Valerie Lewis

I am a qualified post primary teacher with over twenty years’ experience in the education sector in Ireland. A long-term advocate of citizenship education, I was among the pilot schools’ teachers who taught Civic Social and Political Education when it was first introduced to the Junior Cycle Curriculum. My education interests centre on active learning, inclusion and sustainable development and she has held visiting and part time lecturing positions in University College Cork, St. Patrick’s College Thurles, and the University of Limerick

In her previous role in the Development Education section of Irish Aid, in the Department of Foreign Affairs, I worked with four Strategic Education Partners supporting them in planning and managing their programmes, aligned to the post-primary curriculum.

I have a special interest in developing education and curriculum materials, supporting Citizenship Education, both in Ireland and at European level. Among her work are resources for the Courts Service, Central Statistics Office, and The Equality Authority, including materials supporting active learning and engagement – Take 10 Active Learning Methodologies and Teaching Controversial Issues. 

I have designed and developed the Take 1 Programme –  to support post-primary schools to embed the Sustainable Development Goals in learning and teaching as part of a whole school curriculum. This Programme maps the learning outcomes of each Junior Cycle subject to the Sustainable Development Goals and encourages all teachers to engage with sustainable development education across the curriculum. As part of the programme teachers showcase their teaching and learning during Take 1 Week by teaching 1 Lesson, about 1 SDG to 1 Class over the course of 1 Week.

I am currently Chairperson of 80:20 Educating & Acting for a Better World