Dr Mia Treacy
Research interests
Educational policy including theory and practice; the law and education; child protection; teacher professional development; mathematics education; pupil voice; leadership in schools, and teacher learning.
More information
Research Report
Leavy, A.M., Hourigan, M., Harmon, M. Treacy, M. and Fitzpatrick, M. (2023). Report on the Consultation with Children on the Draft Primary Mathematics Curriculum. A report commissioned by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. Available at https://ncca.ie/media/5938/consultation_with_children_pmc.pdf
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
Nohilly, M. and Treacy M. (2024) Teachers’ perceptions of enabling and hindering factors in child abuse disclosures, Child Protection and Practice.
Treacy, M. and Leavy, A.M. (2023) Pupil voice and its role in creating cognitive dissonance: the neglected narrative in teacher professional development. Professional Development in Education, 49(3), 458-477, https://doi.org/10.1080/19415257.2021.1876147
Nohilly, M. and Treacy, M. (2022) Dealing with and reporting child protection concerns: A snapshot of Irish primary schools, The Irish Journal of Education, 45, https://www.erc.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/31ERC_IJE-Article_Nohilly-Treacy_A4-V3.pdf
Treacy, M. (2022) Unsupported and unrealistic expectations? Misalignment between teachers’ required knowledge of the law in the Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers and Céim Standards for Initial Teacher Education, Irish Educational Studies, https://doi.org/10.1080/03323315.2022.2093254
Nohilly, M. and Treacy, M. (2022) Child protection in Irish primary schools: Supports and challenges in the role of designated liaison person for child protection, The British Journal of Social Work, https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcac097
Treacy, M. (2021) Improving access to denominational education: the legislature’s steps towards substantive change or a fig leaf designed for the international community? King’s Inns Law Review, 10, 26.
Treacy, M. and Nohilly, M. (2020) Teacher education and child protection: Complying with requirements or putting children first? Children and Youth Services Review, 113, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105009
Nohilly M. and Treacy, M. (2020) Designated liaison persons in Irish primary schools: Representing the voice of children that may not be seen or heard. Children’s Research Digest, 6(2), 46-50.
Treacy, M. (2017). Spoon-feeding to tongue-biting and beyond: Factors that contributed to changes in Irish primary school teachers’ mathematics practice. Irish Educational Studies, 36(3), 375-397, https://doi.org/10.1080/03323315.2017.1333443
Treacy, M. (2013). Spoon-feeding to tongue-biting: An evolving instructional framework for primary school mathematics. Proceedings of the Fifth Conference on Research on Mathematics Education: Mathematics Education Crossing Boundaries. Editors: Therese Dooley, Siún NicMhuirí, Maurice O'Reilly, Ronan Ward.
Book Chapters
Nohilly, M. and Treacy, M. (2021) Tracing the development of child protection practices in Ireland: From the poignant past to present pressures. In A. Leavy and M. Nohilly (eds.) Perspectives on Childhood. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Treacy, M. (2021) Pupil voice: Both a human right and a tool for shaping teachers’ practice. In A. Leavy and M. Nohilly (eds.) Perspectives on Childhood. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Conference Papers
Treacy, M. and Nohilly, M. (2024) Evolving Child Protection Practice in Irish Primary Schools: The Experiences of Designated Liaison Persons across a 15-year period. International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Conference: Working Together to Protect Children in Times of Crisis, Upsala, Sweden, 18-21 August.
Nohilly, M. and Treacy, M. (2024) Doing justice to child protection concerns: supports and barriers that enable children to tell. Education Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Conference: Education for More Just Societies: The Roles of Imagination, Innovation and Collaboration, Maynooth, Ireland, 4–6 April.
Treacy, M and Nohilly, M. (2023) Being the DLP! Mandated reporting experiences in Irish primary schools. Social Personal and Health Education Network Conference: Being, Becoming and Beyond: SPHE in Children and Young People’s Lives, Dublin, Ireland, 11 November.
Treacy, M. and Nohilly, M. (2023) New child protection mandatory reporting requirements for Irish teachers: Implementation challenges and barriers. American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting: Interrogating Consequential Education Research in Pursuit of Truth, Chicago, 13-16 April.
Nohilly, M. and Treacy, M. (2023) Teachers and child protection: Insights from the Irish primary school context. Education Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Conference: Education, Change and Democratic Societies: New Imperatives and Creative Responses, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 30 March–1 April.
