Meet the Governors

Mrs A Yilmaz (Head Teacher)

I have been in the privileged position of being Headteacher of Riverside Primary School since January, 2011.

I qualified as a teacher in 1992 with a Bachelor of Education degree with Honours. I was one of the first students to graduate from the newly formed Northumbria University.

After beginning my career in Cambridgeshire, I spent five years teaching in London, firstly in Westminster and then Lambeth before returning to my native North East.

I began my career at this school as a Year 6 teacher at Meadow Well Primary School in 1998, then was promoted to Deputy Headteacher in 2000 and we then relocated to the current site next to the Riverside Centre.

As Headteacher, I work closely with the Senior Leadership team to lead the strategic direction of the school as decided by the Governing Body. Together with Governors, we decide on priorities for the School Improvement Plan and address the strategies for school improvement through rigorous self evaluation.

What I value most about the role of Headteacher is ensuring we meet the needs of our pupils, our families and the community. What I find most reassuring about what we do is welcoming the children of those pupils I taught in Year 6 at Meadow Well Primary all those years ago!

Miss D Palmer (Chair of Governors)

I have been a ‘Community’ Governor (now titled Co-Opted) at Riverside Primary for just over 3 years. I have been extremely proud to be part of your wonderful school and I enjoy the role enormously.

I currently run my own Catering business and I am based next door to the school, in The Riverside Centre. (Café @ The Riverside) I have been part of the Riverside Centre now for the last 8 years and I am very familiar with many our local families through the Café business, Riverside Centre Nursery, where I was previously employed & being involved in Local projects and groups.

In my role as a Governor, I am committed to supporting the school and I share the same ethos and values of the school and I am focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for the children of Riverside Primary. I am a critical friend to the school and not afraid to ask questions and make informed decisions.

I would describe myself as a motivated, hard working person. I like to keep fit & healthy with swimming and going to the gym. I have a passion for cooking and enjoy making healthy meals for my family.

Mrs T White (Staff Governor)

I began working at Riverside Primary School in September 2015 as Deputy Head Teacher.  I have enjoyed a career in teaching from 2002. I completed the BA (HONS) Primary Education degree from Northumbria University and before moving to Riverside, I taught in a North Shields school where I held a position of Team Leader with responsibility for whole school assessment, child protection and as a training co-ordinator for students.

Feeling ready for the next step in my career, I moved to Riverside and as a teaching Deputy I believe I have fallen on my feet with the best of both worlds. I am passionate about teaching and love to share my enthusiasm for knowledge with the children. I hold a teacher’s impact on a child in high value as I believe we do so much more than teach the National Curriculum. I strive to build on children’s positive morals and values: helping them to become well mannered, honest friends and good sportsmen. As Deputy to the Head Teacher I continually work hard to raise standards across the school and enjoy working with the governing body to strategically move the school forward. 

Miss M Kekus (Parent Governor)

My name is Marina Kekus, and I am one of the parent governors at Riverside Primary School, recently joining the role. I am local resident in North Shields. I show interest in role, because I am familiar with many aspects working with children as tutor abroad and as live in nanny for 6 years in UK and abroad.

At the present I am homemaker, my last job was Interpreter for Serbo-Croatian, working over 5 years with NHS and police in Newcastle and North Tyneside. I have worked with lots of people with different backgrounds .Prior to that I have over 20 years management experience equally in Retail, office and catering business, working for others but also having my own business in the UK and abroad. I hope my previous experience in communication and organisational skills can contribute to governor role.

I am reliable person, willing to learn. It is great privilege  to have the opportunity to be part of Riverside Primary, such respectful and aspiring school, and have the chance to work together with other school representatives and help the school with future aims and achievements, providing the best possible outcome for our pupils.

Nicki Garner - Co-opted

My name is Nicki Garner and I am currently the Locality Manager for the Central team based in the Riverside Children Centre. I also have overall responsibility for the Ready for School Centre which is based in the Riverside Centre.

I qualified as a Nursery Nurse in 1981. In 2010 I graduated with a 1^st Class Honours degree in Early Years Professional studies, and in 2015 I successfully completed the National Professional Qualification for Integrated Centre Leadership (NPQICL).

I have worked in Local Authority day care since 1981 and until 2015 I managed the Riverside Nursery working in close partnership with parents and other professionals to support families in our Community.

I decided that I would like to be a local authority governor for Riverside Primary School as I work in the Riverside Children Centre and as we are neighbours we work with many of the same children and families from our local community. 

Being a governor will help us all work together to support families better. I have been appointed as the Safeguarding governor for Riverside and am looking forward to meeting both children and families within this role.

Stephen Lonsdale - Vice Chair

I was elected as a co-opted governor at Riverside in February 2019.  I am currently Head of a primary school in Newcastle upon Tyne after having worked in North Tyneside as a class teacher and Specialist Leader of Education and Bradford as Vice Principal of an inner-city school.

As governor at Riverside, I am able to draw from my own experiences of working in a number of schools to both support and challenge the leadership team.  I am committed to securing high standards and outcomes for all children, regardless of background, a vision that I share with all stakeholders at Riverside.