Board of Management

The Board of Management is a dynamic and unifying force which manages the school on behalf of the patron. The Board must uphold the characteristic ethos of the school and is accountable to the patron for so doing, under the Education Act 1998

Principal: Jonathan Browner, (Secretary to the Board of Management) Please click here for further details

Deputy Principal: Matthew Quinn (in attendance) Please click here for further details

Patron Appointees:

Samantha Holman (Chairperson, appointed 2023):

Samantha Holman is CEO of the Irish Copyright Licensing Agency and teaches copyright law in Ireland and abroad. She has also been involved in setting up an organisation to mentor parents of children with autism (PRISM DLR) and is currently doing a Diploma in Education Law. She is particularly interested in inclusive education and promoting school as a partnership between students, parents and staff.

Louise Callaghan:

Louise Callaghan is an award-winning accountant with many years experience in both the private and not for profit sectors. For the past number of years she has specialised in not-for-profit management and has also worked in developing advocacy awareness and skills with primary and post-primary students across Ireland.

Louis is the current Chairperson of Le Cheile Youth Mentoring, a community-based volunteer mentoring and family support service, which works with young people involved in or at risk of offending.

Community Nominees:

Mark Cookman:

Mark Cookman lives locally and is one of the community representatives on the Board of Management. Mark spent his teaching career in Newpark Comprehensive School, Blackrock where he taught Geography and History until he took up the position of Guidance Counsellor. He was appointed Deputy Principal of Newpark in 2006, a role from which he has recently retired.

Siobhán Corry:

Siobhán is an experienced second-level teacher and principal who has recently retired as a senior advisor with the Joint Managerial Body (JMB) which advises school principals and Chairpersons on school management.

Staff Nominees:

Eddie McGinn: Please click here for further details.

Suzin Staunton: Please click here for further details.

Parent Nominees:

Leo Bergin:

Leo has a background in education, having taught and/or held middle- management positions in primary schools in London, Bangkok, Dubai, Cairo and Dublin. He appreciates the importance of education and knows what good education looks like.

Academic qualifications include a Masters in Education (Leadership and Management) and a MSc. in Management. He also completed a Certificate in Transformative Community Education and more recently, a short course on 'Corporate Governance for State and Public Sector Bodies'.

He considers himself very lucky to have a school like Goatstown Educate Together, and all it represents, for his children in this area. Contributing to the school's continued progress is important to him and he is “honoured to be a member of the Board of Management”.

Dana Conaty:

Dana is a dedicated parent who is passionate about education and the well-being of students. With her strong background in change management, Dana brings valuable insights and a strong commitment to contribute to the growth and success of our school community.

During her professional career, Dana has successfully led numerous change initiatives, working to implement effective strategies that drive progress and improve outcomes with focus on risk management.

Dana actively contributed to the development of educational institutions. As a previous member of the Board of Trustees of the Saint Nicholas Montessori Society of Ireland, she had the privilege of working closely with educators, parents, and administrators to shape policies and initiatives that promote inclusive and high-quality education.

Currently, Dana also serves as the Chair of the Parent-Staff Association here at Goatstown ETSS, where she actively engages with all stakeholders to foster a collaborative and supportive environment within our school community.

Dana is a qualified Change Manager, Agile practitioner and Business Analyst.