Meet the Teacher

Claire Shorten

My Story

Hello! My name is Claire Shorten, and I am the geography teacher at GeographyTeacher.ie.

Teaching has been my lifelong ambition, and I achieved that goal when I earned my Professional Master of Education from Maynooth University in 2019.

Despite facing vision loss during my undergraduate studies in 2011, I've maintained a positive and determined attitude, which fuels my ambition. Today, I'm fulfilling my dream of teaching, and I couldn’t be happier.

While my classes are strongly orientated towards exams and results, my approach to teaching is centred on helping students reach their full potential through creating an engaging, inclusive, interactive, and nurturing classroom environment.

Living with a disability empowers me to excel as a teacher. I have a deep gratitude for being able to pursue my career of choice, and as a result, I work extra hard to ensure I provide the best service possible to my students. I leave no stone unturned.

I find that my situation inspires students and gives them the self-belief that nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it.

Professional Masters in Education
Maynooth University (2019)

Bachelor of Arts Degree:
Geography & History
Maynooth University (2017)

Professional Development

Introduction to SEN Part 1 & 2:
6 Principles of Restorative Practices
of Education (2021)

Introduction to Children First:
eLearning Programme (2018)

Qualifications

My Media

Being the first blind person in Ireland to graduate with a Professional Master of Education, my story has naturally attracted a lot of media attention. In this section, you can explore some of my media coverage to date.

Whether it is for TV, radio, or editorial articles, I love doing these interviews as they give me a great platform to advocate for people with disabilities, show my passion for teaching and geography, and hopefully inspire people of all backgrounds to follow their dreams.

Everyone has a story, and this is mine!

Television

A mini-documentary showcasing Claire Shorten’s life as a blind teacher whilst undertaking the Professional Master of Education. Credit: Maynooth University Access Programme (24 Jun 2019).

Geography Teacher, Claire Shorten, joins Maura Derrane and Dáithí Ó Sé on the Today show. Credit: RTE (2nd Nov. 2017).

Radio

Claire Shorten joins Oliver Callan in the RTE Radio 1 studios to discuss GeographyTeacher.ie. Credit: RTE Radio 1 (13th Feb. 2024).

Claire Shorten joins Ryan Tubridy in the RTE Radio 1 studios to discuss life so far and future ambitions. Credit: RTE Radio 1 (3rd Nov. 2016).

Editorial Articles