Meet the team behind The Literacy Channel!Â
Dr Jen O’Sullivan is a Lecturer in Literacy Education at Marino Institute of Education, where she
teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate teacher education programmes. A former
primary school teacher, she continues to draw on her classroom experience to inform both her
teaching and research.
A past president of the Literacy Association of Ireland and a Research Fellow at Trinity College
Dublin’s School of Education, her PhD explored the role of phonemic awareness in early literacy
development. In 2022, she was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and spent time as a visiting
scholar at the Florida Center for Reading Research at Florida State University.
She is the author of the phonological awareness programme A Sound Beginning for Reading
and co-author of the phonics programme Sounds Like Phonics. Her research has been
published in peer-reviewed journals including The Reading Teacher and REACH Journal of
Inclusive Education.
https://readwritejen.substack.com/
Dr Treasa Bowe is an experienced primary teacher with over 25 years in education in Ireland and
Los Angeles. Her doctoral research examined sustained, on-site continuing professional
development to support whole-school approaches to comprehension strategy instruction.
Passionate about bridging research and classroom practice, Treasa created Between the Covers of
a Good Book (@betweenthecoversofagoodbook), where she supports Irish primary teachers with
evidence-informed resources and professional learning. In addition to her role as classroom
teacher, Treasa regularly facilitates training in morphology, spelling, and effective literacy
instruction in middle and senior classes, helping schools translate evidence into classroom
routines that strengthen literacy outcomes for all learners.
https://www.betweenthecoversofagoodbook.com/
Dr Clara Maria Fiorentini is a lecturer in Initial Teacher Education and Course Leader for the
Master’s in Early Childhood Education at the Marino Institute of Education, Dublin. She specialises
in literacy, children’s literature, and early childhood education.
A former primary teacher, Clara taught for eleven years in an urban DEIS primary school in County
Dublin. She completed her PhD with a research focus on Irish preschool literacy provision,
drawing on bioecological perspectives of early literacy learning and development.
Clara is currently an Executive Committee member of the Literacy Association of Ireland (LAI),
served as President of the Association in 2024, and is the current FELA representative. Her
research interests include early literacy development, playful pedagogy, reading aloud, and the
use of children’s literature to support language and literacy instruction.Â
Deirdre O’Toole is a primary teacher and PhD candidate at Mary Immaculate College, where her research focuses on early literacy acquisition. She delivers professional development for primary teachers across Ireland, supporting evidence-informed approaches to literacy instruction. Deirdre is the owner of Playful Classroom, a business dedicated to practical, research-based teaching resources and training. She is also the founder of the Science of Reading Discussion for Irish Teachers Facebook group and Right to Read Ireland, advocating for high-quality literacy education for all children.
