Kieran McTaggart named as new Director of Donegal Education Support Centre

Kieran McTaggart was appointed as the new Director of the Donegal Education Support Centre last Friday by the Minister of Education, Ms Norma Foley.

The Centre provides quality professional and personal development courses for teachers and educators at a local, regional and national level. Kieran has been a Teacher of History and RE and an Assistant Principal at Loreto Community School, Milford.

He holds a Master's Degree in Education from the National University of Ireland, Galway along with several Post Graduate Diplomas in Educational Studies and School Development Planning, from NUI Galway.

In recent years, outside school, Kieran has played a pivotal role in a number of educational initiatives. In 2018 he joined JCT (Junior Cycle for Teachers) and worked as a JCT Associate, where he was involved and responsible for the design and delivery of whole school CPD for teachers throughout schools in the North West in the area of teaching, learning and assessment.

He has also worked in close collaboration with the Teaching Council of Ireland where he served as a member of the Teacher Recruitment and Supply Focus Group and is a trained
Cosán Facilitator. In this role, he facilitated workshops for Teachers and Principals who engaged in the Cosán Framework, the National Framework for Teachers’ Learning.

Currently, Kieran is a DCU School Placement Tutor, where he supports and mentors student teachers on placement throughout Donegal and evaluates their practice while on school placement.

In his spare time, he has been involved in coaching and mentoring both Primary and Post Primary Teachers who wish to aspire to Middle Leadership positions within their schools. He joined the Management Committee of the Donegal Education Support Centre and was appointed Chairperson in 2022. He has vast experience in educational planning and research and has successfully led initiatives on how schools can support PME Students on School Placement. He has also served on several Boards of Management.

“I am absolutely honoured and privileged to hold this position and l am really looking forward to working in close collaboration with Teachers and Principals throughout Donegal and the very dedicated staff of the Education Centre and the network, Education Support Centres of Ireland (ESCI),” Kieran said of his appointment. “The role of Director will bring many new opportunities and l am looking forward to leading and working with the staff and the management committee in building strong links and developing more partnerships locally to further enhance the great work of the Donegal Education Support Centre”.