The Central team of the Diocese of St Albans Multi Academy Trust includes:

   David Morton

David Morton is the Chief Executive Officer for the DSAMAT. He is also the Diocesan Director of Education for the Diocese of St Albans.  He was a primary school teacher and school leader serving as headteacher in three Church of England schools requiring rapid improvement.  Following a period where he was CEO of the Stapleford Centre, a Christian education charity, David became Deputy Director of Education in July 2013, assuming responsibility for school buildings, land and trusts and the development of the diocese’s school improvement provision.

Email David Morton 

   Paula Burgess

Paula Burgess is the Chief Operating Officer. She has overall responsibility for all financial and operational matters, including training and strategic financial planning.

Paula has 21 years’ experience in the education sector.  She has worked both supporting maintained schools, academies and Local Authorities.  Her last role was as Assistant Principal – Finance & Operations.  Paula is excited about  the role she will play as Chief Operations Officer in ensuring that the academies within the MAT are well supported and guided through the transition period and going forward.

Email Paula Burgess

   Charlotte Johnson

Charlotte Johnson is the Chief Education Officer. She has responsibility for coordinating and leading the day to day educational work of DSAMAT and has a background in working in Multi Academy Trusts. Charlotte also advises headteachers and governors on school effectiveness, and is link officer for certain schools in East Hertfordshire. She is also the Diocese lead for school reorganisation.

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   Mike Simmonds

Mike Simmonds is the Governance and Policy Advisor providing support to Academy Councils as well as working on DSAMAT Central Policies. He has thirty years' experience of school governance, is the Chair of a MAT (4 schools) and chairs or supports other governance boards in schools across two Dioceses.

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   Sharon Reid

Sharon Reid is the Office Manager & PA to the Senior Leadership Team. She has 10 years’ experience in secondary schools working as PA to Principal, Office Manager and as Clerk to Governing Bodies.  Sharon looks forward to the challenge in this new venture and in supporting the schools and their staff.

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Lynne Simper

Lynne Simper is the Finance & Administrative Officer. She has worked in finance for almost 20 years with roles as Finance & Data Officer for a local authority and Finance Manager for a lower school.  Lynne is enthusiastic about the challenges and successes ahead and looks forward to providing professional support to the Trust, its schools and associated stakeholders.

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  Elizabeth Tighe

Elizabeth Tighe is Minutes Secretary for the Trust and provides secretarial support for all Committee meetings, Trust Board meetings and Members meetings.

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  Gemma Barber

Gemma Barber is the Cross Phase Lead working closely with the Chief Education Officer and Primary Education Lead on school improvement.  She started her career as a primary school teacher before becoming the head of a village Church of England school.  Gemma then decided to diversify and move into secondary education where she ran the Accelerated Curriculum on Entry for under-performing students in Year 7.  Her most recent challenge has been to set up a Teaching School Hub in one of the Opportunity Areas, organising and delivering high quality CPD for both primary and secondary practitioners.

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  Laura Gregory

Laura Gregory is the Primary Education Lead for the Trust and works closely with the Chief Education Officer and Cross Phase Lead on school improvement.  She started her career as a primary school teacher before becoming the Principal of an outstanding Primary Academy within a multi academy trust; the school was a designated Teaching School. Laura has also been a practicing Ofsted inspector for primary education as well as Early Years.  She then decided to step away from her Principal role and work as a School Improvement Advisor where she oversees twenty-four schools.

Email Laura Gregory