Our Team

Barbara comes to Stepaside Educate Together Secondary School from Mount Anville Secondary School, where she was Head of Guidance and Director of School Self-Evaluation and School Planning. Barbara has been a Guidance Counsellor in Mount Anville since 2005, having previously worked as a Guidance Counsellor in Rathdown Secondary School, Glenageary and in The High School, Rathgar. Prior to that she was for many years Head of Business in Sion Hill, Blackrock, where she taught Business, Accounting, Economics and Maths.

Barbara studied in UCD for her B Comm, H Dip Ed, and Postgraduate Diploma in Career Guidance. She recently achieved honours in her Masters in Education in UCD, having also studied in Jagaellonian University, Krakow, Poland.

Said Barbara on her appointment: ‘This is the fulfillment of a lifetime’s ambition for me and I look forward to commencing work in February and engaging with students and families towards building a wonderful school community in Stepaside ETSS. Stepaside ETSS marks a change in learning and teaching with the focus on problem solving, critical analysis and higher order learning rather than rote learning for the exams. In partnership with Trinity College, through Bridge 21, we will lead this change through an ICT mediated, cross-curricular and project based approach with Ethical Education at its core.’

Barbara is a passionate advocate for equality and inclusivity, and, throughout her career, has initiated numerous programmes in support of these ideals. A firm believer in empowering students to engage in independent thinking and active learning, Barbara believes that every student should be encouraged to embrace higher order thinking and learning in order to achieve the appropriate level of academic excellence. Says Barbara again: ‘I believe that it is through embracing these skills that young people will live full and enriched lives both as students and as adults. She looks forward to implementing this philosophy as Principal of Stepaside ETSS.’

principal@stepasideetss.ie

Sallie graduated with an MA (hons) in European Studies and European Languages from the University of Edinburgh, during which she worked at the European Parliament in Brussels as an assistant to an MEP. She then completed a PGCE in Secondary French and Spanish and began her teaching career in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. In 2006, she moved to a 2000 pupil school in Sheffield where she led a large languages department.

She moved to Ireland from Yorkshire in 2013 with her family and soon became involved in the campaign to bring a Second Level Educate Together School to the area. She was part of the original start up group for Stepaside Educate Together Secondary School and was delighted to have been appointed to teach Languages at SETSS last year. Prior to moving to SETSS she taught French in CBC Monkstown and the High School in Rathgar.

sennis@stepasideetss.ie

Thomas teaches History, Irish, Ethics and Business; but was also an Economics teacher until recently. He graduated with a BA and MA from UCC, a PGDE from NUI Galway and most recently graduated with an M. Ed. in Foundation Studies in Education from TCD.

He has taught at primary and second level in Waterford, Galway and Dublin before his appointment to Stepaside.

He is interested in student engagement, running the odd marathon and passionate about Waterford Hurling.

tcashin@stepasideetss.ie

Colin is an English, CSPE and Classical Studies teacher. He graduated with a BA (Hons) in English and Greek and Roman Civilisation from UCD.

He also has a Professional Diploma in Education, a Post-Graduate Certificate in 21^st Century Teaching and Learning and is currently undertaking a Masters in Cooperative Learning in Trinity College.

Colin has an interest in all things teaching and learning and is currently involved in an Erasmus project called Teaching for Tomorrow with teachers from Sweden, Germany and Estonia.

Colin loves watching sport and playing golf in his spare time.

cdoyle@stepasideetss.ie

Susie Gregan is teaching History, Geography, Business, Classical Studies and Home Economics here in Stepaside ETSS.

Susie has been teaching for the past 14 years and thus brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Stepaside team.

She graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in History and Greek and Roman Civilisation from UCD and then attended The Michael Smurfit Business School where she was awarded a First Class Honours Higher Diploma in Business Studies.

Susie’s commitment to cross curricular links is inspiring and she has been bitten by the Bridge 21 Bug.

Her extra-curricular activities include music, drama and student leadership.

sgregan@stepasideetss.ie

Feargal teaches Science, Maths, Gaeilge and Technology.

He graduated from U.C.D with an honours degree in Environmental Biology in 2010.

Having been teaching for three years he is very excited about the student centred learning that will be facilitated by teachers at Stepaside ETSS.

Feargal is very interested in sports and healthy living and will be involved in extra-curricular sporting activities.  He also has experience in radio show presenting and production and will be working with students on public speaking as well as producing radio shows within SETSS and for country-wide competitions.

fmairtin@stepasideetss.ie

Aoife is an art teacher as well as teaching technical graphics.

She graduated with a BA(Hons) Degree in Art and Design Education from The National College of Art and Design.

