Leading for Impact with IPPN

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Leading for Impact explores the experience of the practice of primary school leadership, the challenges that arise and the opportunities that present, with insights provided by expert voices from education and beyond. We bring you conversations with school leaders who've faced the same impossible juggling acts we all know too well, plus policy makers, mental health experts, and stakeholder voices who understand the systemic pressures you face. You’ll discover evidence-based solutions, hear how other schools have tackled similar challenges and gain fresh perspectives that help you see your own practice with new clarity. Leading for Impact – Real conversations for real school leaders from IPPN, the network for Irish Principals and Deputy Principals. Discover more at ippn.ie

Episodes

  1. Citywise: Scaling Community Education Impact

    APR 13

    Citywise: Scaling Community Education Impact

    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 communityPrograms link with primary schoolsCharacter education: The Citywise WayRole model's pathway to CEOAdvocating 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 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.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

    37 min
  2. Leaders Deserve To Thrive And Grow

    MAR 2

    Leaders Deserve To Thrive And Grow

    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 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 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 I believe that if you're going to be leading people, you should have some professional development in leadership. - Patricia Mannix McNamara I 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 McNamara KEYWORDS: #FlourishingLeadership #SchoolCulture #PDSL #MiddleLeadership #EducationalLeadership

    40 min
  3. From the Private Sector to Leadership of a Special School

    12/01/2025

    From the Private Sector to Leadership of a Special School

    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 skillsGUEST DETAILS Caroline Sheill is the principal of St Michael's House Special National School in Ballymun, serving 64 students aged 5-18 with moderate to severe/profound intellectual disabilities (28 with autism diagnoses, many with complex medical needs requiring four nurses on staff). Her journey to education was unconventional—working 12 years in a multinational's accounts department then customer service before realizing during maternity leave with her second child that she wanted a career allowing more family time. 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  I decided for the month of September, I was going to meet every single member of staff individually before I changed anything. That was the start. - Caroline Sheill I wanted to talk to every single one of them and get an opinion from every one of them about the good and the bad in the school. That was the first time staff said they really felt acknowledged for the skill sets they had. - Caroline Sheill To get to the teaching and learning, we had to sit down and go: How can we make this safe so our children feel they don't have to be anxious coming to school? - Caroline Sheill I'm extremely proud of the community links we've formed over the last two to three years. Our 17 and 18 year olds can be quite forgotten in special schools—still under primary curriculum. Our young adults have started going out doing work placements - Caroline SheillKEYWORDS #specialSchoolLeadership #behaviourSupport #communityLinks #physicalEnvironment #transitionProgramme

    32 min
  4. The Reality No One Tells You About Opening Schools

    11/10/2025

    The Reality No One Tells You About Opening Schools

    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 beforeHow September 30 numbers penalise growth unfairlySNAs are golden ticket to inclusion SIMS project is excellent but needs funding and trainingGUEST 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 MaherKEYWORDS #inclusiveEducation #teachingPrincipal #developingSchools #educateTogether #SNAprofessionalisation

    27 min

  5. 10/06/2025

    Saying No to Burnout: Sinead Kennedy on Wellbeing in Schools

    Brian O’Doherty talks with accredited psychotherapist and mental health consultant Sinead Kennedy about the growing pressures on school communities.  Sinead shares her journey into psychotherapy, her insights on the surge in anxiety among students and staff, and why school leaders are at high risk of burnout. She introduces Be Well, Lead Well — a new 10-module digital series designed to help leaders prevent burnout through practical, evidence-based strategies.  From setting boundaries without guilt to building supportive environments, this conversation offers both honest reflections and actionable tools for sustaining wellbeing in education. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Why Sinead’s own life experiences drew her into psychotherapy and mental health work.The role schools play in supporting both student wellbeing and staff mental health.Why anxiety is rising among children — and how teachers can better understand and respond to it.Burnout in school leadership: the difference between stress and burnout, and why prevention matters.Setting boundaries without guilt — learning to say “no” to protect your ability to lead.Practical tools and strategies from the Be Well, Lead Well digital series for sustaining long-term wellbeing.GUEST DETAILS Sinead is a deeply compassionate and fully accredited psychotherapist, coach, and mental health consultant with a special focus on anxiety. With a BA in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy and certifications in CBT, mindfulness, EMDR, the Rewind Technique, suicide intervention (ASIST), substance use intervention (SAOR), Children First safeguarding, and more, she brings a rich, multi-disciplinary approach to every session.  Her professional journey includes volunteering with Teenline Ireland and Bodywhys, providing support to teens and those affected by eating disorders, and serving as a Teaching Assistant at the Institute for Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy.  MORE INFORMATION IPPN is the officially-recognised, professional network for the leaders of Irish primary schools. It is an independent, not-for-profit, voluntary association, with a local, regional and national presence. Established in 2000 to address the professional needs of school leaders, IPPN’s focus has been to support school leaders locally and to shape educational policy, practice and priorities nationally. IPPN articulates the collective experience and professional insights of over 6,000 Principals and Deputy Principals. 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. Its structure includes local Principals’ Support Groups, county networks, and a National Council, all overseen by a Board of Directors.Through national and international partnerships, IPPN works to create an environment where leadership thrives — benefiting pupils, schools, and communities. Learn more about IPPN, and the work they do in education at ippn.ie. QUOTES By saying yes all of the time to everything, we’re saying no to ourselves. And not that we can’t be there for others when we’re not looking after ourselves, but we can’t be there in the way that we should be – Sinead Kennedy You’re not going to be of much use to somebody if you are completely burnt out and have to leave the profession.  – Sinead KennedyBurnout and stress often get spoken about together, but they’re different — and understanding that difference is the first step to prevention. – Sinead KennedyThere are things within your control — even when it feels like everything is on top of you. – Sinead KennedyFifty percent of school leaders are at high or severe levels of burnout. That’s something we need to think about — and respond to. – Sinead KennedyKEYWORDS #BurnoutPrevention #SchoolLeadership #WellbeingInSchools #TeacherWellbeing #AnxietySupport #MentalHealthAwareness #EducationLeadership #SelfCareForLeaders #BeWellLeadWell

