Published
The Teaching Council is delighted to announce the election by the Council of Michelle Keane as Chairperson. Michelle Keane was elected to the Teaching Council in 2020. She received her Bachelor of Education Degree from Saint Patrick’s College of Education (DCU) and subsequently a Masters in Education from the Open University. She has taught for 35 years in all types of primary school settings, most recently as Principal of Saint Patrick’s Senior National School, Skerries.
Michelle has been an active member of the INTO throughout her career and was Chairperson of the National Principals’ and Deputy Principals’ committee of the INTO for three years. She sat on the Primary Education Forum as the principals’ representative for two years and was a member of Dublin City University’s School Placement Advisory Board.
Michelle was hugely involved in the pilot project for Droichead and sat as an external member of the Professional Support Teams at this time. She was a member of the Education and Investigating Committees of the Teaching Council until her appointment as chairperson.
Michelle is originally from Whitehall and now lives in Stamullen, Co Meath. She is married to Peter and has a son Cillian and a daughter Aisling. Following her election as Chairperson of the Teaching Council, Michelle commented:
“I am both honoured and humbled to have been elected to such an important role.
“My vision for the Council is that it will continue to uphold the integrity and high standards of the teaching profession, a profession I am passionate about, and I believe that working in close collaboration with the Acting Director, Acting Deputy Director, my fellow Council members and all Council staff will enable the Council to further grow, influence policy, attract and retain teachers of a high calibre, support our profession, while at all times being cognisant of our regulatory obligations.
“I strongly believe in the power of our education system to affect positive change ‘ar son muintir na tíre’.
‘Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine’.
“On behalf of the Teaching Council, I very warmly acknowledge the excellent contribution of outgoing Chairperson Seán McMahon, and outgoing Deputy Chairperson, Noelle Moran, for their dedication and commitment to our profession, and to the Council throughout their appointments, and I wish them the very best both personally and in their careers for the future.”
The Teaching Council has 37 members including 16 members of the profession (primary and post-primary) who are directly elected by registered teachers, and others including nominees of the Higher Education Institutions, teacher unions, school management, parents’ councils, IBEC and ICTU, as well as Ministerial appointees. The current membership of the Council (including new appointees) can be viewed here.
The Teaching Council welcomes Ann Mulcahy as the new Deputy Chairperson and 14 newly appointed members to the Council and looks forward to their contribution to promoting and regulating professional standards in teaching. The members of the Council and the Acting Director Phil Fox wish the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, and new members of the Council the very best in their roles.
New members of the Council appointed on 4 April 2022
- Ms Sinead Brett Nominee – CPSMA
- Mr Eamon Dennehy Nominee – ASTI
- Dr Niamh Dennehy Nominee – UCC
- Ms Mai Fanning Nominee – NPC – Post-primary
- Ms Niamh Hourigan Nominee – MIC
- Ms Anne Loughnane Nominee – ASTI
- Ms Áine Lynch Nominee – NPC- Primary
- Ms Mary Magner Nominee – INTO
- Mr Fergal McCarthy Nominee – ACCS
- Ms Catherine Moynihan Nominee – JMB*
- Mr Seán Ó hArgáin Nominee – Gaeloideachas
- Mr Liam Ó Néill Nominee – Ministerial Appointee
- Prof Teresa O’Doherty Nominee – MIE
- Mr David O’Sullivan Nominee – INTO
- Catherine Moynihan was re-appointed.
- Sinead Brett was re-appointed.