She is very interested in food and healthy eating and has a huge passion for photography and exploring Irish landscapes.

amcdonald@stepasideetss.ie

Ross is a Maths and Physical Education teacher, who also has a great passion for Music.

He studied PE and Maths in DCU, where he graduated with an Honours degree.

He advocates physical activity promoting healthy eating and encouraging lifelong physical activity.

Rugby, Soccer and Gaelic Football are his main sports, representing his county in Gaelic Football.

In music, he plays numerous instruments including banjo, mandolin and guitar.

rmcnerney@stepasideetss.ie

Olive O’Connell is an English and Philosophy graduate of University College Dublin. She began her career working with English undergraduates in UCD, Trinity College and St. Patrick’s, Drumcondra. She commenced her career as a post-primary teacher of English in Tallaght Community School. She subsequently moved to Deansrath Community College where she spent eleven years as a teacher in the college and as an active member of the wider community in Deansrath.

Over the course of her career, Olive has embraced the diversity of educational philosophies and methodologies. She retains post-graduate qualifications both in post-primary education and in adult education. Olive continued her personal and professional development with post-graduate studies in Special Educational Needs and, more recently, undertook further studies in Ethical and Multi-Denominational Education, and AFL, furthering her development as a teacher and a life-long learner.

Olive is passionate about social activism and has been an advising examiner for Civic, Social and Political Education for the State Examinations Commission for much of her career. Olive has also practiced her passion for social activism as an active trade unionist supporting her own teaching colleagues while holding a variety of offices within the Teachers’ Union of Ireland, including leading the Unions’ largest branch as chairperson and participating in the Unions’ Equality Council. Olive is looking forward to sharing her experience in this regard with the student body in Stepaside Educate Together Secondary School, helping to empower students in engaging in social activism and student leadership in order to support each other, and the wider community.

ooconnell@stepasideetss.ie

Fiachra graduated from NUI Maynooth with a BMUS and from Trinity College with a Masters in Education. He also holds Licentiate and Associate diplomas on piano from the Royal Irish Academy of Music and a Diploma in Music Production for Computer Games from Griffith College.

Prior to his work as a post-primary music teacher, Fiachra worked for approximately fifteen years in music. This involved entrepreneurship through music in composing for film, games and orchestra, playing professionally in bands, singing in choirs, teaching piano in the reputable Leeson Park School of Music and working as an instrumental examiner for the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

Fiachra is delighted to embrace 21^st century learning in the educate together ethos at SETSS. He is passionate about enquiry-based learning, promoting music as a practical subject and incorporating technology into second level music education. He looks forward to music expressing a shared purpose for the school and for SETSS to be recognisable for its rich musical and creative practices.

fwhite@stepasideetss.ie

Garry is an English, CSPE, (History) (Mandarin) and Classical Studies teacher. He graduated with a BA (Hons) in Pure English from U.C.D. After completing his undergraduate studies Garry graduated with a M.A. (Hons.) in Modern Drama Studies and a Higher Diploma in Education from U.C.D.

He also has a Professional Diploma in teaching Mandarin and Chinese culture  and is currently undertaking a Masters Teaching Mandarin and Chinese Culture at The Confucius Institute in U.C.D.

Garry has an interest in Chinese Martial Arts and has taught Tai Chi Chuan to students in the Confucius Institute and has also been hired to teach well being workshops in businesses. He is also a columnist in Irish Fighter magazine.

ghodgins@stepasideetss.ie

BSc (Hons) Analytical and Applied Chemistry PGCE (Aberystwyth University)

Sean has a passion for teaching his subjects to the highest standards. He encourages the use of active learning and integrated technologies in the classroom.

He has experience working in the UK and Ireland and has held the positions of Head of Chemistry and Vocational Science Coordinator. Sean has worked as a performance manager, helping the school leadership teams to monitor, observe and train staff. He has had responsibilities for the administration, development and implementation of effective schemes of work for State Examination bodies.

Sean has also works for the State Exam Commission as an Exam Co-ordinator. He has an in-depth knowledge of the exams and marking schemes, having taught students who have achieved 100% (400/400) in the their Leaving Certificate Chemistry exam. He aims to promote his courses with enthusiasm and relevance, using exam based material to allow for the best possible opportunities.

In his free time Sean enjoys cycling and swimming.

Catherine is a Spanish teacher. She graduated with a BA (Hons) in German and History from NUI Galway.

She also has a Higher Diploma in Education from U.C.D., a Post-Graduate Diploma of Spanish from Dublin Institute of Technology and is currently undertaking a Masters in Education in U.C.D.

As well as working in schools, Catherine was seconded to work as a Regional Project Leader to the Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative, a role she loved. This included

supporting teachers in the teaching and learning of modern languages at primary level. After this experience, she moved to Brussels, where she taught History in European School I.

