Michael McGuigan

St. Louise's Comprehensive College, Belfast

https://www.stlouises.org.uk

Subject or primary school year: Technology and Design.
Your place of birth: Craigavon. 
Studied at: St. Mary's University College Belfast.
First job: St. Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh.
What it taught me: Don't take it personally. 
Best advice you could give someone thinking of a teaching career: "Fail early, fail often, but always fail forward." (John C. Maxwell.) Do not be afraid to make mistakes, own your mistakes and ask for help. Even the most experienced teachers make mistakes and need help. 

I am a Technology and Design teacher. I am a Year 13 form tutor, and I am the joint Head of Technology and Design in St Louise's Comprehensive College, Belfast. I aspire to become an effective leader for my colleagues and, most importantly, my students. I want to provide my students with the best possible chance of achieving their full potential. I am a keen sportsperson, having played hurling and Gaelic football from a young age.

However, it has been through triathlon that I have realised my potential, having completed my first Ironman distance triathlon in Copenhagen in 2022 in a time of 10:42:19. I am currently completing a Master’s in Education Leadership through Queen's University Belfast. I have a passion for what I do, and I work to share that passion with young people, whether it be through coaching sports teams in school, at my local club, St Mary’s Granemore, or teaching in the classroom.