Nohilly, M. and Treacy, M. (2021) Revitalising child protection work in primary schools: Enhancing inter-agency communication and cooperation between social workers and school personnel. The National Child Protection and Social Work Conference, University College Cork (online), 22 October.
Treacy, M. and Nohilly M. (2020) Educating Teachers for Protecting Children: Need to Re-Focus. Educational Studies Association of Ireland Conference: Opening up Education: Options, Obstacles and Opportunities, Online (hosted by Institute of Education, Dublin City University), 4 September.
Treacy, M. (2020) Pupil Voice and Its Role in Creating Cognitive Dissonance: The Neglected Narrative in Professional Development [Paper Session]. American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA http://tinyurl.com/vfeb5zo (Conference Cancelled), 17-21 April.
Nohilly, M. and Treacy, M. (2019). Designated Liaison Persons in Irish primary schools: The potential impact on children’s lives and safety. Children’s Research Network Annual Conference: Children Should be Seen AND Heard, Dublin, 5 December.
Treacy, M. (2019). Task complexity and diversity: Competing realities for a newly appointed principal in Ireland. 8th International Research Methods Summer School: Leading, Leaders, and Leadership in Schools, Communities and Society, Limerick, Ireland, 25 May.
Treacy, M. (2019). Pupil voice: the overlooked narrative in teacher professional development. Education Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Conference: Education in Times of Change, Choice, and Challenge, Sligo, Ireland, 11-13 April.
Treacy, M. (2018). The changing purpose of professional development policy for primary schools in Ireland. Education Studies Association of Ireland (ESAI) Conference: Values and Purpose in Education, University College Dublin, Ireland, 5-7 April.
Treacy, M. (2017). Restrictive factors in mathematics in one case study primary school in Ireland. Teacher Education Policy in Europe (TEPE): Education for All: Issues for Teacher Education, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, Ireland, 18-20 May.
Media Publications
Treacy, M. and Nohilly, M. (2023) New child protection mandatory reporting requirements for Irish teachers: Implementation challenges and barriers, AERA Educational Change Lead the Change Series, 139. Available at https://www.aera.net/Portals/38/docs/SIGs/SIG155/Lead%20the%20Change_AERA%20Sessions%202_Mar%202023.pdf?ver=uAlBT_EMhuvxUU9EpOrm9w%3d%3d
Treacy, M. and Nohilly, M. (2020) Child Protection Research with DLPs. Leadership+: Professional Publication of the Irish Primary Principals’ Network, October Issue.
Treacy, M. (2015). IMPACT Maths programme. Leadership+: Professional Publication of the Irish Primary Principals’ Network, Issue 84 (January 2015).
Treacy, M. (2010). English as an Additional Language – putting it in writing. InTouch: Publication of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (January/February issue) p.57-59.
Treacy, M. (2009). Reading more deeply into English as an Additional Language! InTouch: Publication of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (December issue) p.46-47.
Treacy, M. (2009). Speaking and listening – the English as an Additional Language context. InTouch: Publication of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (November issue) p.49-50.
Keynote Address
Treacy, M. (2021). Creativity, discovery learning, freedom: the need to protect and continually cultivate Froebelian approaches. Keynote Address. Inaugural Meeting of the Irish Froebel Network, Online, 19 June.
Invited Lectures
Treacy, M. (2017). Exploring inquiry-based approaches to learning: implications for teachers and school leaders. Professional Development Service for Teachers Leadership Conference. Naas, 12-13 June.
Treacy, M. (2016). Digging deeper with school support: an exploration of sustained professional development. Professional Development Service for Teachers National Education Conference. Trim, 1-2 September.
Treacy, M. (2015). Developing problem solving skills across the primary school curriculum. Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) Education Consultative Conference: Primary School Curriculum - Have Your Say. Athlone, 13-14 November.
Treacy, M. (2015). Investigating the practicalities of inquiry-based approaches to learning: recommendations for classrooms. Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) National Education Conference. Athlone, 18 February.
Treacy, M. (2014) Exploring the development of reasoning skills: opportunities and challenges for teachers. Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) National Education Conference. Naas, 17-18 December.
Treacy, M. (2014). Effecting change in primary school mathematics classrooms. Professional Development for Primary School Inspectors. Department of Education and Skills, Dublin, 3-5 September.
Treacy, M. (2009). English as an additional language for mainstream class teachers. National Induction Programme for Teachers (NIPT) Professional Development Conference for Associates. Carlow, 19 November.
