Trust Board

Marion Rosen

Biography

27 years as a Headteacher in schools in Hackney and Newham, both areas of high social disadvantage. During that time I had extensive experience in all aspects of leadership and management, educational improvement and project management. I was seconded by the Local Authority to two headships, as both schools were in special measures and I was successful in bringing both out and on to further success. While still Headteacher of Keir Hardie Primary School, I was involved in designing the new school building and once retired I continued to lead on developing the design, working with the school and contractors to completion and handover of the new school building and subsequently through the defect period.

Since retirement I have continued to engage in work around social justice and building communities through going out to do charity work in some of the world’s poorest communities in Kenya, Zambia and Cambodia, including building (classrooms, centres for street children, houses) and micro-finance projects with women in the compounds to enable them to set up their own businesses.

Key Skills

• Leadership
• Education Improvement, Finance
• HR
• Data Handling

Bola Denby

Biography

Experienced governor of primary and secondary schools
Operations management
Quality assurance management
Project management
Business development
Business analysis
Data analysis
SEN
Education in general

Key Skills

• Collaboration
• Communication and interpersonal
• Research and strategy
• IT
• Business intelligence
• Negotiation and diplomatic
• Relationship management
• Behaviour management

Jo Cook

Biography

An experienced Primary Chair of Governors in Waltham Forest. Whilst the school expanded to 2FE, the buildings were significantly extended and the SMT changed.

I have experience across business and not-for-profit sectors in leading, securing funding for and managing projects such as government energy efficiency marketing campaigns and new IT systems for membership organisations. These projects require significant negotiation, business analysis, stakeholder liaison and influencing skills, between groups with different objectives and drivers.

I have also served as a trustee for environmental and community charities.

Key Skills

• Leadership and management
• Business process analysis and improvements
• Negotiation
• Project Management
• Stakeholder management and engagement
• Marketing

Pie Corbett

Biography

Has been a teacher, Headteacher, Registered Ofsted Inspector, English Inspector in Gloucestershire as well as PGCE and B.Ed. course leader. Science teacher-researcher attached to Sussex University; award winning author of over 250 books plus educational resources; many articles in educational press; advisor to BBC on education programmes; co-director of trans-national story making project based at the international teaching and learning centre; worked to the National Literacy Strategy for both Primary and Secondary; ran ‘teachers and teaching assistants as writers’ and ‘writing schools’ projects for the DFE; ‘Transforming Writing’ formative assessment research project with the National Literacy Trust. Currently runs ‘Talk for Writing’ across the country with 15 training centres and trainers. Sat on governing bodies of Higher Education Institutes, Secondary and Primary schools. Co-founder of Storytelling Schools. Honorary Doctorates from Open University for services to education/social justice and Winchester University for services to creative education.

Key Skills

• Leadership
• Evaluation of educational effectiveness
• Project development
• Creative, radical and responsible thinking
• Mentoring and coaching
• ‘Values’ education
• Research informed education
• Communication – writing and public speaking

Bola Denby

Biography

Experienced governor of primary and secondary schools
Operations management
Quality assurance management
Project management
Business development
Business analysis
Data analysis
SEN
Education in general

Key Skills

• Collaboration
• Communication and interpersonal
• Research and strategy
• IT
• Business intelligence
• Negotiation and diplomatic
• Relationship management
• Behaviour management

Keri Edge

Biography

1998 appointed as a deputy headteacher at Hallsville. Hallsville was placed into Special Measures in 1998, the term after I joined. In 2000 Hallsville was removed from Special Measures. In 2002 it was awarded a Very Good. Appointed as Head Teacher 2002. Hallsville judged Outstanding in every category in October 2007.
Became an NLE: worked with Scott Wilkie, Calverton and Keir Hardie.

Appointed as Executive Head Teacher for Scott Wilkie October 2012 when Scott Wilkie was placed in special measures. Scott Wilkie was awarded a Good in March 2014.
Worked as an NLE in a RI 2 days a week. This school was awarded a good in July 2017.

