This episode of The Growth in Educational Leadership Podcast is a real gift for you and it's ideal for your reflective practice as you apply for leadership roles! Yes, I'm talking about job applications! 🎉

• In this episode, I emphasise the importance of maintaining a relaxed attitude, attention to detail, and creating applications that stand out. 
• It also highlights the significance of timely submissions and the benefits of personalised feedback

A LITTLE ABOUT MY SERVICES
The Confident Career Leader Programme is my intensive, high-support programme - tailored to the needs of aspiring DPs and Principals. Watch the video above for more information.

The Teachers Promotion Club combines brilliant online support with 1-1 access to me to foster your professional growth. At just €37 per month - The Teacher Promotion Club is designed to convert what you know into a new AP role and variety in your career!

TIMESTAMPS

• 00:00 Welcome to Episode 25
• 00:40 Listener Appreciation and Feedback
• 01:23 Impact of the Recent Storm
• 02:13 Introduction to Job Application Forms
• 02:50 Common Mistakes in Job Applications
• 06:46 Attention to Detail in Applications
• 07:31 Creating Standout Applications
• 09:11 Importance of Timely Submission
• 11:04 Continuous Professional Development
• 12:12 Overcoming Job Application Anxiety
• 13:08 Belief in the Right Answer
• 14:09 Final Tips and Programs
• 21:11 Conclusion and Next Steps

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In episode 24 of the Growth in Education Leadership Podcast, I welcome Mark O'Dea, an engineering teacher from County Clare, to discuss his teaching career and leadership roles. 

Mark, who has been teaching since 2007, shares his journey from student to teacher in the same school and highlights the importance of building relationships with students both in and out of the classroom. He discusses his roles as an AP1 holder, year head, and his involvement in digital learning. 

Mark reflects on career accomplishments, including replacing his own engineering teacher and coaching successful football teams. He emphasises the value of connecting with students, creating a positive classroom environment, and leveraging AI and progressive teaching methods. The episode also touches on the critical roles of unions and subject associations in shaping educational experiences and future-proofing the workforce.

TIMESTAMPS

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast
• 00:38 Mark’s Teaching Journey
• 01:27 Career Highlights and Accomplishments
• 03:51 Building Relationships with Students
• 11:39 Coaching and Extracurricular Activities
• 16:09 Leadership and Refereeing Insights
• 28:07 Proactive Teamwork in Education
• 28:50 Challenges and Realities of Union Involvement
• 32:26 Importance of Union Membership
• 35:15 Senior Cycle Reform and Teacher Involvement
• 40:13 The Role of AI in Education
• 55:12 Concluding Thoughts and Contact Information

USEFUL RESOURCES

• NCSE: https://ncse.ie/for-teachers
• TUI: Contact the TUI: https://www.tui.ie/contact-us.77.html
• ASTI: Contact the ASTI: https://www.asti.ie/contact-us/
• INTO: Contact the INTO: https://www.into.ie/

CONTACT INFORMATION
Contact Mark on Twitter @A E D O K R A M or  
email [email protected]

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In episode 23 of the Growth and Educational Leadership podcast, I welcome Simon Lewis, principal of Carlow Educate Together and a seasoned blogger, to share his perspective on educational leadership. Simon discusses his journey from a computer scientist to an unplanned career in teaching, ultimately becoming a principal. He reflects on his experiences, including launching Ireland’s first education blog, founding a multi-denominational school, and the inception of his popular podcast 'If I Were the Minister for Education.' Simon also offers insightful advice for aspiring educators on job applications, interviews, and the importance of authenticity. Additionally, he highlights the transformation of education through technology and the value of sharing within the teaching community.

• 00:00 Welcome and Guest Introduction
• 04:29 From Computer Science to Teaching
• 09:05 Founding a Multi-Denominational School
• 11:59 Leadership and Overcoming Rejection
• 17:37 Interview Tips and Advice
• 21:15 Leadership and Authority in Teaching
• 21:45 Tips for Teaching Job Applications
• 23:57 Personalizing Your Application
• 25:54 Interview Strategies and Authenticity
• 29:04 The Importance of Warmth in Teaching
• 34:50 Sharing Lesson Plans and Teacher Collaboration
• 38:40 The Evolution of Technology in Education
• 40:23 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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In the first episode of the Growth in Educational Leadership podcast for 2025, I delve into detailed strategies for securing senior and middle leadership roles in education. You need to BACK YOURSELF and take control of what's within your control in your job search. 

I share insights from my personal experiences, offer practical tips such as practicing positive self-talk, staying determined, engaging in personal development, and focusing on impact rather than experience.

Additionally, the episode highlights the importance of understanding one's own journey and emotional triggers to better prepare for leadership roles.  I also emphasise the value of personal development through resources such as coach, counselling, NLP, sound therapy etc  to achieve career goals in 2025.

TIMESTAMPS

• 00:00 Welcome to the Growth in Educational Leadership Podcast
• 01:06 Inviting Teachers and Positive Messages
• 03:44 Five Tips to Back Yourself for 2025
• 04:28 Tip 1: Practice Positive Self-Talk
• 08:15 Tip 2: Be Determined and Committed
• 12:17 Tip 3: Personal Development Work
• 14:54 Tip 4: Focus on Impact and Reputation
• 16:58 Overcoming Rejection and Building Resilience
• 24:35 Tip 5: The Importance of Self-Awareness
• 28:25 Conclusion and Future Episodes

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In this episode, I delve into Developing Leadership Capacity and what it looks like in schools in a practical sense. With the help of LAOS 2022, I highlight the human experiences of things like self-doubt in team teaching and finding your voice. 
In a coaching style, I ask thought-provoking questions designed to help teachers dig deeper and reflect on key topics.