Catherine is very passionate about learning languages and loves working in Stepaside Educate Together which has such a rich and diverse school community. She is a strong advocate of active learning methodologies and is excited about learning about the Bridge 21 learning model.

Rachel is an SNA here in Stepaside ETSS.

She enjoys reading, cooking, shopping and most importantly spending time with family and friends! She is looking forward to spending the coming years growing and learning together in Stepaside ETSS.

Niamh is delighted to join Stepaside Educate Together Secondary School. Previously working with children in early years, primary school, ASD school, Arts in Health, Niamh is now in her fourth year working as a Special Needs Assistant with post primary students.

Niamh qualified as a Special Needs Assistant after completing a Diploma with the College of Progressive Education. Niamh also has completed a course in Lamh and has a background in Art, Design and 3D Studies.

In her spare time Niamh enjoys yoga, pilates, football, art and spending time with her family and friends.

Sonya has a BA Degree in Psychology and comes to us after taking some time out to have her family. She completed the Special Needs Assistant QQI level 5&6 course with the Progressive College of Education in 2018.

She coaches athletics at the school having a keen interest in the sport herself starting at schools level and has gone on to represent Ireland competing at the European and World Mountain Running Championships. She hopes to develop the athletics programme at our school to have students competing in cross country and track events.

In her spare time she can be seen running up the Wicklow mountains or in Marlay Park for her training sessions!

After studying English and Philosophy in NUI Galway, Michelle returned to Dublin to enjoy the social and cultural scene of the city again. Passionate about mental health and the environment, she is hoping to make a small difference somewhere in the world.

Xanda trained in DLIADT and started her professional career as a filmmaker/photographer in the Irish film industry. Later as an exhibiting artist, the interactive nature of her exhibitions/installations Light Shadow and Ink (photography/poetry) awakened her interest in education.

Working with children since 2004 in various capacities, from workshop facilitator (Fighting Words) and resources development (Ballymun Comprehensive), to spending 6 years at Lycée Français d’Irlande/primary contributing to the improvement of the After School Services and implementing Book projects in the Early Years section, she graduated from DCU with a Honours Degree in Education & Training in 2011.  Subsequently completing her H. Diploma in Art and Montessori Education with Saint Nicholas Montessori College Ireland, she worked as an Assistant and then as a Montessori teacher in the Early Years Sector.

In the last year and half, she took a break to care for her mum and Stepaside Educate Together was a perfect opportunity to return to work. She finds that the Montessori philosophy/method of guiding children’s interests in Learning for life, fit seamlessly with the Educate Together Ethos which embraces Kindness and Respect as paramount values.

She is passionate about reading and writing, eclipse chasing, climbing mountains, meditation and Kung Fu. Xanda feels grateful and inspired to join the Stepaside Educate Together SNA’s team in this vibrant community.

Alice is the Guidance Counsellor here at Stepaside ETSS. She has come to us from CBC Monkstown, where she spent three years in the role of Guidance Counsellor. Before that Alice worked in St. Mac Dara’s Community College in Templeogue teaching Italian and Guidance, in Newpark Comprehensive teaching Guidance and Life-Skills and in Larkin Community College teaching Italian and SPHE. She also taught Italian in Rutland NS to the 6th class students as part of the Modern Languages Initiative from 2008-2010.

Alice was a student in Newpark Comprehensive School before she did her undergraduate degree in History of Art and Italian in UCD between 1998-2002. She subsequently completed an MA in Italian in UCD and the HDip. in Education in Trinity College Dublin, graduating in 2007.

Alice values highly the pastoral role within education and teaching and is passionate about the well-being and personal development of young people. To this end she undertook the NUI Maynooth Certificate in Counselling Skills in 2010 and then went on to complete the MEd. in Guidance and Counselling in Trinity College Dublin between 2011 and 2013.

Alice is also passionate about Mindfulness and is a trained MiSP Teach .b facilitator. She practices yoga regularly and loves to walk and swim. She loves to spend her spare time with her family and friends and loves music, art, language and travelling. She is delighted to have joined the community of Stepaside ETSS! Please follow Stepaside ETSS Guidance and Counselling on Twitter @SETSSGuidance
aoconnor@stepasideetss.ie

Alex is our school administrator. She is from Lodz in Poland, but has been living in Dublin for the last 10 years. She previously worked for Philips, Symantec and gained invaluable experience performing various duties as senior administrator in Sandford Park School.

Married to an Irishman and a mum of a daughter, a big fan of Game of Thrones and Star Wars, she shares interest in baking, history, literature, cinema (not only Sci-Fi) and cycling.

She is delighted to be a part of the new school and hopes she will be able to use her skills and understanding of the school environment to accommodate all the students and parents as best as possible.