Petrina O’Donnell has a background in Teaching and IT. With many years teaching in the mainstream, SEN and as teaching principal, Petrina has identified keyskills that would benefit teachers  in understanding important relationships surrounding the school community and dialogue, the development of communication techniques for challenging situations, and the use of self-protective wellbeing strategies when dealing with stress.

Petrina has developed her expertise as tutor and course designer through:

• Masters in IT in Education -Mary Immaculate College (MIC)
• Certificate in Coaching & Mentoring Skills (IITD)
• Fellow membership of IITD
• PDST tutor
• Tutor/lecturer at MIC, Hibernia College and through Limerick Education Centre
• Delivery of many teacher courses on IT in the school through the Limerick Education Centre

Brian McCarthy has 28 years teaching experience in primary education (including five years as teaching principal and has been working as a S.E.N. teacher for the past 12 years. He has been an associate facilitator with the PDST since 2007.

As well as having a special interest in helping children with movement difficulties he has vast experience and knowledge in physical education including:

• undertook ‘Training of Trainers-P.E’ course in 2007 through the PDST
• associate facilitator with PDST (P.E.) since 2007 facilitating summer courses and C.P.D. workshops during the school year
• facilitated the ‘Move well, Move Often’ physical literacy summer course
• guest lecturer Mary Immaculate College of Education in the area of physical literacy
• designed the Equilibrium Movement Programme which has been implemented in his school on a daily basis for the past 4 years
• designed and facilitated a night course on sensorimotor development and physical literacy which was delivered through the Limerick Education Centre
• designed and facilitated a presentation for parents of primary school children focusing on the academic benefits of sensorimotor development and how this can be integrated with physical literacy
• Diploma in Sports Injury Therapy
• Diploma in Applied Kinesiology

Cathy O'Connor has 14 years teaching experience; 8 years in a mainstream classroom followed by 6 years teaching in learning support and resource.

Cathy undertook OKAY Kidding Around Yoga course for teaching yoga to children from 2-18 years.

This led her to create and develop the yÓGa Kids Programme which is specifically designed to integrate and support teaching of the Irish Primary School Curriculum.

Cathy has been delivering this programme in primary schools across County Limerick

Eliya Lavine is a primary school teacher and outdoor nature-based educator with experience teaching in the mainstream classroom, in learning support, as a substitute teacher, and as a garden and Forest School practitioner in her home state of California, Ireland, and internationally.

Eliya’s academic background at the intersection of people and planet ranges from her Bsc with a focus on Sustainable Food Systems and Forestry and Natural Resources, MA in Education rooted in diversity and inclusion, and qualification as a Forest School Practitioner. Her experiences working in educational community gardens and elementary schools as a mainstream and garden teacher in Los Angeles and Oakland, California, USA, on rooftop gardens and at international schools in Shanghai, China, and with Forest Schools and primary schools in Dublin, Ireland have contributed a range of skills and approaches to her nature-based learning facilitation toolkit.

Eliya currently serves as a Creative Associate for the Arts Council’s Creative Schools Programme, and her initiative, Seed Scholars, has received Social Entrepreneurs Ireland and Creative Ireland funding to support a host of Nature Learning and Forest School projects for primary schools and families.

Barbara McGraynor is a Primary School teacher and a Forest School leader with over 20 years experience teaching in mainstream.

Barbara’s academic background includes a Masters in Education and a certificate in Forest School leadership (Open College Network, UK). She is a Forest School Leader (Level 3 through OCN, Circle of Life Rediscovery), an An Taisce Climate Ambassador and a Greensod Biodiversity Ambassador.

Barbara has completed a ‘Working with Challenging Behaviour in the Outdoors’ certificate with the National Open College Network (UK).

Barbara is SESE and Green Schools post holder in her school. She is passionate about getting children outdoors to develop a nature connection within the school context. She has a passion for outdoor education and developing resilience and decision-making skills in children.