Convenor: Dr. Elaine Keane, University of Galway
Secretary/Treasurer: Dr. Rory Mc Daid, Marino Institute of Education, Dublin
SIG Purpose:
This new Special Interest Group (SIG) will convene a range of established and early career researchers working in the area of teacher diversity and related issues of inclusion and social justice in education. This new SIG will be the first of its kind nationally and internationally, building on the developing research base on the topic of teacher diversity in the last 20 years in Ireland.
The goals of this SIG are to:
- provide a forum for discussion and the sharing of project and research experience of national teacher diversity projects, including, but not limited to, those funded under the PATH1 initiative;
- collaboratively ascertain current research gaps nationally and internationally with regard to teacher diversity and related issues of inclusion (for example, supporting teachers from under-represented groups along the teacher pathway post-entry);
- determine future research avenues and collaborations, including funding possibilities, to address identified gaps.
Initial SIG Members/Core committee:
Geraldine Brosnan (Mary Immaculate College, Limerick), Declan Fahie (University College Dublin), Eileen Kelly (St. Angela’s College, Sligo), Kirsten Hurley (University College Cork), Gareth Burns (Maynooth University), Elizabeth Mathews (Dublin City University), Miriam Colum (Marino Institute of Education), Karina Ryan (Mary Immaculate College, Limerick), Manuela Heinz (University of Galway), Rory Mc Daid (Marino Institute of Education), Elaine Keane (University of Galway).
There will be an open call for members once plan has been agreed and accepted by ESAI
SIG Operational Plan:
Overall Timeline: Late 2023 to late 2025
Meetings* & Events
- In-person meeting at the School of Education University of Galway on 19th October 2023 (day before Second International Teacher Diversity Symposium, University of Galway, 20th October)
- In-person meeting, and Teacher Diversity symposium, featuring linked papers from amongst the group, at ESAI annual conference (Spring, 2024);
- Online meeting and webinar with invited speaker (Autumn, 2024);
- In-person meeting, and Teacher Diversity symposium, featuring linked papers from amongst the group, at ESAI annual conference, Spring, 2025;
- Online meeting (Autumn, 2025)
Meetings* will be utilised to share experiences and research on teacher diversity (including from relevant events members may have attended); to plan for the implementation of SIG activities and to reflect on same, and to develop opportunities to further grow research on teacher diversity both nationally and internationally.
Teacher Diversity Honorary Special Interest Group Annual Report 2023
Teacher Diversity Honorary Special Interest Group Annual Report 2024
SIG Purpose: This new Special Interest Group (SIG) on Teacher Diversity Research convenes a range of established and early career researchers working in the area of teacher diversity and related issues of inclusion and social justice in education. The SIG is the first of its kind nationally and internationally, building on the developing research base on the topic of teacher diversity in the last 20 years in Ireland.
The goals of this SIG are to:
- provide a forum for discussion and the sharing of project and research experience of national teacher diversity projects, including, but not limited to, those funded under the PATH1 initiative;
- collaboratively ascertain current research gaps nationally and internationally with regard to teacher diversity and related issues of inclusion (for example, supporting teachers from under-represented groups along the teacher pathway post-entry); and
- determine future research avenues and collaborations, including funding possibilities, to address identified gaps.
Initial SIG Members/Core Committee: Geraldine Brosnan (Mary Immaculate College, Limerick), Declan Fahie (University College Dublin), Eileen Kelly (St. Angela’s College, Sligo), Kirsten Hurley (University College Cork), Gareth Burns (Maynooth University), Elizabeth Mathews (Dublin City University), Miriam Colum (Marino Institute of Education), Karina Ryan (Mary Immaculate College, Limerick), Manuela Heinz (University of Galway), Rory Mc Daid (Marino Institute of Education, Dublin – Secretary/Treasurer), Elaine Keane (University of Galway – Convenor).
The work of the SIG since the December 2023 report has included:
- Ongoing recruitment of members. There are now 29 SIG members, including several international colleagues. Full membership list is available on request.
- Teacher Diversity Symposium at ESAI annual Conference, March 2024, entitled ‘Teacher Diversity: Interrogating Issues of ‘Race’, Ethnicity, and Social Class’ (Chair: Dr. Elaine Keane. Discussant: Dr. Rory McDaid). This consisted of four linked papers on the theme of diversifying the teaching profession. We focused in particular on issues of ‘race’, ethnicity, and social class in relation to teacher diversity in Ireland. The first two papers concerned ‘race’ and ethnicity; the first exploring barriers to primary teaching for young people from minoritized ethnic backgrounds, drawing on the concept of epistemic injustice(s) (Dr. Aoife Titley, Maynooth University). The second paper examined the experiences of 50 Ukrainian teachers enrolled on a refugee teacher bridging programme (Dr. Rory McDaid, Marino Institute of Education, Dublin). Next, our focus turned to social class. The first of these two papers presented emerging findings from a study with 15 DEIS schools during which students reflect on the role of education and teachers in society as well as issues of power and class identity (Eoin Mac Maoilir, Dr. Declan Fahie and Dr. Shane Bergin, UCD). The second paper considered findings from a study about the social class identities of student teachers from working class backgrounds, and their ‘chameleoning to fit in’ behaviour in their placement schools as well as their insistence on not becoming middle class in becoming teachers (Dr. Elaine Keane, University of Galway). Through the symposium, we raised key questions in relation to populations of teachers who challenge the prevailing orthodoxy of who does, can, and should teach in Irish primary and post-primary schools. Furthermore, as we interrogated intersecting identities of minoritised teachers, we critiqued established teacher diversification mechanisms, both at the level of Initial Teacher Education and teacher registration. The symposium was very well attended with a high level of participant engagement. We look forward to running a similar symposium on teacher diversity research at ESAI 2025 (see below).
- SIG International Webinar, entitled ‘Advancing the International Research Agenda on Teacher Diversity’, led by Dr. Brahim Ould Baba (Manitoba Teachers’ Society, Winnipeg, Canada) and Professor Clea Schmidt (University of Manitoba, Canada), was held on Tuesday, 12th November, 2024, 4-6pm. The Abstract for the session was as follows: Considerable research in Ireland and other jurisdictions has examined theory, programming, and practices to diversify the teaching force and promote equity and inclusion in educational contexts. What have we learned and where should future research efforts be directed? This session explores this question interactively with seminar participants. We will look at some examples of where research in multiple international contexts is focused at present, with attention to Canada and other settings; identify what research gaps remain; consider possible additional research areas, theories, and methodologies within this field that merit researchers’ attention; and conclude with some strategizing about how to advance multiple interests within the wider teacher diversity research agenda. Presenters: Dr. Brahim Ould Baba is the Professional and French Language Services Department Head at The Manitoba Teachers’ Society in Winnipeg, Canada. In this capacity, he oversees the professional learning programs and services, including those for internationally educated teachers. He is passionate about supporting members in the areas of equity and diversity in schools, and Francophone Education. Brahim has worked as a K-12 teacher, consultant and university instructor. Dr. Clea Schmidt is Professor of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning at the University of Manitoba, Canada. Her research interests include diversifying the teaching force in transnational settings, education in culturally and linguistically diverse contexts, intersectionality in education, and critical qualitative research. The webinar was attended by 21 SIG members and other interested parties with excellent feedback from attendees. With the permission of the webinar leads, resources were shared with attendees after the event.
- Planning for Teacher Diversity Research SIG symposium at ESAI 2025. Draft abstracts were sought from the group in early autumn. A proposal was compiled and submitted for consideration in November for a symposium.
- Planning for the next meeting at ESAI 2025 in Athlone is also underway.