After graduating with her B.Ed in 1996 Bernadette began teaching across a range of school contexts and prompted a greater interest in curriculum development in primary schools. During her teaching career Bernadette took on the role of Deputy Principal and Acting Principal before accepting a post as curriculum trainer and advisor in the Primary Curriculum Support Programme (PCSP) in 2005. Bernadette was appointed Co-ordinator for the national team of SESE advisors to schools in 2008. During her time as Co-ordinator Bernadette completed postgraduate studies in educational leadership and management from Trinity College Dublin (TCD). Bernadette accepted a post with the Froebel (college) Department in 2009, completed her MA. Ed in 2010 (UCD) and was awarded her Ph.D. (UCD) in 2015. Additional teaching experiences included work with the Adult Education Centre (UCD 2013) on the access programme (students preparing to re-enter education at undergraduate level). Bernadette has become involved in the area of school partnerships, fostering greater links with schools that regularly support Froebel students on School placement. In 2017Bernadette took on the role of M.Ed. (Research in Practice) programme leader.
https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/froebel-department-primary-and-early-childhood-education/master-education-research-practice Bernadette became chair of the department research and ethics committee in 2019 which oversees the research activity of the postgraduate students on the MEd programme and also became a member of the department doctoral working group.