FREE HYPNOSIS MEDITATION
I've helped lots of teachers simplify their thoughts in mock interview sessions. Now, this tool helps teachers prepare in just 8 minutes for leadership roles by building confidence and clarity in their strategic vision. https://orla-dempsey-coaching.simplerosites.com/meditation

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Today I'm addressing the common concerns that educators have about the 'Managing the Organisation' Domain. 
I encounter lots of teachers who feel that they don't have experience in that area - my aim is to help teachers see that Managing The Organisation is more than 

• staffing
• managing budgets
• leading SSE etc. 

We talk about simple teacher-centred approaches for strategies for creating a positive school culture, managing resources, handling complex situations, and promoting professional responsibility.

FREE HYPNOSIS MEDITATION
I've helped lots of teachers simplify their thoughts in mock interview sessions. Now, this tool helps teachers prepare in just 8 minutes for leadership roles by building confidence and clarity in their strategic vision. https://orla-dempsey-coaching.simplerosites.com/meditation

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In this episode of the Growth in Educational Leadership podcast, I welcome Claire from Teaching Plans.ie. 

Claire shares her unconventional path to teaching, her experience in a developing school, and how her side project, Teaching Plans, evolved into a thriving business. Claire dives into the intricacies of managing a business while on a career break, the importance of adaptability, and the impact of using technology like AI in education.

She offers practical advice on social media usage for teachers, business management, and maintaining a work-life balance. The conversation also touches on current educational trends, such as the shift in the Aistear curriculum.

 Tune in to hear Claire's inspiring story and gain valuable insights into educational leadership and resource creation.

• 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest
• 00:45 Claire's Journey to Teaching
• 03:46 Starting a Business in Education
• 06:34 Navigating Copyright and Resources
• 10:22 Managing Finances and Growth
• 13:10 Expanding into Training and Consultancy
• 15:36 Balancing Work and Personal Life
• 20:32 The Role of Social Media
• 25:07 The Importance of Teacher Collaboration
• 26:50 Navigating Social Media as a Teacher
• 27:43 Balancing School Promotion and Student Privacy
• 31:48 Managing a Teacher Blog and Online Presence
• 37:27 Leveraging AI for Teaching Efficiency
• 44:51 Encouragement for Aspiring Leaders

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In this week's episode, I welcome guest speaker Gillian Fagan, a psychotherapist from Acora Therapy. This episode centres on developing emotional awareness and intelligence, drawing on Gillian's extensive psychotherapy and mental health education background.

Gillian shares her personal journey into psychotherapy, including her own experiences as a client, and dives into topics such as inner child work, the importance of self-care for caregivers like teachers, and the diverse modalities for emotional release. The conversation also explores the realities of accessing mental health services and the benefits of seeking appropriate professional support.
TIMESTAMPS

• 00:00 Welcome and Introduction
• 01:06 Gillian Fagan's Journey into Psychotherapy
• 06:47 The Importance of Inner Child Work
• 12:36 Releasing Emotions and Self-Care
• 19:55 Tools for Teachers and Caregivers
• 26:04 Understanding Needs vs Wants
• 26:48 The Power of Positive Self-Talk
• 28:06 Preparing for Interviews: Self-Awareness
• 29:27 Navigating Therapy and Counseling
• 32:17 Accessing Affordable Mental Health Services
• 41:51 The Importance of Supervision for Leaders
• 44:30 Upcoming Events and Final Thoughts

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In this week's episode, I share my insights from the recent IPPN Education Expo, and discuss my interactions with primary school principals and exhibitors.

The main focus of this episode is on helping teachers develop emotional awareness. I'm outlining 10 strategies for emotional intelligence, including self-awareness, accurate emotion labeling, pausing before reacting, cultivating empathy, building relationship skills, managing stress, seeking feedback, practising gratitude, focusing on emotional regulation, and committing to lifelong learning.

Practical tips and personal experiences are provided to guide educators and leaders on their emotional awareness journey.

TIMESTAMPS

• 00:00 Introduction and Weekly Update
• 02:16 Focus on Emotional Awareness
• 04:21 10 Strategies for Developing Emotional Awareness
• 13:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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In this episode of the Growth in Educational Leadership podcast, I share my excitement about the upcoming IPPN Expo in Killarney and discuss meeting school principals.
 
This episode offers practical advice for teachers preparing for leadership interviews, covering key strategies such as clarifying the role, reflecting on past achievements, researching the school, gathering competency-based interview questions, developing a storytelling strategy, and incorporating relaxation and mindset work.

If you want free LAOS-focused interview questions - I got you covered!
50 Key Questions to Ask Yourself Before Applying For Roles in Education:  https://www.orladempseycoaching.ie/page/286420


TIME STAMPS

00:00 Introduction and Personal Update

01:03 Preparing for an Interview: Key Strategies

02:12 Clarifying the Role and Its Requirements

03:47 Reflecting on Past Achievements

05:56 Researching the School

06:53 Gathering Competency-Based Questions

09:29 Developing a Personal Storytelling Strategy

12:58 Relaxation and Mindset Work

15:35 Conclusion and Best Wishes

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