The new Knocknacarra Educate Together National School, which opens in September, has appointed Dr Matthew Wallen as its principal teacher.
A public meeting will be held at the Clybaun Hotel on Tuesday May 13, at 8pm, when parents who have enrolled their children, or other families interested in finding out more about the new Knocknacarra ETNS, can meet with Dr Wallen.
Dr Wallen 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.
Originally from Colarado, Dr Wallen completed his teacher education at St Olaf College in Minnesota and taught in elementary and middle schools prior to relocating to Ireland in 2002. He completed a PhD in 2011 at the University of Limerick. Since 2011 Dr Wallen 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.
Dr Wallen said: “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.”
Further information about Educate Together schools can be found on www.educatetogether.ie
