As we conclude another significant year in Irish education—marked by the rollout of new curricula, new specifications, and revised child protection guidelines—I extend my warmest wishes to our entire Cork educational community: teachers, SNAs, students, families, early years educators, and school leaders. May this Christmas season bring you well-deserved rest, joy, and cherished time with those closest to you.

Gratitude and Recognition

Serving as Director of one of Ireland's largest Education Support Centres has been a profound privilege. I am deeply grateful for the generosity of spirit with which you have welcomed me—your encouragement, insights, and collaborative approach have been invaluable as I have undertaken this responsibility.

I must acknowledge our exceptional team whose expertise, professionalism, and tireless commitment to excellence ensure that your professional learning needs are met with the highest standards. Their dedication to supporting you is the foundation upon which our work stands.

Our Commitment: Clarity of Vision, Integrity of Purpose

My leadership of this centre is guided by a clear moral purpose: to serve you with integrity, responsiveness, and unwavering commitment to educational excellence. We exist to bridge policy and practice—translating Department of Education and Youth initiatives into meaningful, practical support that enhances teaching and learning in every classroom across our region.

We listen. We respond thoughtfully within the Teacher Professional Learning framework established by the Department. And we act with the understanding that quality professional learning is not merely about compliance—it is about empowering educators to transform lives.

2026: A Year of Strategic Innovation

Our vision for the year ahead is ambitious and purposeful. We have curated partnerships with outstanding local practitioners, developed innovative collaborative projects, and designed professional learning experiences that are practical, evidence-informed, and directly applicable to your daily work.

I encourage you to subscribe to our fortnightly newsletter—January 2026 will bring announcements of programmes specifically designed to add tangible value to your professional practice and, ultimately, to student outcomes.

Leading with Purpose

It is an honour to lead this centre and to serve the Cork educational community with the professionalism and moral clarity this role demands. I am committed to fostering innovation, championing excellence, and ensuring that our work together continues to elevate the quality of education across Ireland.

Thank you for the trust you place in us. I look forward to the continued partnership that will define our work in the years ahead.

Wishing you a lovely Christmas with your families. Thank you for the privilege of serving you.

With warm regards,

Edmond Hussey

Director

Cork Education Support Centre

Dear Principal/Teacher,

I know this is an exceptionally busy time in schools across Cork. With parent-teacher meetings in full swing, November assessments underway, and the festive period approaching with all its planning and preparations. As Director of Cork Education Support Centre, I want to take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the tremendous work you are doing in our schools during this demanding period.

I warmly invite you to subscribe to our fortnightly newsletter and explore the excellent courses, seminars, workshops and events that our team has organised over the coming two weeks. We pride ourselves on listening to teacher voice and agency – understanding your specific requirements and sourcing the most talented tutors available to deliver high-quality, impactful and practical professional development that makes a real difference in your classroom practice.

Our programmes are designed with your busy schedules in mind, offering flexible options that provide maximum value for your time and energy. We're here to support you, not add to your workload.

Included below is a summary of all Teacher Professional Learning events for the upcoming week 24th November to 5th December 2025.

Here is a summary of some other great events/initiatives your school may be interested in: 

• NCSE Events - Details of any upcoming NCSE Teacher Professional Training can be found here. To register for any of this training please click here.
• Oide Events - Details of any upcoming Oide Teacher Professional Training can be found here. To register for any of this training please click here.

Active School Flag Post Primary (ASFPP) has launched!

This programme has now been developed to also include Post Primary schools. If you are interested in registering your school under the ASFPP, please join the ASF team at one of the upcoming information sessions on either 2nd Dec 2025 at 7pm or 3rd Dec 2025 at 4:30pm. Further information on the ASFPP can also be found on the website here

Interested schools are invited to attend upcoming ‘ASFPP: What’s It All About’ webinars:

- Active School Flag Post Primary Webinar 2nd December

- Active School Flag Post Primary Webinar 3rd December 

And/or to email Carol O'Donnell This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Find out more on https://activeschoolflag.ie/active-school-post-primary/ 

I encourage you to browse the opportunities below and find something that speaks to your professional interests and needs.

With warm regards,

Edmond Hussey

Director

Cork Education Support Centre

Dear Principal/Teacher/SNA,

I know this is an exceptionally busy time in schools across Cork. With parent-teacher meetings in full swing and the festive period approaching with all its planning and preparations. As Director of Cork Education Support Centre, I want to take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the tremendous work you are doing in our schools during this demanding period.

I warmly invite you to subscribe to our fortnightly newsletter and explore the excellent courses, seminars, workshops and events that our team has organised over the coming two weeks. We pride ourselves on listening to teacher voice and agency – understanding your specific requirements and sourcing the most talented tutors available to deliver high-quality, impactful and practical professional development that makes a real difference in your classroom practice.

Our programmes are designed with your busy schedules in mind, offering flexible options that provide maximum value for your time and energy. 

Included below is a summary of all Teacher Professional Learning events for the upcoming week 24th November to 5th December 2025.

Here is a summary of some other great events/initiatives your school may be interested in: 

• NCSE Events - Details of any upcoming NCSE Teacher Professional Training can be found here. To register for any of this training please click here.
• Oide Events - Details of any upcoming Oide Teacher Professional Training can be found here. To register for any of this training please click here.

I encourage you to browse the opportunities below and find something that speaks to your professional interests and needs.

With warm regards,

Edmond Hussey

Director

Cork Education Support Centre

Together, we shape the learning experiences that shape futures.

Dear Principal/Teacher/SNA,

Included below is a summary of all CPD events for the upcoming week beginning 19th January 2026 aswell as some other highlights for the rest of January 2026 and beyond.

You can also review all of these Teacher Professional Learning events in either the Primary or Post Primary courses section of the centre website. https://www.cesc.ie/

Here is a summary of some other CPD events/initiatives you may be interested in: 

• NCSE Events - Details of any upcoming NCSE Teacher Professional Training can be found here. To register for any of this training please click here.
• Oide Events - Details of any upcoming Oide Teacher Professional Training and how to register can be found here.

🌐 ITEN.ie – Supporting Teacher Learning All Year Round

ITEN.ie, our asynchronous CPD platform, has now been empowering educators for over a year. It offers practical, expert‑led courses you can dip into anytime and revisit as needed. Each module focuses on real‑world strategies that make an immediate difference in the classroom. Feedback from Cork schools continues to highlight how valuable it is for both new and experienced staff to access meaningful, flexible professional learning in one place.

2026 National Conversation on Education - This survey is part of Ireland’s conversation about the future of our education system.

Action Plan for Irish in English-Medium Schools - The DEY has publish this Action Plan for Irish in English-Medium Schools to support the teaching and learning of Irish in primary and post-primary schools that teach through English. The action plan will be implemented within a two-year period, 2025 to 2027.

As your local Director, I want to take this moment in mid‑January to acknowledge the incredible dedication shown across our Cork catchment entire school community—teachers who continue to inspire learning, school leaders who guide with vision and steadiness, SNAs who provide essential support with compassion, and every member of staff who contributes to creating safe, vibrant, and inclusive learning environments. Your commitment shapes the daily experiences of children and young people, and it strengthens the fabric of our Irish education system in ways that matter deeply. Thank you for the work you do, the care you give, and the professionalism you bring to every day. I look forward to supporting you throughout the year ahead.

With warm regards,

Edmond Hussey

Director

Cork Education Support Centre