Carmel McCartan
Principal
St Louise’s Comprehensive College
www.stlouises.org.uk
Subject: Principal/Geography.
Age: Over 21.
Your place of birth: Royal Victoria Hopital.
Where You Live: Crossgar.
First Job: Summer job in Boots Chemist when I was 16.
What it taught me: People skills and emotional intelligence are as important as examination qualifications.
Family/status Married with three children.
Best advice anyone ever gave you: Our pupils may forget most of what we taught them but they will never forget how we made them feel.
Best advice you could give someone thinking of a teaching career: Every child in your care has unique gifts and talents and it is your responsibility to nurture and develop these gifts in a caring, compassionate manner Carmel has been Principal of St Louise’s Comprehensive College since 2005. Prior to this she was Vice-Principal for 14 years and before that was Head of Geography for 12 years. “I am deeply committed to and inspired by the Vincentian ethos of the college which values all young people equally and delivers excellence in teaching and learning,” says Carmel.
“I have been privileged over the last 35 years to have worked with outstanding students, staff and parents.” Carmel has two Masters degrees, one in Education Management and one in Geography, as well as the Professional Qualification in Headship. She has served on a variety of educational groups including CPA and is Chair of the West Belfast ALC. She is married with three grown-up children and enjoys walking, travel and reading.