Looking Back and Looking Forward: Reflecting on Educate Together’s First Deputy Principals’ Forum
Aoife O’Sullivan, Acting Principal Harold’s Cross Educate Together N.S.
Attending Educate Together’s very first Deputy Principals’ (DP) Forum was a really uplifting and worthwhile experience. The day brought together Deputy Principals from Educate Together primary and second-level schools across the country. It was a much-needed opportunity to step away from the day-to-day whirlwind of school life and connect with others doing similar work.
Leading Inclusive and Brave School Spaces
The theme—Leading Inclusive and Brave School Spaces—felt particularly relevant. From the very start of the day, there was a real sense of openness and shared purpose. The morning kicked off with the “DPMeet” session. It was inspiring to see the creative and impactful work happening in schools across the network. From wellbeing initiatives to inclusive teaching practices, there was a strong sense of innovation and purpose running through each contribution. It was a great way to gather ideas and learn from others’ experiences.
Speakers and Workshops
One of the standout moments for me was the keynote talk by Vicky Donnelly, Education Officer with Financial Justice Ireland. It really dug into the unique role school leaders play in shaping the culture of our schools. Vicky discussed Education for Sustainable development, and the importance of nurturing inclusive schools. It reminded me that while we often work behind the scenes, our influence can be powerful—especially when it comes to promoting equality, inclusion, and wellbeing for all members of the school community.
The afternoon workshops were practical and engaging, and it was great to get a chance to chat with other Deputy Principals and hear what they are doing in their schools. I came away with some great ideas—some big-picture strategies and some small tweaks that could make a real difference day to day. It was great to have time to talk through these topics with others in a similar role, without the usual interruptions of school life. There was a real generosity in how people shared ideas and experiences.
The Core Message
One message that came through clearly during the day was the importance of sustainability—not just in the environmental sense, but in how we look after ourselves and our teams so we can keep doing this work long term. It’s easy to keep pushing through the busyness of school life without stopping to think about how we can make our leadership more manageable and sustainable.
The forum reminded me that even though the role of Deputy Principal can sometimes feel a bit invisible or squeezed, we’re actually in a strong position to lead change. I was delighted to bring some of what I learned back to school. The day was an invaluable opportunity to connect with other Deputy Principals in the Educate Together network.