Dublin City University this week welcomed five new teaching fellows to support the next generation of teachers currently enrolled in the DCU Institute of Education’s primary and second-level teacher education courses.
Among the new teacher fellows is Clare-native Claire Considine, originally from Doolin and an accomplished educator and guidance counsellor.
Over the coming two years, the fellowship will create the opportunity for the five experienced teachers to bring real-world classroom insight to teacher education programmes while also undertaking a programme of professional development. They join Pamela Ericson who began the two-year teacher fellowship in 2024 and is now in her second year of the programme.
The teaching fellows will work closely with academic staff and student teachers on various programmes across the Institute of Education. They will also support DCU students on school placements and as teachers-in-residence while supporting the University’s work of developing the 21st century teacher identity.
Dean of the Institute of Education Anne Looney said, ‘the classroom-experience these teachers bring to students studying at DCU is invaluable and I look forward to seeing the insight and innovation they will bring to their engagements with students and staff across the Institute of Education.’
Claire Considine, originally from Doolin in Co. Clare is an accomplished educator and guidance counsellor.
She holds an undergraduate degree in English and Religious Studies from Mary Immaculate College, and a postgraduate diploma in education from the University of Galway.
She also holds postgraduate qualifications in social policy from University College Cork, and in human development from Marino Institute of Education. Claire also holds a qualification in cognitive behavioural therapy for adolescents, and a first class Master’s degree in guidance counselling from Dublin City University.
Most recently, she was awarded the prestigious Women in Leadership Scholarship, where she completed a Professional Diploma in Positive Health at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
Claire is working with the DCU School of Human Development and looks forward to pursuing a PhD in education in the area of positive health and wellbeing.