    19 min

  6. 10/06/2025

    Leadership, Balance & Children First: Deirdre Kelly

    Welcome to IPPN’s Leading for Impact podcast. In our first ever show, Brian O’Doherty sits down with Deirdre Kelly, newly elected president of IPPN and principal of St. Michael’s National School in rural Sligo. Deirdre shares her personal journey from a childhood steeped in education to a career spanning special schools, disadvantaged settings, and nearly two decades as a teaching principal. She reflects on the steep learning curve of leadership, the importance of mentorship, and the constant challenge of balancing classroom teaching with the demands of school leadership. Deirdre also discusses her path into IPPN governance, her priorities for her presidency, and why authenticity and keeping children at the heart of every decision will guide her tenure. This is an honest, engaging conversation about leadership, advocacy, and creating safe, thriving school communities. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT How a family tradition in teaching shaped Deirdre’s career in education.The unique rewards and challenges of being a teaching principal in a small rural school.The value of mentorship and collegiality for new school leaders.Managing the “perfect principal” myth — and learning to say “this is enough.”Articulating teaching principals’ views at national level through IPPN.Why authenticity and a child-centred focus will define Deirdre’s presidency.GUEST DETAILS Deirdre Kelly is the principal of St. Michael’s National School, a five-teacher rural school in County Sligo, and the newly elected president of the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN).  With a teaching career that spans special schools, disadvantaged settings, and large urban schools, she brings a wealth of experience to her leadership role. A graduate of Froebel College and Trinity College Dublin, Deirdre has served on IPPN’s National Council and Board of Directors, advocating strongly for teaching principals.  Known for her authenticity, passion for member engagement, and commitment to keeping children at the heart of decision-making, she is dedicated to creating safe, supportive, and thriving school communities. MORE INFORMATION IPPN is the officially-recognised, professional network for the leaders of Irish primary schools. It is an independent, not-for-profit, voluntary association, with a local, regional and national presence. Established in 2000 to address the professional needs of school leaders, IPPN’s focus has been to support school leaders locally and to shape educational policy, practice and priorities nationally. IPPN articulates the collective experience and professional insights of over 6,000 Principals and Deputy Principals. 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. Its structure includes local Principals’ Support Groups, county networks, and a National Council, all overseen by a Board of Directors.Through national and international partnerships, IPPN works to create an environment where leadership thrives — benefiting pupils, schools, and communities. Learn more about IPPN, and the work they do in education at ippn.ie. QUOTES This is enough and I am enough. Some days that’s the most important thing you can tell yourself – Deirdre Kelly It is such a privilege to be a teaching principal because I absolutely have the best of both worlds – Deirdre KellyBeing a teaching principal is like juggling all the time — and then someone throws in three extra balls. – Deirdre KellyThe reason IPPN exists is for the children — so they can have the best possible outcomes in our schools. – Deirdre KellyIf I’m not at the table highlighting the concerns of teaching principals, then who is going to – Deirdre KellyKEYWORDS #SchoolLeadership #TeachingPrincipal #EducationLeadership #IPPN #ChildCentredEducation #MentorshipMatters #WorkLifeBalance #LeadershipJourney #AuthenticLeadership #DeirdreKelly #IPPNPodcast

    30 min

  7. 08/29/2025

    Trailer

    Leading for Impact understands the reality of the school day and gives you the tools to navigate it better. We bring you conversations with school leaders who've faced the same impossible juggling acts we all know too well, plus policy makers, mental health experts, and stakeholder voices who understand the pressures you face.  You’ll discover evidence-based solutions, hear how other schools have tackled similar challenges, and gain fresh perspectives that help you see your own practice with new clarity. Leading for Impact – Real conversations for real school leaders from IPPN, the network for Irish Principals and Deputy Principals. Coming to Apple, Spotify and YouTube this September. Follow now so you don't miss the first episode.

    1 min
  • 7 Episodes

About

Leading for Impact explores the experience of the practice of primary school leadership, the challenges that arise and the opportunities that present, with insights provided by expert voices from education and beyond. We bring you conversations with school leaders who've faced the same impossible juggling acts we all know too well, plus policy makers, mental health experts, and stakeholder voices who understand the systemic pressures you face. You’ll discover evidence-based solutions, hear how other schools have tackled similar challenges and gain fresh perspectives that help you see your own practice with new clarity. Leading for Impact – Real conversations for real school leaders from IPPN, the network for Irish Principals and Deputy Principals. Discover more at ippn.ie

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