Teaching Profession Project
St Mary’s University College is set to host the third in a series of free online seminars in regard to its recently launched Teaching Profession Project (TPP).
On Tuesday, 08 February at 4.30 pm, Mr John McCusker, Principal Inspector, Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI), will chair a discussion on New Approaches to Teacher Professional Learning. Mr McCusker will be joined by: Ms Geri Cameron, Principal, Loughshore School Belfast; Mr Dominic Fryers, KS2 Teacher, St Joseph's Primary School Belfast; and Dr Martin Hagan, Head of Education, St Mary's University College Belfast.
Overview:
Across Europe, there has been a commitment to improve career-long teacher professional learning along with a specific focus on improvement in the quality of leadership (European Union, 2007; 2008; 2009). In Northern Ireland, Learning Leaders: A Strategy for Teacher Professional Learning (DENI, 2016:14) sets out a vision for professional learning in which 'Leadership skills will form an integral part of all competence development from ITE and throughout a teacher's career'. To this end, 'The Learning Leadership Lens' was developed as a conceptual model aimed at developing systemic leadership for teachers at every stage of their career.
In this discussion, the participants will be asked to critique the 'Lens' and discuss the challenges and opportunities it presents in terms of affecting meaningful policy change intended to meet the professional needs of teachers.
Mr John McCusker: Principal Inspector, Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI)
Mr McCusker has been an ETI Inspector since 2008, working mostly in schools and as ETI's Principal Inspector of English. His teaching career began at St Patrick's College Maghera and then at Sacred Heart Grammar School Newry, where he taught English Literature and Government and Politics to 'A' level. He also worked for three years as the Belfast Education and Library Board's Citizenship Officer and spent two years at CCEA as a Principal Officer developing curriculum and assessment.
Ms Geri Cameron: Principal, Loughshore School, Belfast
Ms Cameron is a Belfast based school principal with over thirty years' experience gained across the full spectrum of schools in Northern Ireland. She has been Principal in Loughshore School for over 20 years. Loughshore school caters for pupils with social, emotional, behavioural and mental health challenges alongside their associated learning difficulties. Her core philosophy of unlocking potential places a strong emphasis on teaching strategies designed to promote self-regulation, encourage curricular innovation and restore relationships. She is widely involved with statutory and voluntary groups focused on improving educational achievement for the most disadvantaged learners in our system.
Ms Cameron is a passionate advocate for high quality CPD for education staff and she has a particular interest in developing leaders. To this end she has served two consecutive years as President of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) Northern Ireland in the most difficult of times, ensuring the voice of school leaders is heard at the highest levels as they battled with the unprecedented challenges of Covd-19 in our schools.
Mr Dominic Fryers: KS2 Teacher, St Joseph's Primary School, Belfast
Mr Fryers is currently studying part-time for a Master's degree in Education at St Mary's University College Belfast. He graduated with a music degree from Queen's University Belfast in 2012 and qualified to work as a teacher the following year. He has been working mainly as a KS2 teacher in a Belfast primary school from then until present.
Dr Martin Hagan: Head of Education, St Mary's University College Belfast
Dr Hagan has worked in higher education for the past 22 years, supporting undergraduate and postgraduate Teacher Professional Learning. His role is Head of Education at St Mary's University College Belfast and prior to that he was a Senior Lecturer in Education Studies at Stranmillis University College, Belfast. Since 2014, Dr Hagan has been working closely with the Department of Education on the development of 'Learning Leaders: A Strategy for Teacher Professional Learning' and was Chair of the Leadership Competences Working Group.
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