“Working with children is the best job in the world” - Siobhan Gillen

Just over 50 years ago, five-year-old Siobhan Meenan walked through the doors of Steelstown Primary School for the very first time as part of the new school's inaugural class of primary ones. 

At the end of this school year, Siobhan Gillen (as she is now known) will go out through those same doors as the school's principal for the last time.

Siobhan's retirement marks the end of a distinguished 35-year career in teaching. Having served 29 years in St Anne's PS in Rosemount -18 of those as vice principal - the Shantallow native returned to her roots in 2017 to take up the post of head teacher at her beloved former school.

She said: “I did the first six months of P1 at Pennyburn, but when Steelstown opened in April, I came in as part of the first class of primary ones.

“My parents loved the school, and my brothers and sister all went here as well.”

An enduring memory from those early schooldays is the impact  made on the young Siobhan by 'inspirational' teachers who ignited her passion for learning. She rhymes off their names as if it were yesterday, and with fondness in her voice: Joe Martin, her primary seven teacher, the late Brian Fryer, who took them all to swimming galas at weekends, Helen McLaughlin, who has great links with the school still, Mrs McCourt, Mrs Doherty, Miss McCafferty and Mrs Saunders.

“I always wanted to teach,” she said. “I have a book here that I had in P7 and one of the stories was 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' and I wanted to be a teacher. 

“Obviously I had great teachers and was very fortunate; I had a lovely experience with education and I wanted to be able to do that too; to help people. I love being able to give support to children and to their families.”

A young Siobhan (back left) with sister Kathleen and brothers Edward (back right) and George enjoying a family holiday in Greencastle.

And there is certainly a 'lovely' atmosphere at Steelstown on the day I visit. Joyful shrieks emanate from the wains having fun in the outdoor play area, while the P7s can be heard singing 'Bring Me Sunshine' in preparation for their end-of-year show the following day. 

As staff and pupils move through the foyer, on their way to this classroom or that, there's an ease about how they interact with one another.

When you meet Siobhan, you get an immediate sense of where the lightness of mood that pervades the school has come from. There is an aura of calm about the former Thornhill College pupil and a great warmth.

“If you were going to describe Siobhan with one word,” said vice principal Catherine Doorish, “then it would be 'kind'. 

“She's kind to everybody and she always strives to do her best to ensure that each child here reaches their potential.

Siobhan and pupils from her P7 class in St Anne's being presented with an eco award in the 1990s. The commitment to a  'green' ethos has been a constant throughout her career.

“Her ethos at Steelstown is one where each child that walks through that door every morning is welcomed by Mrs Gillen with a smile. Her office door is always open and she's usually the first into the school in the morning and the last to go.”

Catherine will take over the reins from Siobhan in September, and she intends to carry on her successor's holistic approach to education that she believes makes Steelstown such a special place for staff, pupils and parents alike. 

“It's not just the academic aspect,” she said, “but physically, with her dedication to sport and her swimming, and then spiritually with the Catholic ethos of the school, it all comes together in a perfect success under her creative and innovative leadership.

Siobhan and the team celebrate clinching 'Best School in NI' at the Families First awards.

“Siobhan has a quiet presence about her, but she has a lot of respect from the pupils and staff. They appreciate her pastoral approach to behavior. Naturally, there are issues that happen in the school, but it's within that Catholic ethos of forgiveness and moving forward, and Siobhan really does embody that.

“And she's great fun. She's a teetotaller but she loves a good night out; loves to dance and loves the craic.

“We love celebrations here in Steelstown and she has set a high bar for the amount of buns she brings in on staff development days!

“She is a people person. She will always strive for the best for everybody; her staff, her pupils and her families.

“We will really miss her.”

