Meet The Team

On moving to Monaghan in 1992, Anna Mai taught in St. Patrick’s National School, Clara, in North Monaghan and in Scoil Mhuire, Gransha, Clones from 1994-2000. She became the Teaching Principal of Scoil Mhuire, Magherarney, Smithborough in 2000 where she remained until becoming Administrative Principal of St. Louis GNS in Monaghan town in 2008. Dedicated to the value of continuous learning, Anna Mai completed a Masters in Educational Management in 2009 with the University of Ulster and has been a part-time facilitator with the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) since 2006. She became a member of the Irish Primary Principals’ Network (IPPN) Board of Directors in 2009. Her responsibilities on the board lie in the areas of principal advice, CPD, resource and policy development, supports for Teaching Principals and School Self Evaluation. More recently she has sat on the management committee of Partnership Schools, a joint initiative between IPPN and the National Parents’ Council. Anna Mai was appointed as Deputy Director Primary of the Centre for School Leadership in May of this year.

She was appointed Principal in St. Paul’s Secondary School Oughterard in 1993. In 2005 she was seconded as Assistant National Coordination to the Leadership Development for Schools (LDS) team and coordinated programmes such as Misneach-the programme for newly appointed Principals and Forbairt –a development programme for established Principals and Deputy Principals. She was also involved in the production of an updated profile of school leadership in Ireland. Mary was elected as President of The National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals in October 2014.

Máire was educated by the Loreto order, is a graduate of UCD and taught Gaeilge and Maths in schools in Bray Co. Wicklow, Carrickmacross Co. Monaghan and Leixlip Co. Kildare from 1981 onwards. She was appointed the first Deputy Principal of St Peter’s College, Dunboyne Co. Meath in 1995. She moved to Castlecomer Community School as Principal in 2002 and moved again in 2005 to become the founding Principal of Ratoath College in Co. Meath. In 2013 she became the Education and Leadership Officer of Louth Meath Education and Training Board. She is the chairperson of the board of management of the newly established Ballymackenny College in Drogheda, Co. Louth. Máire has experience working in all three sectors at post primary level