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

      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 Interim Chief Executive Officer, 3 days per week and Chief Education Officer, 2 days per week. 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.

Email Charlotte Johnson

  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.

Email Mike Simmonds

Karen Dyer

Karen Dyer is the Senior Administrative and Operations fficer.  She has over 10 years' experience in Primary Schools starting her career as Administration Support & Receptionist before becoming HR Administrator/PA to SLT.  Karen is enthusiastic about the challenges ahead and looks forward to the new venture in supporting the schools and staff.

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.

Email Gemma Barber

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