FAMILY TIES: The Steelstown pupils celebrate 'grandparents' day'

In any field of work, the most successful leaders tend to be the ones who seek consensus, who do not rule with an iron fist but who instead bring their staff along with them so that the responsibilties (and rewards) are shared. It is perhaps this aspect of Siobhan's personality that explains why Steelstown has flourished under her tenure. At just 56, she could have stayed on a few more years but she feels the time is right to bow out.

“The school is in a very good place,” she said. “We won best school in Northern Ireland at the Families First awards in 2020. We gained our green flag status and it is being reissued this month.

“We've earned our bronze, silver and, last month, gold Sustrans awards and made changes to the school environment: outside play area, refurbishments to our hall, our windows and our doors, sensory areas and toilets. 

2020 ... Primary 7 pupils celebrating Valentine's Day with 25 reasons why they love their school.

“We have lovely, innovative staff and our pupil numbers have grown considerably; we're at 480 now. It's been a privilege to serve the community and make a change for the better to the lives of the children and their parents; to afford them the opportunities that lets them tap into the things that will let them reach their potential. 

“Being able to support staff too, has been important to me. Staff who maybe wouldn't have seen themselves in certain roles; when you see promise in a member of staff, when you see capacity and if you nurture that, and upskill them and give them the opportunities, then they'll be the leaders of tomorrow.  

“I had great support from the VP who left a few years ago (Jacinta Hegarty) and my current VP, Catherine, is going to be appointed principal, so it's going to be a smooth transition.

“We have a great management team and thankfully the resources and finances are there to offer different things; the traditions at Steelstown will continue.” 

Siobhan insists she will always maintain strong links with the community, the parish and the school - she lives a stone's throw away - but now she is looking forward to the next chapter:

“I haven't made immediate plans. I've two grandchildren, one a year and six months and the other came just in the last few weeks.

STEELSTOWN PRINCIPAL HONOURED. . . . Mrs. Siobhan Gillen, retiring principal of Steelstown Primary School receiving a presentation from the outgoing Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Sandra Duffy to mark her upcoming retirement from the school and her contribution and dedication to the city and district. (Photo: Jim McCafferty Photography)

“I want to be able to give time to my husband, Leo, my children Leona (and husband Michael), Eamonn (and fiancé Ciara), Cormac (and wife Marie-Claire) and Claire (and boyfriend Paul). And, of course, my grandchildren, Leo and Isabella.

“But there's no doors closed. I'll still be involved in different organisations. I like to always keep busy and I know I will want to continue like that, but maybe for a couple of months I'll just slow it down a bit.”

She will be in over the summer, but the next week or so will be her last chance to spend time with the pupils as their head teacher. There's plenty going on right up until the last day of school on June 30, with one of the highlights a three-day outdoor pursuits residential in Carlingford with the primary sevens.

At the mention of the Carlingford trip, her face lights up. Siobhan may have excelled in leadership roles for the majority of her teaching career, but it's with her pupils that her heart truly lies.

She said: “The nicest part of the job is with the children; the admin can be done in the evenings. It's about making every child feel valued and every family feel valued. And they are all unique. They all have different journeys and they go at different paces to their destinations, but they get there. 

“It's about seeing their value and their worth and making them believe in themselves. They mightn't remember everything you taught them - but they'll remember how you made them feel.”

Steelstown Primary School’s retiring head teacher Siobhan Gillen, congratulating Catherine Doorish, her former vice principal, on her appointment as new principal of the school last week. (Photo: Jim McCafferty Photography)

And she, too, will always remember how they made her feel; from the past pupils she taught at St Anne's, now parents themselves with children at Steelstown, taking time to tell her how much they loved being in her class, to the wee boy last week who, when she told him she was leaving, said, 'can you not just stay?'.

Siobhan will miss them all, but there's an exciting new chapter to look forward to and she has no regrets.    

“I'm very happy,” she said. “Our community is one of the best in the world and it has been a privilege to serve them. Same with the community in Rosemount, where I made many great friends over the years.

“Working with children is the best job in the world; I feel very blessed.”