JENNIFER Kelly is the principal of St Columba’s College in Stranorlar and is “over the moon” to have the “privilege” to lead the “wonderful school”.
Ms Kelly is excited to begin her new post on September 1 when she will meet all of the 950 students first time.
She spoke to the Donegal News about her experience so far at the Stranorlar secondary school, as well as her hopes for the future of the school.
Jennifer said: “It’s such a wonderful school and I was just over the moon to get the interview for the position in the first place, and to be appointed then was such a privilege.
“One thing that I’ve noticed is there’s so many strengths to St Columba’s.
“The teaching leadership aspect of St Columba’s is really, really strong, and there are lots of opportunities for students to get involved in an areas such as prefects, mentors, senior prefects, head boy and head girl.
“ I am struck by the opportunities that are here in St Columba’s for our students to lead.
“The staff here at St Columba’s are promoting student leadership and that’s creating the all-around education experience for students that we want.”
EARLY CAREER
Jennifer, originally from Inniskeen in Monaghan, began her teaching career in Coláiste Choilm in Swords, Dublin.
She also has many years of experience in supporting children with special educational needs navigate mainstream schools.
Ms Kelly is replacing the much loved Mr Tom Rowan, who has retired after 38 years of service in St Columba’s.
The new school head has expressed her admiration for the community that Mr Rowan and the other staff have created at St Columba’s and said that she is privileged to have been appointed.
She added that Mr Rowan and deputy principals Mr John Sweeney, Ms Georgina White, and Ms Amanda Kelly have been an amazing support to her as she settles in.
Ms Kelly also spoke on recent first year inductions, where senior prefects had the opportunity to help first years settle in.
She said: “Honestly, it was hard to distinguish who were the teaching staff and who were the Prefects, because they were so skilled and so kind and supportive to our incoming first years.
“The students that are coming in to our school year on year are so well minded, not only by the staff but particularly by the students, and that’s so evident here on the ground.
“That’s something that I’m privileged to be walking into: a space where that has already been cultivated and created as a culture.
“It’s something that I genuinely have a real belief and faith in and it’s something that I would always want to continue to promote in every avenue”.
The schools leaving students recently received their exam results and Ms Kelly said that she was “blown away” by the hard work and dedication shown by students and teachers.
She added that these talents are the result of a collective effort by students, staff, and families.
As well as teaching English, Ms Kelly is also passionate about special education, and has a degree in human development, which has a large focus on psychology and sociology.
These skills have allowed Ms Kelly to support students with literacy and numeracy difficulties, and in particular, children with autism.
SPECIAL EDUCATION
She will now use these skills to set up St Columba’s College’s first special class, as she has done previously in other schools.
St Columba’s has enrolled four students that will benefit from this class: three first year students and one third-year student.
Jennifer said: “It was an area that I was very interested in from the beginning. After my first year teaching, I went and did a special needs course. I suppose from that stage on, half of my timetable would have been special needs in a variety of different forms.
“Early on it was in the resource support where you’d be looking at the literacy and numeracy support.
“But then the move in education at the time was to support the students, particularly with autism and help students come through the mainstream setting.
“So earlier on in my career I would have been helping students in a support capacity to cope with the anxiety and stress that would come with coming into a big mainstream secondary school and managing their own autism and really being able to challenge yourself in an appropriate way.”
St Columba’s will begin building an extension which will make space for more special classrooms, facilities, and opportunities for an already thriving school community.
Ms Kelly extended her thanks to Mr Tom Rowan, other deputy principals, teachers, special needs assistants, and all who have welcomed her to this new school and community.