Education Minister marks distinguished career of Keady Principal

Education Minister, Caitríona Ruane, has congratulated a retiring Keady school Principal on a career dedicated to helping young people.

The Minister attended a special lunch to mark the retirement of Pat McAleavey from his post at St Patrick’s High School after four decades there.

Speaking at the event, the Minister said: “Pat McAleavey is bidding farewell to what has been a long and admirable career in education during which many thousands of young people in the Keady area have benefited from his expertise.

“While Mr McAleavey has been Principal at the school, it has become the ideal model that I would like to apply to all post-primaries in the north. St Patrick’s is a co-educational, non-selective school, producing well-rounded and well-educated young people ready to face the challenges of our global community. During this time he has worked closely with local primary schools to enable children to have a smooth transition from primary to post-primary education, without having to endure an unnecessary selection process.

“The student body has more than doubled during Mr McAleavey’s tenure as Principal, powerful testimony to the popularity and success of St Patrick’s.

“He was also one of a key group who I asked to undertake a detailed exercise to help me develop an area-based approach to the schools’ estate which would help deliver the Entitlement Framework.

“It is this kind of dedication and commitment that is the bedrock of our local education system and can serve as an example for others to aspire to. I wish Mr McAleavey many healthy and happy years ahead and thank him on behalf of all the parents and children whose lives he has touched during his long and distinguished career.”

Notes to editors:

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