Dr Johanna Fitzgerald - Secretariat

Dr Johanna Fitzgerald is a teacher educator and researcher in inclusive and special education for the past 20 years, prior to which she served as a post primary and special education teacher. Currently, she is seconded to Education and Training Boards Ireland from her previous role as Head of the Department of Educational Psychology, Inclusive and Special Education in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. She is leading a research and knowledge engagement strategy across the ETB sector of post primary schools, focusing on developing systematic, collaborative, evidence-informed approaches to inclusive and special education and leadership development through multi- stakeholder collaboration.

Her contribution to educational policy development in Ireland includes membership of the EPSEN Review Steering Committee; ETBI Task Group for Inclusive Special Education; JMB SEN Advisory Group, Education Therapy Service Expert Advisory Group. Internationally, she is an Advisory Board member of the UCL Institute of Education Centre for Inclusive Education.

Her current research focuses on educational leadership and the SENCO role, inclusive school improvement processes, as well as teacher professional learning for inclusive special education and inter-professional collaboration and education aimed at enhancing outcomes for learners with additional needs and disabilities. Additionally, she is a member of the research team on the Teachers' Professional Journeys: The First Decade longitudinal study, co-funded by The Teaching Council and the Department of Education and Youth. Her national and international publications cover topics related to special education, teacher education for inclusive education and leadership in this field.