“Moving into teaching—at any age—opens up new ways to help others”

“I worked as a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) for six years, and before that, I was at home raising my three children. When my youngest started secondary school, I trained as an SNA and worked in both autism and mainstream classes. It was incredibly rewarding, but over time, I started to feel I could do more.

“While working, I completed a Psychology degree through DCU Connected. That gave me a real confidence boost when it came to education. I began thinking seriously about becoming a teacher—but I’ll be honest, I thought I was too old. I was 53 when I started this programme. One of my children said to me, 'You’ll still be 53 whether you do the course or not—wouldn’t it be better if you were a teacher?' That really stuck with me. And I am coming to this programme with so-called life experience, and it does help. 

“I wanted to become a teacher because I knew I could make a difference. Being an SNA is wonderful, but you’re somewhat limited in what you can do. Teaching gives you more leeway and more options to help children thrive.

“One of the biggest hurdles for me was Irish. My Irish wasn’t great, and the TEG exam felt daunting. But I got through it—I did the course, sat the exam, and got what I needed. Another concern was spending time in the Gaeltacht. I worried I wouldn’t be ready, but I met Tara Concannon Gibney, the PMEP (Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching)) Co-ordinator, at an open day. She explained I wouldn’t have to go until later in the New Year, and that gave me time to prepare.

“There’s a lot of support around Irish in the programme. I take two Irish modules, and I’ve found listening to TG4’s Nuacht and Irish podcasts really helpful. A group of us also go to Seomra Caidrimh on campus—it’s a great space to chat as Gaeilge, no matter your fluency. Everyone’s been so encouraging.

“My weekly schedule is full but manageable. Monday is for asynchronous study—I usually start on Sunday night to give myself more freedom. Tuesday to Thursday are full days on campus, 9am to 6pm, and Friday is a half day. I’m quite organised, so I use Mondays and Fridays for reading, portfolio work, and reflections.

“The staff on the programme are incredibly approachable. I never feel afraid to ask a question. They’ve taught in classrooms for years, shaped curriculum and policy, and have led out on research in education. Their experience is invaluable—and they respect how hard we work as postgrads.

“We’re able to organise our own placements, which is a real advantage. I’ve already arranged mine for this year and next with schools I’ve worked in before, close to home.

“I’m originally from Cabra West and now living in Drumcondra. Choosing DCU was easy—I believe the DCU Institute of Education is the home of education in Ireland. It’s led the way for many years, and I’m proud to be part of it.”

DCU Prospectus - Go back to Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching)