Teachers Themselves

Paying It Forward with Kathryn Corbett

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2205196/open_sms] Join us for our final episode of season four in conversation with school Principal and co-founder of the WILL (Women In Learning & Leadership) Network, Kathryn Corbett. With refreshing candour and a wisdom borne of experience, Kathryn reveals how her early love for learning blossomed into a purposeful career path that's transforming educational leadership across Ireland. Her professional story is one that encompasses international experience where she discovered formal mentoring programs that sparked her interest in teacher induction and support. Experience which she brought home to Ireland and implemented into the Irish education system.  From her own experiences of leadership in education, Kathryn has become an advocate for female leadership and a builder of education community in Ireland. In conversation with our host, Ultan, Kathryn discusses founding the WILL (Women In Learning & Leadership) Network alongside Rachel O'Connor. Created to address the stark imbalance between the predominantly female teaching workforce and leadership positions, this network creates opportunities for women across the education sector to find connection, mentorship, and pathways to leadership that might otherwise seem unattainable. Tune in to hear Kathryn's insights on sustainable leadership and work-life boundaries. Her thoughtful reflection on systemic challenges facing school leaders will resonate deeply with anyone working in education today. Kathryn leaves us with a powerful reminder: "The biggest risk is the one that you don't take." Listen now to be inspired by her story and practical wisdom on leadership, boundaries, and creating meaningful change in education. Connect with the WILL Network on Instagram @networkwill [https://www.instagram.com/networkwill/]  Don’t forget to like and subscribe, leave us a review and share it with colleagues and friends! Your feedback informs the show. You can follow us across our social media channels – Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/DublinWestEC/] Twitter [https://twitter.com/DublinWestEC] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/dublin-west-education-centre/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/DublinWestEducationCentre%20] If you have any thoughts on our episodes, or suggestions for future topics, email Zita at zrobinson@dwec.ie [zrobinson@dwec.ie] Or take a minute to give us your feedback: Listener Feedback [https://forms.office.com/e/7mhm5hhyNx] Oh – and don’t forget to book that CPD – dwec.ie [https://dwec.ie/] Teachers Themselves is a DWEC original, produced and created by Dublin West Education Centre produced by Zita Robinson.

David Gough: Leading with Love and Respect

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2205196/open_sms] In conversation with Ultan this week, David Gough, one of Ireland's most respected GAA referees and school Principal of Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál in Inchicore, brings us into the fascinating intersection of his professional worlds. From the historical landscape of Slane, County Meath that shaped his early years, to the values that guide his leadership today, David shares how his upbringing created foundations of respect and equality that underpin both his officiating and educational work. His story reveals powerful parallels between managing high stakes sporting events and nurturing a vibrant school community. "Leadership is an action, not a position," David explains, detailing how he creates cultures of respect in both arenas. His approach to leadership, with a focus on interconnection rather than hierarchy, creates school corridors "full of life, sound, singing, and laughing" hallmarks of the uniquely positive atmosphere that visitors from other countries often find so striking about Irish education. David's candid discussion about balancing professional demands, his passion for sport, and the continuous learning curve of principalship offers wisdom for anyone juggling multiple responsibilities.  Listen now to this conversation that reveals how respect, fairness and love, create environments where both children and communities flourish. Don’t forget to like and subscribe, leave us a review and share it with colleagues and friends! Your feedback informs the show. You can follow us across our social media channels – Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/DublinWestEC/] Twitter [https://twitter.com/DublinWestEC] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/dublin-west-education-centre/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/DublinWestEducationCentre%20] If you have any thoughts on our episodes, or suggestions for future topics, email Zita at zrobinson@dwec.ie [zrobinson@dwec.ie] Or take a minute to give us your feedback: Listener Feedback [https://forms.office.com/e/7mhm5hhyNx] Oh – and don’t forget to book that CPD – dwec.ie [https://dwec.ie/] Teachers Themselves is a DWEC original, produced and created by Dublin West Education Centre produced by Zita Robinson.

