Dana Dowker

Dean of Students Junior School, Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School

Over the years, people who know her have commented that Dana Dowker would eventually find teaching as her vocation. Dana worked in support counselling as well as event and festival management before finally taking the leap into teaching, and she has not looked back!

Dana derives satisfaction from offering support to students and their families, who need tailored assistance and guidance. Her time teaching Year One at Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School allowed her to identify areas of greatest need and determine where her contributions could be most impactful.

It is Dana’s aim to guide students as they progress through school to know and understand their personal value and worth; encouraging them to take every available opportunity to become the best version of themselves. Dana encourages young teachers to view their students as individuals at the centre of the education process, striving to provide an open learning environment, working side-by-side and actively listening to what students need to thrive.

Jeremy Gooden, Head of Junior School, sees her connection to the community around her as Dana’s superpower. Her connectedness stems from being a parent and now teacher within the Lindisfarne community for 28 years. Her dedicated focus on the strength and power of relationships, her support and mentoring of peers, and a personal drive towards continued learning and improvement underscores the passion for learning she has. This has been evident as she developed from her classroom role to Learning Enrichment support and now leadership,

Dana has recently been appointed as the Dean of Students Junior School at Lindisfarne. According to Jeremy, this appointment appropriately acknowledges her strengths and her ability to drive positive growth and change for all students in the Junior School.

Jeremy believes Dana’s ability to lead by example and her commitment to treating everyone with compassion and respect will enhance her impact in her new role. Her influence extends to students, their families, and colleagues within the community, supporting them throughout their time in the Junior School and beyond.