Tutor Profiles - Montessori and Special Needs Courses

Adrienne Kearns – Montessori Tutor for Drogheda

Adrienne Kearns trained in The London Montessori Centre, London between 1986 and 1992, where she qualified as a Nursery Foundation Teacher and Primary Montessori Directress. She worked as a Montessori Directress in London for 5 years, teaching children from all backgrounds, some the children of actors and politicians and some children who were so socially deprived and in need of stimulation and interaction with structured early education. During this time she was invited by The London Montessori Centre and London University to become a Lecturer of Montessori Philosophy, on a part time basis. On her return to Ireland she opened up a Montessori Preschool in her home town of Monaghan, which has grown from strength to strength.

In 2002 she took up a tutoring role with Portobello Institute. It is most important to her that her Montessori students enjoy their course and  that they complete it with a solid knowledge of Montessori theory, allowing them to feel equipped to meet the needs of young children.

Olga McKiernan – Montessori Tutor for Drogheda

Olga trained with the London Montessori International Centre. After successfully graduating she travelled to Malaysia. In Kuala Lumper she taught in the International Montessori School with children from many nationalities as well as tutoring in the London Montessori Centre. On returning to Ireland in 1995 she joined the Montessori Department of Portobello Institute and has delivered many part-time courses in Portobello centres – Dublin, Navan, Drogheda, Blanchardstown. She is also involved in Montessori Workshops, Distance Learning and Montessori Upskill Courses for the college.  In addition to her tutoring commitments at Portobello Institute she is also part of the Montessori Department at Liberties College, City of Dublin Vocational Educational Committee as a full time Montessori Tutor and on the panel for the Montessori Practical Skills Examinations and Interviewing Board.

Karen Higgins - Montessori Tutor for Dublin

Karen Higgins has 18+ years in the field of Montessori Education and Childcare. A graduate of St. Nicholas Montessori College, she operated and managed multiple Montessori schools for many years before returning to education to gain an honours degree in Psychology. Passionate about the Montessori Method of Education, she has worked for Portobello Institute for the last number of years in the roles of full time and regional Montessori Lecturer. She has also taught Child Development and Special Needs classes at FETAC level 5 and is currently on the FETAC panel of external authenticators.

Karen Higgins holds BSc (hons) Psychology. Mont. Dip in Ed. (hons)

Aibhin Dunne  -  Montessori Tutor for Dublin

Aibhin holds a 1st Class Honours Degree in Applied Chemistry which led her to work in the Chemical Industry for 11 Years. Following the birth of her first Child, Aibhin decided that she would study the Montessori Method of Education so that it would enable her to enrich the lives of her own children and also others.

Aibhin completed the Diploma in Montessori Method of Teaching with a Distinction.  She then worked in a Montessori Classroom for 5 years furthering her experience and knowledge of this method of teaching children. Aibhin also completed the Advanced Certificate in Training and Continued Education at NUI Maynooth, enabling her to begin Tutoring. She continues to work in Montessori and deliver lectures at Portobello Institute. Eibhin is devoted to the Montessori method of education. She has always wanted to spread its ideology so that children can continue to benefit, develop and be enriched in the Montessori prepared environment to become better individuals in their future lives.