School Management

Ciaran Hartigan Principal at The Dublin Academy of Education

Principal

Ciarán Hartigan has been involved in school management for many years, and has extensive experience in a variety of educational roles. Having taught for over ten years at one of south Dublin’s most well-regarded fee-paying schools, he has liaised with staff, students and parents in a number of different managerial positions. He has served as a teacher representative on the Board of Management, which received a glowing report from the Department of Education Inspectorate following a whole-school evaluation. He has also held the positions of Transition Year Coordinator and, most recently, Year Head. Drawing on the experience he gained in these different roles, he seeks to motivate students to attain the balance between academic achievement and personal wellbeing, the hallmark of the successful student. Ciarán is also one of our English teachers at The Academy, having both taught and examined Leaving Certificate English for over 15 years.

JP Sweetman Deputy Principal at The Dublin Academy of Education

Deputy Principal

JP Sweetman has worked as an English teacher for sixteen 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 founder of The Dublin Academy of Education and Dublin School of Grinds

Founder

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 Director of Operations at The Dublin Academy of Education

Director of Operations

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 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 Administration Manager at The Dublin Academy of Education

Administration Manager

Trisha Fullston‘s role provides support and guidance to students, helping them to perform to the best of their ability. Trisha brings with her over 20 years experience working in various roles within the Irish education system, including 4th Year Co-ordinator. Trisha is passionate about holistic learning and is committed to working with students and their parents to ensure each student has the necessary tools and environment to enable them achieve their desired outcomes. Trisha is the main point of contact for all 5th and 6th Year parents and students.

Dawn McCarron Admissions Director at The Dublin Academy of Education

Admissions Director

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.