A member of 2 teaching schools. Lead Head Teacher of South West Newham Group (SWNG) where the philosophy is based on the sharing of best practise across the schools in Canning Town / Custom House area.

Key Skills

• Skilled in turning around failing schools.
• Clear values and vision.
• Ambitious aspirations for the pupils and staff.
• Highly led systems and procedures that ensure best outcomes for pupils.
• Ability to create self-reflective self-improving systems.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of Leadership,
• Education Improvement,
• Finance, HR, Data.

Violet Otieno

Biography

I have been teaching in Newham since 2000 and have been a Headteacher for the last 6 years. Throughout my leadership and teaching experience, I have demonstrated optimistic personal behaviour, positive relationships and attitudes towards all pupils and staff, all stakeholders and members of the local community. I model high expectations, ambitious standards for all pupils, overcoming disadvantage and advancing equality. I aim to secure excellent teaching by through modelling and instilling a strong sense of accountability in all staff impacting on pupils’ outcomes. I gained invaluable experience ranging from: leading the school from RI to good, sustaining high attainment at the end of all the key stages, leading on the development of our new school building project, from design to completion and overseeing a successful move into the new building with minimal disruption to learning. I continue to learn, creating an outward-facing school which working in collaboration with other schools and organisations and adapting to the ever changing demands in education.  I have high aspirations, absolute commitment and passion for Learning and Teaching and strongly believe that all pupils deserve first class education regardless of their background.  I welcome the opportunity to take on the new and exciting challenge shaping the school’s future.

Dave Lee

Biography

Almost 40 years spent working in Primary Education as:

• Teacher
• Senior Teacher
• Deputy Headteacher
• Headteacher
• Lead Ofsted Inspector [32 inspections]
• Team Ofsted Inspector [20 inspections]

School Improvement Partner [LB of Newham, 1999-2011, latterly Senior SIP]

15 years as a school governor in Hertfordshire, LB of Newham, Cambridgeshire.

Currently governor of three schools:

• The Grove Primary School, Cambridge
• Grange Primary School, Newham

Scott Wilkie/Hallsville Primary Schools, Newham

Key Skills

• Sound knowledge of the pedagogy of learning
• Good knowledge and emotional intelligence around teaching and learning, differing strategies, impact on individual pupils and staff
• Good knowledge of how a Primary School works, the pressures, the joys, the challenges
• Sound knowledge and skills of managing and maintaining a school budget
• Good knowledge on Ofsted expectations and how to prepare a school for inspection
• Empathy with pupils, staff, but with a deep desire to see everyone in a school fulfil their academic and personal potential
• Leadership and management of a large team, including how to be a team player when you are a leader too
• As a Headteacher, my school was involved in several pilot schemes, being an “Oxford Reading Tree” exemplar school in the 80s and 90s, and designated in the late 80s as a “computer-literate” school!  I always liked to challenge staff and children to “aim high” and achieve awards, etc.

Kevin Reid

Biography

I have recently retired after 25 years in teaching – 18 of those years were in senior leadership roles, the last 8 years as Headteacher of an outstanding four-form entry primary school in Newham.

Having worked in Newham for 14 years, I am aware of the many challenges that face our children and families, but also the myriad of opportunities that come from living in such a vibrant and diverse borough in one of the great cities of the world. 

Although retired, I retain a strong interest in education and I am excited about being able to share my experience and, along with the other Board members, help to ensure that all children across the Agate Momentum Trust are provided with a world-class education.

Daniela Jung

Biography

Experienced governor of a primary school. Chair of Governing Board. Chair of Finance Committee. Co-opted member of the audit committee of a sixth form college.

Extensive experience of carrying out financial and operational audits at primary and secondary schools in two London boroughs.

I trained to be a teacher and have a longstanding interest in education even though I now work in a different field.

Key Skills

• Qualified accountant and auditor
• Sound knowledge of IT and school business risks
• Data analysis
• Report writing
• People management
• Contract management
• Project management
• HR