API - Assistant Principals, Ireland

Are schools finding a deterioration in pupil behaviour? Would be interesting to hear from teachers what they believe the causes are and possibly what they have tried to improve behaviour? #edchatie #education

A terrible tragedy. Thoughts are with Aishling Murphy’s family, her colleagues, the pupils of her school and the community of Tullamore at this awful time. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis.

@caitriona_hand @BillyRyanWex @Education_Ire This is great to hear @caitriona_hand about your situation. I do apologise if I caused any offence to anyone, it was definitely not my intention - on reflection it was poorly worded. Always room for improvement I guess! Every day is a school day.

@APIreland @BillyRyanWex @Education_Ire Your subsequent tweet continued the division. If we're at the level of APs vs principals, we have no hope against government & others. V pleased that's not the situation in my school. Already getting msgs from several APs with "Let me know when ur on duty. I'll help."

Teachers: Have you been consulted by the @Education_Ire, principals or BOM on your thoughts for a safe return? As many also teach full time, is it not essential to hear from those actually in the classroom who have to deal with the daily fallout from staff shortages? 1/2

@BillyRyanWex @RodsMears No absolutely not. Intention was not to cause division or upset. And yes of course, all leaders ate entitled to downtime. As I said, I was just interested to see see lay of the land as all school communities are different. Wishing all leaders well in the challenges ahead.

Thank you for the many replies to earlier tweet. Unsurprising that many teachers feel let down by @Education_Ire 1/2

@RodsMears @Education_Ire Absolutely agree. And it appears that school management teams everywhere have worked tirelessly throughout this mess with a stick-together attitude that has undoubtedly been the bandage over the wound since Aug 2020.

@APIreland @Education_Ire The last thing we need is uneccesary rifts opening up in school communities. Each and every member can write an email or pick up a phone to their respective union, patron and TD. We are all in this together.

The term 'stakeholders' seems to be losing meaning these days with certain government officials. Clarity needed? 2/2

The feedback on masks from new DE guidelines seems to be littered with confusion, frustration and sheer disappointment and a lack of leadership from the Department. Do you agree with these sentiments?

Wishing all leadership staff in schools good mental health as they work hard to support the families of their respective schools. Middle leaders will need to step up again and support their principal as the coming days are sure to bring new challenges. #edchatie

What are middle leaders thoughts on the Comhar programme? #leadership #edchatie #schoolleaders

@doreenbarrouil Thanks for your contribution @doreenbarrouil

@APIreland Constuctive and specific feedback from interviews can be very helpful. Identify the strengths and areas that can be worked on going forward.

With many leadership vacancies in country now, what role does the senior leadership team have in supporting those who are unsuccessful in an application/interview? Or is it simply a case of 'the winner takes it all' so suck it up and move on? #edchatie #Wellbeing #education

Are you a primary teacher with an AP post? This questionnaire will be of interest @APIreland docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…

@aoifeblood @blath13 Great idea for a survey. Would be particularly interested in how the pandemic has affected middle leaders' mental well-being.

@blath13 @APIreland I completed it in a 'I've started so I'll finish' approach. In most cases when I wanted to select multiple boxes, I added them as text. Hopefully you'll be able to extract answers that way.

@aoifeblood @blath13 This is a great idea! Always good to get feedback from across the board to see the lay of the land. Very interested to hear about middle leaders' mental health/wellbeing at the close of this year.

@blath13 @APIreland Really interesting, Bláthnaid, thanks. If its not too late, could you change the questions with a selection of options so that people can tick all that are appropriate, not just 1? Thx

@MuinDee @ambaist Some suggesting that there be a post for each of the core subjects as a baseline? Thoughts?

@APIreland @ambaist For schools with low number of posts especially. Some schools have one APII no API but the work load is as much as another middle sized school.

As an AP1 or AP2, has your workload increased this year? If so, is it just down to Covid or are there other factors at play?