Scoring Touchdowns with Ciarán Donnelly

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2205196/open_sms] Join us for episode three of Season 4 in conversation with Ciarán Donnelly, a primary teacher who thinks outside the box. Ciarán is a forward-thinking and imaginative educator who embraces innovation and fosters a dynamic learning environment. And it was these particular traits that saw Ciarán lead his students at Green Lanes National School, to enter, compete and become, Ireland's first international NFL flag football champions and win an all-expenses-paid trip to Orlando, Florida. Tune in to hear this remarkable story of one teacher’s transformative approach to education and the life-changing experiences created for his students. As the NFL Flag Football programme expands across Ireland with plans for provincial championships throughout the country, his story reminds us of the powerful impact teachers can have when they recognise and nurture students' passions. Subscribe to Teachers Themselves for more inspiring stories of educators making a difference in Irish classrooms. Don’t forget to like and subscribe, leave us a review and share it with colleagues and friends! Your feedback informs the show. You can follow us across our social media channels – Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/DublinWestEC/] Twitter [https://twitter.com/DublinWestEC] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/dublin-west-education-centre/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/DublinWestEducationCentre%20] If you have any thoughts on our episodes, or suggestions for future topics, email Zita at zrobinson@dwec.ie [zrobinson@dwec.ie] Or take a minute to give us your feedback: Listener Feedback [https://forms.office.com/e/7mhm5hhyNx] Oh – and don’t forget to book that CPD – dwec.ie [https://dwec.ie/] Teachers Themselves is a DWEC original, produced and created by Dublin West Education Centre produced by Zita Robinson.

Beyond the Diagnosis: Annette Nash & Finding Strength in Neurodiversity

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2205196/open_sms] What happens when the teacher faces the same learning challenges as their students? Annette Nash takes us on a profound journey through her experiences as an autistic English teacher with dyslexia at St. Declan's College in Dublin. Annette's own early education story reflects the systemic barriers many neurodivergent students may still encounter today. The power of diagnosis resonates throughout our conversation. Annette articulates how naming her differences didn't change who she was but provided crucial self-understanding: "That awareness of difference is carried with you, no matter what you know about yourself." Now in the classroom, Annette creates the environment she never had. By openly acknowledging her dyslexia with students, she transforms potential vulnerabilities into teaching strengths. When she makes spelling errors or needs to double-check grammar rules, she models resilience rather than shame - creating what she calls "a great freedom" for all students, not just those with learning differences.  Her insights about creating neurodivergent-friendly school environments offer practical wisdom for educational settings everywhere. Connect with Annette on Instagram @the_autistic_english_teacher and discover more episodes of Teachers Themselves by subscribing or visiting the Dublin West Education Centre website or social media channels.  Don’t forget to like and subscribe, leave us a review and share it with colleagues and friends! Your feedback informs the show. You can follow us across our social media channels – Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/DublinWestEC/] Twitter [https://twitter.com/DublinWestEC] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/dublin-west-education-centre/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/DublinWestEducationCentre%20] If you have any thoughts on our episodes, or suggestions for future topics, email Zita at zrobinson@dwec.ie [zrobinson@dwec.ie] Or take a minute to give us your feedback: Listener Feedback [https://forms.office.com/e/7mhm5hhyNx] Oh – and don’t forget to book that CPD – dwec.ie [https://dwec.ie/] Teachers Themselves is a DWEC original, produced and created by Dublin West Education Centre produced by Zita Robinson.

All-Star Teaching with Ciarán Kilkenny

Send a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2205196/open_sms] When we think of Ciarán Kilkenny, most people picture the Dublin GAA star on the football pitch. But away from the roar of the crowd at Croke Park, Kilkenny's true passion unfolds in a classroom at St. Benedict's primary school in Ongar, where he's shaping young minds with the same dedication he brings to elite sport. This conversation reveals the deeply thoughtful educator behind the sporting headlines. Kilkenny shares how his own primary school teachers became powerful role models who sparked his love for the Irish language, history and learning.  At the heart of Kilkenny's teaching philosophy is the concept of classroom as community. "It's a family," he explains, creating an environment where children learn to support each other, resolve conflicts, and develop as both learners and people.  What's particularly fascinating is how Kilkenny's sporting background enriches his teaching. The self-discipline, reflection, and growth mindset cultivated through elite sport transfer powerfully to education. "You're constantly reflecting on how you can improve," he notes – an approach he models for his pupils. His commitment to identifying and nurturing each child's unique talents stems from his appreciation for how his own teachers supported his sporting development. His balanced perspective as both a celebrated athlete and committed teacher provides a unique window into how different professional worlds can inform and enhance each other. Join us for this revealing conversation that will change how you think about the relationship between sport, teaching, and creating nurturing environments where young people can discover their full potential.  Don’t forget to like and subscribe, leave us a review and share it with colleagues and friends! Your feedback informs the show. You can follow us across our social media channels – Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/DublinWestEC/] Twitter [https://twitter.com/DublinWestEC] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/dublin-west-education-centre/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/DublinWestEducationCentre%20] If you have any thoughts on our episodes, or suggestions for future topics, email Zita at zrobinson@dwec.ie [zrobinson@dwec.ie] Or take a minute to give us your feedback: Listener Feedback [https://forms.office.com/e/7mhm5hhyNx] Oh – and don’t forget to book that CPD – dwec.ie [https://dwec.ie/] Teachers Themselves is a DWEC original, produced and created by Dublin West Education Centre produced by Zita Robinson.