School Management

JP Sweetman has worked as an English teacher for eighteen years. He joined the Dublin Academy of Education in 2020 and was appointed Deputy Principal in 2022. JP graduated from UCD with a BA Honours in English and History. He also completed a Post Graduate in Education and a Post Graduate Diploma in Education Leadership. For the past decade, JP has served as an Examiner with the State Exams Commission, specialising in Higher Level Leaving Cert English. This experience allows him to provide students with the most relevant and current information, advice and trends, which provide the platform for success. JP is also a published author in the education sphere.

Chris Lauder is a 3rd generation entrepreneur and understands what it takes to build a successful organisation from the ground up. From an early age, Chris was immersed in a business-focused environment and was taught the utmost importance of providing top quality service to customers. This is a mantra that is at the core of ‘The Academy‘. Chris also holds a degree in Civil Engineering from UCD. In 2016, he was featured in the Irish Independent’s ’30 under 30’, a national publication profiling the country’s top business people under the age of 30. He was also a finalist in Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur in 2016.

Chris O’Brien joined the Academy team in 2012. In that time he has become an integral member of the management team. Chris has applied his background in Business Management and Project Management, combined with his years of experience managing the grinds school, to playing a key role in founding the full-time day school in September 2018. He is also a member of the Board of Management and is a key decision maker within the school. Chris is a natural leader and team player having played rugby at an AIL level for almost a decade.

Trisha Fullston brings over 20 years of experience within the Irish education system, having held a wide range of roles. Her background includes positions such as 4th Year Coordinator, where she played a key role in shaping student development and supporting year group coordination. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with staff, students, and parents, fostering strong, collaborative relationships and providing consistent guidance and support.

Deeply passionate about holistic education, Trisha is committed to nurturing the overall growth of each student, striving to help them achieve a healthy and sustainable balance between academic performance and personal wellbeing. She believes that emotional, social, and academic development are deeply interconnected.

In her current role, Trisha provides encouragement to senior cycle students, helping them navigate the challenges of their final school years. As the primary point of contact for 5th and 6th Year students and their families, she offers personalised support and plays an instrumental role in guiding students through critical academic and personal milestones.

Additionally, she serves as the official Examination Aide for the Leaving Certificate, managing and overseeing all administrative aspects of the examination process to ensure its smooth and compliant execution.

Dawn McCarron joined The Academy in 2012 as the school’s first ever employee. Now, as Admissions Director, Dawn is in charge of meeting all prospective students to ensure we only enrol students who are driven to achieve fulfilment both academically and beyond. Her expertise, grounded by a passion for education and the positive impact it can have on people’s lives, enables her to thrive on building strong nurturing relationships with her students by providing them with every possible opportunity to excel. Dawn also has over five years’ experience working in both TV media and communications fields which have been instrumental in moulding the culture at The Academy today. Dawn holds a B.A in Economics and Politics from UCD and a Master’s in Public Relations from DIT.