E24: Building Meaningful Relationships, Taking Action and Developing Networks with Mark O'Dea
In episode 24 of the Growth in Education Leadership Podcast, I welcome Mark O'Dea, an engineering teacher from County Clare, to discuss his teaching career and leadership roles. Mark, who has been teaching since 2007, shares his journey from student to teacher in the same school and highlights the importance of building relationships with students both in and out of the classroom. He discusses his roles as an AP1 holder, year head, and his involvement in digital learning. Mark reflects on career accomplishments, including replacing his own engineering teacher and coaching successful football teams. He emphasises the value of connecting with students, creating a positive classroom environment, and leveraging AI and progressive teaching methods. The episode also touches on the critical roles of unions and subject associations in shaping educational experiences and future-proofing the workforce.TIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction to the Podcast00:38 Mark’s Teaching Journey01:27 Career Highlights and Accomplishments03:51 Building Relationships with Students11:39 Coaching and Extracurricular Activities16:09 Leadership and Refereeing Insights28:07 Proactive Teamwork in Education28:50 Challenges and Realities of Union Involvement32:26 Importance of Union Membership35:15 Senior Cycle Reform and Teacher Involvement40:13 The Role of AI in Education55:12 Concluding Thoughts and Contact InformationUSEFUL RESOURCESNCSE: https://ncse.ie/for-teachersTUI: Contact the TUI: https://www.tui.ie/contact-us.77.htmlASTI: Contact the ASTI: https://www.asti.ie/contact-us/INTO: Contact the INTO: https://www.into.ie/CONTACT INFORMATION Contact Mark on Twitter @A E D O K R A M or email
[email protected]
Ireland