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The Growth in Educational Leadership Podcast
𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡?
𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙙𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪!
Through my recruitment work in the education and public sectors, I see trends emerging amongst the 1000s of candidates I've helped to date - from ➡️ career blindspots to➡️ long, complicated interview questions and➡️how confidence holds so many teachers back.
Because I understand the system that teachers work in, the language they use, the challenges they face, and the frameworks that shape education, this podcast (and the way I work) means that teachers grow professionally as quickly as possible!
Combining mindset with strategy, I'll be sharing ways to sell yourself better and how to make the Looking at Our School Document work for you. I'll also share insider stories from experts in education and beyond.
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Owner: Orla Dempsey
The Growth in Educational Leadership Podcast
E51: Aislinn Nic Pháidín: From Classroom to DCU: Teacher Fellowships, Change, and Wellbeing
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Orla interviews primary teacher and Instagram creator Aislinn Nic Pháidín: (Is Muinteoir Mé) about taking a two-year career break to become a Teacher Fellow in DCU’s BEd programme after teaching since graduating from Marino in 2013/2014. Ashlyn describes her hesitant application process, fear of change, and practical trade-offs, including commuting, longer days, no school holidays, and a pay cut, balanced by funded further study and a Master’s.
She explains the fellowship’s purpose of bringing current classroom insights into third-level teacher education, mentoring and visiting students on placement, and why it is limited to two years. Aislinn reflects on realising she was near burnout, feeling refreshed, revisiting best practice, and promoting relationship-building, balance, and well-being for student teachers.
She discusses how drama built confidence, and how COVID led to webinars, Irish-language resources, and a bilingual teacher planner.
TIME STAMPS
- 00:43 Aislinn's Teaching Journey
- 01:52 Applying for the Fellowship
- 03:38 Fear of Change and Decision
- 06:32 Tradeoffs and Master’s Funding
- 07:15 Why It’s Only Two Years
- 09:13 Returning Refreshed
- 11:52 Sharing the Move Online
- 15:17 Qualities of Teacher Fellows
- 19:06 Imposter Syndrome and Team Balance
- 21:03 Relationships First
- 21:36 Teacher Wellbeing Boundaries
- 23:26 Rest Is Productive
- 25:23 Priorities And Time
- 27:13 Drama Builds Confidence
- 29:59 Showtime In Class
- 34:14 Planner Born In Covid
- 38:20 Helping Teachers Take Risks
- 39:10 Leap Of Faith Closing
[The Growth in Educational Leadership Podcast
Host: Orla Dempsey]