Joanne Sanchez-Thompson
Joanne was elected to the board by members from the East Midlands in November 2025.
Joanne recently retired as CEO of a multi-academy trust of six primary schools and has spent over forty years in education. Her career has been driven by a commitment to improving the life chances of children and young people, from her early years as a classroom teacher through senior leadership and headship roles.
She has held extensive governance roles, including teacher governor, community governor and chair, headteacher representative, and trustee across both single and multi-academy trusts. These roles developed her strong understanding of strategic planning, accountability, compliance, and risk management.
Joanne recently completed a four-year term on the National Executive of the NAHT, contributing to national strategy, policy, and governance oversight. As a MAT CEO, she led trust growth, strengthened vision and values with trustees, ensured rigorous financial oversight, and promoted continuous improvement.
She has also worked as a school improvement partner and independent consultant, supporting over twenty schools with leadership development, headteacher performance management, and governance training.