roles- Core principles of co-leadership and building authentic trust- Research insights on well-being for small school leader- Balancing classroom teaching with invisible administrative leadership duties- Practical benefits of small school clusters and administrative supportGUEST DETAILSAoife O'Connor is Deputy Principal and Acting Principal at Tierneevin National School in south Galway, teaching Junior and Senior Infants. She holds a Masters in the Leadership of Wellbeing in Education from Mary Immaculate College, with her research featured in the IPPN Sustainable Leadership Report. As an Associate with the Oide Leadership Team and the first elected deputy principal to the IPPN Board of Directors, she actively champions collaborative co-leadership and professional mentoring across primary educationMORE INFORMATIONIPPN is the officially recognised, professional network for leaders of Irish primary schools. It is anindependent, 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.ieOur podcast is produced by dustpod.ioQUOTESYou behave yourself into trust. - Aoife O'ConnorIf someone is to look after everybody else's, they need to look after their own. - Aoife O'ConnorYou're all things to all people all of the time, but your priority is the children in front of you in your class. - Aoife O'ConnorKEYWORDS: #SmallSchoolLeadership#CoLeadership#SustainableLeadership#SmallSchoolsProject

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 SheehanAlan 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 principalsGUEST DETAILSHelena 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 INFORMATIONIPPN is the officially recognised, professional network for leaders of Irish primary schools. It is anindependent, 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.ieOur podcast is produced by dustpod.ioQUOTES- 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 TrenchKEYWORDS: #InclusiveSchoolLeadership #SpecialEducationProvision #PrimarySchoolManagement #SchoolStartupJourney

School leaders are often overwhelmed, balancing complex demands while trying to foster real change in their school communities. This episode explores how strategic planning—often viewed with skepticism—can actually provide the focus, clarity, and "protected time" necessary to ensure leaders thrive. We dive into the concept of "mission creep" and why aligning your school’s vision, mission, and values is the ultimate key to sustainable leadership.Joining us is Róisín Coughlan, Director of Purpose Strategy at Mantra Strategy. With over 26 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector and a deep background in social care and innovation, Róisín shares her unique insights on navigating the realities of school leadership. Discover how intentional, creative strategy can help you reclaim your focus and maximize your impact on the children you serveTHINGS WE SPOKE ABOUTStrategies for school leadership successCombatting mission creep in educationAligning vision, mission, and valuesSustainable leadership in primary schoolsFocusing on core purpose impactGUEST DETAILSRóisín Coughlan is the Director of Purpose Strategy at Mantra Strategy. She brings over 26 years of leadership experience across the social care, mental health, and social inclusion sectors. Róisín is a specialist in strategic planning, design thinking, and creative innovation, helping organizations clarify their core identity to lead with greater confidence and strategic disciplineMORE INFORMATIONIPPN is the officially-recognised, professional network for leaders of Irish primary schools. It is anindependent, 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.ieOur podcast is produced by dustpod.ioQUOTESIt's just about positioning yourselves slightly differently in order to maximise that impact. - Róisín CoughlanI don't have any hidden agenda, you know. I am there to enable organisations to get to an understanding of where it is that they want to go. - Róisín CoughlanYou want the teachers and the leaders to feel safe, valued, supported, and inspired. - Róisín CoughlanKEYWORDS: #SchoolLeadership #StrategicPlanning #EducationPolicy #ImpactfulLeadership #PrimarySchools

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 ABOUTTackling educational underachievement and communityPrograms link with primary schoolsCharacter education: The Citywise WayRole model's pathway to CEOAdvocating for alternative education supportGUEST DETAILSDaire 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 INFORMATIONIPPN is the officially-recognised, professional network for leaders of Irish primary schools. It is anindependent, 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.ieOur podcast is produced by dustpod.ioQUOTESSo essentially, we're trying to get young people in the door at a very early age, so age of eight. - Daire HennessyA 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 HennessyKEYWORDS: #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 ABOUTVision for PDSL: demystifying school leadershipBalancing theory to scaffold leader practice.Collaborative advantage of cross-sectoral learning.Moving beyond sustainable to flourishing leadership.Systemic conditions for leader well-being.GUEST DETAILSPatricia 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 INFORMATIONIPPN is the officially-recognised, professional network for leaders of Irish primary schools. It is anindependent, 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.ieOur podcast is produced by dustpod.ioQUOTESThe 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 McNamaraI believe that if you're going to be leading people, you should have some professional development in leadership. - Patricia Mannix McNamaraI think it's really important for creating a sense within those graduates of the need for kindness and care and human centred leadership. - Patricia Mannix McNamaraKEYWORDS: #FlourishingLeadership #SchoolCulture #PDSL #MiddleLeadership #EducationalLeadership