Educate Together is delighted to announce that Dr Matthew Wallen has been appointed as Principal Teacher for Knocknacarra Educate Together National School, which will open in September 2014.
Matt has a wealth of experience in mainstream teaching, special education and school leadership. He has been the Principal at Limerick School Project NS since 2011 and has almost 11 years experience teaching in this Educate Together school. Matt grew up in Colorado, completed his teacher education at St Olaf College in Minnesota and taught in elementary and middle schools prior to relocating to Ireland in 2002.
Matt completed a PhD in 2011 at the University of Limerick. His research focus was on effective teaching for children learning English as an additional language as well as new models for continuing professional development for primary school teachers. Since 2011 he has also been a part-time lecturer at Mary Immaculate College of Education, organising and teaching courses on the Learn Together Curriculum, the ethical curriculum used by Educate Together schools across Ireland.
Along with Matt’s interest in language teaching, he is also enthusiastic about arts education. His interest in the arts extends to his personal life, and he has been an active member of several arts organisations in Galway City, the place Matt has considered home since 2002, including choirs Cois Cladaigh and Collegium and the Flock Dance Company.
Said Matt on his appointment: “I am honoured to be given a key role in developing Knocknacarra ETNS, and I look forward to facilitating the creation of this new learning community. The hard work of the start-up committee is evident, and I am very excited to work with the parents and children who will make up this dynamic new school. It is great to see that the ambitions of many parents in the Knocknacarra area have been realised with the establishment of a new Educate Together school. Together, with the parents, staff and children, I look forward to establishing a child-centred, democratic school where all children are welcomed. I would invite children and parents from the area to become involved in making this a place where pupils are happy, confident and engaged in learning.”
Matt will meet parents who have enrolled their children as well as any other families interested in finding out more about the new Knocknacarra ETNS at a public meeting on Tuesday, 13th May at 20.00 at the Clybaun Hotel.
Educate Together, along with local parents, is working closely with the Department of Education & Skills to make sure the opening runs smoothly. Knocknacarra ETNS is one of six new Educate Together national schools opening this September.
Educate Together has been offering multi-denominational education since 1978 when its first school, the Dalkey School Project opened. It has grown over the following years to a national network of 68 schools with over 16,000 pupils currently enrolled. Its schools are child-centred and teach the national curriculum. A founding principle of its approach to education is that all children regardless of social, cultural or religious backgrounds are treated with equal respect. Further information about Educate Together schools can be found at www.educatetogether.ie.
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