Governor Pen Portraits
Dr. Jason I. Broch (Chair)
Jason is chair of the Governing Body. He has been a member of the Governing Body since 2012.
In his professional life Jason is a GP as well as Chief clinical Innovation & Information officer in the Leeds office of NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board. He brings skills around good governance and organisational leadership with knowledge of the wider public sector, including both the Leeds children’s and young people’s plan and the joint health and well-being strategy.
Jason is also a governor of the Leeds Jewish Free School.
Jason believes that through strong focused leadership at Brodetsky, we can deliver an outstanding education and ensure our children reach their full potential.
Carolyn Glynn (Vice Chair & Foundation Governor)
Carolyn Glynn is a Foundation Governor and is currently the Chair of the Resources Committee.
Professionally Carolyn is an Accountant and now specialises in risk management. This includes governance & compliance and risk consultancy work in the both the public and private sector.
Carolyn attended a Jewish school all her life and believes that Brodetsky Primary School should be the best it can be in terms of Education, Jewish studies & values and providing opportunities for all children.
Carolyn has three children, one attends GSAL and her younger two attend Brodetsky Primary School and in her spare time loves to be with her family, loves to cook and shop and go on holiday as much as possible.
Adam Baxter (Foundation Governor)
Adam became a Governor in 2019 and sits on the Resources Sub Committee. His professional background is as a Chartered Surveyor specialising in commercial property management.
Adam is passionate about the school’s success having seen all three of his children pass through the doors from Reception through to Year six as well as his wife, who worked across the school in a variety of roles, leaving as the school’s EYFS Co-ordinator.
Cllr. Dan Cohen (Foundation Governor)
Dan joined the Brodetsky governors in 1998, originally to help with the schools PR, fundraising and marketing.
He remains committed to ensuring that Brodetsky is the best primary school it can possibly be and that it is constantly striving to improve its pupils’ academic achievements and outcomes.
Dan is the lead governor for Limmudei Kodesh (LK) at Brodetsky. Within that role he challenges the school’s teaching staff to find new and innovative ways of delivering high quality Hebrew and Jewish learning to be able to show both parents and governors that high expectations are being met.
His vision for the school is summed up by our mission statement that our pupils should be “Happy, well-educated and proud to be Jewish”
Dan has a passion for ensuring all young people in our community have access to the best possible education. This is one of the key reasons that he took a lead in the project to establish the Leeds Jewish Free School.
He became the Leeds City Councillor for Alwoodley in 2011 and is the Leeds Children and Families Scrutiny Board Chair.
In his rare moments of free time, he spends it with his wife and children (all of whom are either at Brodetsky and LJFS, or have recently graduated from the Henry Cohen Campus).
Rabbi Jason Kleiman (Foundation Governor)
Rabbi Jason Kleiman is minister of the Beth Hamidrash Hagadol Synagogue. Born and raised in Leeds, Rabbi Kleiman attended Leeds Grammar School before completing his studies in Theology and Religious Studies.
He later attended Jews College in Hendon and has since served communities in Reading, Catford and Clayhall, Ilford before returning to his hometown.
In addition to being on the Governing body, Rabbi Kleiman serves as the Henry Cohen Campus Rabbi.
Rachel Gould (Parent Governor)
Rachel has been the parent governor since October 2021 and leads the Teaching and Learning subcommittee. Rachel attended Brodetsky as a child with her siblings and she is extremely proud that it will play a central role in the upbringing of her children, nieces and nephews.
Rachel spent 13 years in education, 8 of which as part of the Headship Team in large schools and academies, often in challenging circumstances. She is a qualified English teacher but has assumed whole school responsibility areas such as teaching and learning, literacy and safeguarding. Currently she is a Policy Lead at the Ministry of Justice having previously worked for the Department of Health and Social Care.
Rachel started running during lockdown and managed to raise £3,800 for the school’s library provision by running the Leeds Half Marathon.
Debbie Jacobson (Co-opted Governor)
Debbie retired in 2022, having spent many years as a primary school teacher across Leeds. Deciding to spend some of her newly-found free time at Brodetsky as a volunteer, Debbie arranged regular slots to come into school in order to support with small group maths and the development of Hebrew reading. When in September 2023 Brodetsky advertised it was searching for new Governors, Debbie felt that her experience in primary education and enthusiasm for the school would enable her to further develop teaching and learning at a governor level.
Debbie has had a long association with Brodetsky as her two daughters were both pupils at the school and she was previously employed as a teaching assistant before qualifying as a teacher.
Debbie grew up in Liverpool and attended King David Primary and High Schools. She believes passionately that Brodetsky should provide first class Jewish and secular education.
Natalie Halter (Co-opted Governor)
Natalie joined the Board of Governors in January 2024. Professionally she is a Solicitor having previously worked in private practice for many years. Natalie is interested in education and is very invested in Brodetsky, as both her daughters have attended the school since nursery. Her eldest is now in Year 6.