Katie Maher Ryan

Student teacher currently completing a teaching qualification in Art and Design with school placement experience in Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles. Passionate about creating inclusive and engaging classroom environments that foster creativity, confidence, and critical thinking. Strong communication and interpersonal skills with a friendly, adaptable, and enthusiastic approach to teaching and learning.

School Placement 2 – Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles
8-week placement | 8 hours per week

During my school placement in Ursuline Secondary School, I gained valuable experience teaching Art across a range of year groups while developing my classroom management, lesson planning, and communication skills.

With 1st Year students, I introduced a variety of mediums through exploratory “taster” projects, encouraging students to engage creatively and discover the possibilities within art.

2nd Year students explored the theme “Fruit Against Time,” where they explored the conceptual aspects of time and how it can alter meaning and physical appearance. Students worked in pairs to create clay pieces inspired by their discussions and observations.

Transition Year students explored the project “Beyond the Facial Expression,” where they analysed contemporary artists and used this research to inform their own work surrounding identity and self-expression. Students created faceless yet identifiable postcards, which depicted exploration of personal identity beyond physical appearance.

This placement allowed me to put educational theory into practice while gaining experience within the fast-paced environment of a school setting. It helped strengthen my communication and organisational skills, while also developing my ability to build positive connections with students and create engaging, inclusive learning environments.

School Placement 3 – Ursuline Secondary School, Thurles
10-week placement | 8 hours per week

During this placement, I continued to develop my teaching practice through planning and delivering engaging Art lessons across a variety of year groups. This experience further strengthened my confidence in classroom management, lesson planning, differentiation, and creating meaningful learning experiences connected to real-world themes.

With 1st Year students, the project “Seeing the World Through…” encouraged students to observe, analyse, and question the world around them. Over a 10-week drawing unit, students explored line, texture, value, colour, and form through a variety of artistic mediums, developing both technical skills and creative confidence.

2nd Year students explored the project “ReUse, ReBuild, ReHome,” where they investigated how unused buildings in Tipperary could be transformed into sustainable and energy-renewable homes. Students analysed and deconstructed their design brief while researching the needs and lifestyles of assigned clients. Using found and recycled materials, students constructed 3D sculptural homes, exploring form, structure, and surface texture while developing cohesive colour palettes and personalised design features.

Transition Year students engaged with the project “No Place Like Home – Building the Future,” which challenged them to imagine a future Ireland centred around sustainability, circular economies, and self-sufficient communities. Students explored themes surrounding housing developments and the housing crisis in Ireland through research, discussion, drawing, and collaborative sculpture. The final outcome was a collaborative 3D model of a futuristic, self-sustaining town created using recycled and found materials, reflecting students’ responses to contemporary social and environmental issues.

This placement further developed my ability to connect art education with contemporary themes and encouraged me to create student-centred learning environments that foster creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and self-expression.

Available on request

Interests include photography, videography, and digital art, with a particular focus on editing and visual storytelling. I also run a small digital art commission page on Instagram (@K.M.R_artt), creating personalised digital illustrations. 

In addition, I recently joined a local painting club at Jim of the Mills under the instruction of Roisin Ryan. In January of 2026, I joined Slieve Felim Rapparees football club, which has further developed my teamwork and communication skills.

Community Games, Adjudicator, 2022, 2023,2024, Reviewed details and judged different competitions in my local Community Games.