New Principal says it’s like ‘going home’

SECONDARY schools across Tallaght have so much to offer and learn from each other, the Deputy Principal of Old Bawn CS said, as he prepares to move to St Aidan’s CS as its new Principal.

For nearly five years, Kevin Shortall has been the Deputy Principal of Old Bawn Community School, one of the area’s largest secondary schools, with more than 1,000 students.

This January, Kevin will be vacating the Deputy Principal seat in Old Bawn as he returns to the school where he had his first teaching post, St Aidan’s CS in Brookfield.

Kevin was based at St Aidan’s for 21 years, and taught there from 1996 to 2017, when he took on the Deputy Principal position at Old Bawn CS.

“I always wanted to move into a leadership role and went for the position in Old Bawn,” Kevin told The Echo.

“I was delighted when I was successful and so happy to stay in Tallaght, stay in the community.

“Old Bawn CS has been a great experience, and it has given me perspective . . . to see how other schools work.

“It broadens the level of experience – working with a really big staff in the biggest school in the area was a great experience.”

He added: “It’s really lovely going back to St Aidan’s, but I’m going to miss Old Bawn, the past five years have been so significant for me and I’m so grateful.

“Life can be funny in that way, every stage and step adds to your life story.

“A real plan of mine is to forge strong links between the two schools.

“Schools across Tallaght don’t operate as islands, they do co-operate, but I’d love to build on that.

“I believe schools have a lot to offer each other and learn from each other.”

Looking forward to a return to St Aidan’s as Principal, Kevin said it’s like “going home”.

“My very first appointment was St Aidan’s and in some ways it’s like going home,” Kevin said.

“St Aidan’s is like home for a lot of people, and the community has a huge connection to it.”