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Seminar Synopsis 

Principalmeet 2020 is the perfect opportunity to maximise the value of your time spent at conference. It is an opportunity to listen to principals share good practice, practical ideas and personal insights into primary education and leadership. Each speaker will have approximately 5 minutes to speak on their given topic so participants will leave with several examples of good practice. It is informal but organised. You can simply relax and listen or present.
Note: Principalmeet will run only this year.

No powerpoints or handouts are required. If you would like to share your experience, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be included as a speaker.

About Gerard

Gerard Ruane is originally from Co. Mayo and spent part of his childhood in Co. Leitrim. He attended Ballinamore National School, Co. Leitrim and Bonniconlon National School, Co. Mayo. Following his secondary education in St. Muredach's College, Ballina, Co. Mayo, he trained as a teacher in Mary Immaculate College. He holds a Diploma in Management from Trinity College, a Diploma in Special Education Resource Teaching from Froebel College and a Masters of Arts in Special Education Needs from Roehampton University, London.

Gerard spent seven years teaching in St. Patrick's National School, Slane, Co. Meath, where he was also a post-holder. In 2007 he became Teaching Principal of Kilskyre National School outside Kells in Co. Meath. It initially had two mainstream teachers and a shared learning support teacher. Over the course of four years in grew to become a four teacher school with a shared learning support teacher. In 2011 he moved to Co. Clare and became Teaching Principal of Scariff National School. It had six mainstream teachers, a learning support teacher and a resource teacher. He became Administrative Principal of Parteen National School, Co. Clare in 2014. It has fourteen mainstream teachers and seven support teachers. He has an acute understanding of the challenges facing Principals of small and large schools.

He has facilitated the IPPN Summer Course, Ciall Ceannaithe, for a number of years. He delivered a seminar on Workload Management for Teaching Principals at conference. He is a member of the Principal Advice Panel and is a member of the Clare County Committee and the IPPN Board of Directors. He is Treasurer of IPPN. He is married to Aoibheann, who is also a primary school principal, and has one son, Mícheál, and two daughters, Méabh and Aela.