Mary Dean's CE Primary School and Nursery
Dr Michael Forster, Chair of Governors
(Co-opted Governor)
Mike was appointed in November 2016. He has a child in the school in school and is using his governor role to support and champion staff as well as to
get involved in school life and serve the wonderful school that we all have in our village. He works as a senior doctor in Derriford Hospital. He lives with his wife and two children just outside the village. When not busy he can be found enjoying the Devon countryside and Dartmoor with his family or cycling.
Business interests: Spouse employed by school
Martin Mills, Vice Chair (Local Authority Appointed Governor)
Martin Mills has had a long association with Mary Dean’s School. He moved to Tamerton Foliot in 1989. He was a governor at the school between 1991 and 1999 when his two sons were pupils here. After that, he continued to support the PTFA over many years and co-run the popular Quiz Nights at the school. He was a secondary school teacher for 31 years and became Assistant Principal at a large Community College in Plymouth. Since he retired, he has been happy to be a governor again at Mary Dean’s School from January 2018. He believes that our good school is central to our caring community in Tamerton Foliot.
Business interests: Nil
Claire Kean (Co-opted Governor)
Claire has lived in Tamerton Foliot for nearly 30 years. Both Claire's daughter attended Mary Dean's and this is where Claire started her governorship role as a parent governor. In 2017, due to her children moving onto secondary school, Claire was voted across to be a co-opted governor releasing the parent governor's role. Claire works at University Hospital Plymouth and her husband works locally in the village. With her children growing up, her time is spent less as their taxi driver but more enjoying socialising with friends/family on costal walks with pub lunches!
Business interests: Nil
Janet Donovan (Foundation Governor)
Janet has lived in the village for over 40 years. Both her daughters attended Mary Deans. She is now retired from 20 years as a primary school teacher and SendCo at a city primary school in Plymouth. She is a member of St Mary’s church and is a bell ringer and choir member there.
Business interests: Nil
Geraldine Butchers - Staff Governor
Gez Butchers is the Acting Deputy Head at Mary Dean’s Primary School. She has worked at the school since 2004 and is the English subject leader and Upper Key Stage Two Team Leader. Gez also previously led the Key Stage 1 team. Gez has previously supported other schools with their Key Stage 1 assessment as an external moderator for the STA and is an English Primary Lead Educator. She achieved her Masters Degree in Education specialising in English and Behaviour and recently completed her NPQH. She has two children, one of whom still attends the school, and enjoys running, cycling and being outdoors in her free time.
Business interests: Nil
Karen Williams, Clerk
Karen has been Clerk to Governors since June 2018 and has been working in an educational setting for over 20 years. She strives to ensure the smooth running of governance in school, providing effective administrative support to the governing body and its committees. This includes keeping up-to-date with current practice through training organised by the Governor Development Team and ensuring that there is a full complement of members on the Board of Governors.
Business interests: Nil
Donna Wilson (Head Teacher)
Donna Wilson is the Acting Head Teacher. Joining the school in 2008, she has taught in the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 and continues to lead the Early Years team. Teaching since 1995 in Hampshire, West Berkshire and Devon, Donna took up a post in Plymouth as Deputy Head Teacher at Mary Dean’s. She is passionate about her work and strives to ensure that all children have an opportunity to be the best they can be and develop both at the heart and the head.
Business interests: Nil
Jacky Stockman ( Foundation Governor )
Jacky has lived locally for many years. She was a secondary school teacher for 35 years initially teaching Religious Education and then specialised in teaching children with additional needs. She was SendCo at a large community college in Plymouth then taught in Brussels at one of the European Schools established for children of EU staff. Now retired she is a Trustee of Plymouth Samaritans and involved in many aspects of their work.
Business interests: Nil
Andy Mann (Parent Governor)
Andy Says:
I have two children still in the school, and all three have attended since nursery.
I live in the Derriford area. I am currently a police sergeant in Plymouth for Devon and Cornwall Police. My career of 22 years fits well with the role of governor, with experience in community safety and child safeguarding.
Our family like to be involved in the local community and support the extra-curricular activities within the school. We have an active family lifestyle and enjoy time on bikes, at the beach and on the moors.
Business interests: Nil
Dawn Hickey (Co-opted Governor)
Dawn is a teaching assistant at Mary Dean's and is in her third four-year term as a governor. She has worked across all the age groups within school but now concentrates mostly on upper key stage 2. Her three children all attended the school, which she believes gave them an excellent start to their education journey. Having lived in the village for over 30 years she also appreciates the unique "village" aspect of the school and how this is important to the children. Dawn wants to see every child reach their full potential within all areas of their learning.
Business interests : Nil
