As spring is a time of renewal, it’s a good time to acknoweldge changes to our PEP Academy management team. We say a big congratulations to those PEP Academy managers who have been promoted to principal positions. We thank those who have moved on to new positions and welcome those stepping into leadership roles for the first time. And we celebrate the contribution of each and every dynamo in our PEP Academy team.
Belhar Primary, Belhar Western Cape
Elizabeth Francis started as a PEP Academy teacher in 2013 and became the academy manager in 2017. Earlier this year, she retired after 43 years as a teacher. She passed the management of the academy to her deputy, Gené Barnies.
Elizabeth Francis
What did you enjoy most about being an academy manager?
Social Innovations encouraged a culture of honesty, integrity and independence. I worked with a motivated and self-sufficient team who were always up for a challenge. I enjoyed seeing our children’s faces light up when they mastered their work. Most of all, the highlight was collaborating with other provinces and finding that we share the same issues and that we could brainstorm solutions.
How did you prepare your new academy manager?
We have always worked as a team, so Mrs. Barnies was already aware of what was expected from her. We have always had a good relationship, so that helped with the handover.
How do you feel about your retirement and what do you do to keep yourself busy?
I wasn’t ready for retirement. Even though, I knew it was coming, I was in denial and still had the energy to go on. Now I am able to attend family events, I can spend more time with my grandson and will be visiting my son in Vietnam. I have started with senior citizen wellness classes and have joined the catholic women’s league which is mostly involved in outreach programmes.
A message to the PEP academy team?
Always be prepared for your classes and use concrete apparatus. Don’t proceed unless learners have grasped the core of your lesson. Always have a positive attitude towards your work because only you can make the difference. Remember to brighten your corner wherever you are!
Gené Barnies
How have you enjoyed the academy manager role?
It is a pleasure to support my colleagues as a PEP manager. I’m enjoying supporting the growth and development of PEP Academy teachers and learners through planning and best practices I see in the classes. With the support of my mentor, Mrs. Frances and Social Innovations, the transition has been smooth. I am a familiar face to the PEP learners and the warm hugs and friendly smiles just adds that extra to my day.
What have you enjoyed the most about it so far?
The PEP Academy conference was so relevant and helped me prepare for the role. This opportunity has contributed tremendously to my professional growth.
What has been the most challenging?
Catching up lost days, like during the taxi strike. Learners and teachers are so disappointed if the academy is disrupted.
Anything you would like to add?
I would like to thank PEP and Social Innovations for supporting learners and enriching teacher practices. Through PEP Academy my teaching experience has been enriched and I have been moulded for senior positions. It warms my heart when ex learners flourish due to the impact the PEP Academy on their lives. Earlier this year a learner came to share her high school achievements as a matriculant due to the foundation built through the PEP Academy programme.
Vuyani, Gugulethu Western Cape
Nozuko Alam has been the PEP Academy manager since 2012. She was recently appointed principal of her school and stepped down from PEP Academy, but she has remained a strong supporter of the programme. Phathiswa Makhaba has stepped into the academy manager shoes.
Nozuko Alam
What has been the highlight of your experience with PEP Academy?
The support PEP offers in the afternoon is linked to the CAPS curriculum, and educators are trained so that they could deliver the classes. Each year I was fortunate to attend a conference with powerful guests who motivated us to continue with our work. Through the conferences, I was able to develop relationships with schools across the country so that I don’t work in isolation. Most importantly, we see learners growing with confidence and loving school, because of the programme.
What has been the impact of the PEP Academy on the school?
We have seen our educators become better equipped in language and maths and more confident in the classroom. They have shared their skills and knowledge with other educators at the school. The programme is a great motivator. Grade 3s work hard and look forward to the programme the following year. Most importantly, our school based assessment and systemic results have improved because of the academy.
How have you adapted to being principal?
It was easy for me to adapt to my current post as a principal, because some of the duties I was doing as the academy manager are similar to those of a principal. I would like to thank PEP and Social Innovations for accommodating our school. It has made a mark that will never be erased.
Phathiswa Makhaba
How have you enjoyed being the PEP Academy manager so far?
I have been in the academy manager role for seven months now. While I have not found it an easy task, I have enjoyed it. I was a PEP Academy teacher for many years, but this is a new journey and I am developing into it. It is encouraging me to face new challenges, and that is part of my growth.
Did the conference help prepare you for the role?
The conference helped me a lot. It has laid a foundation for me to work from, especially the session about leadership.
What advice would you offer to new PEP Academy managers?
Most importantly, I would say you must learn to learn. Build strong relationships with your team, and involve everyone. Plan together, work together and use mistakes as a learning tool.
What mark would you like to leave on the academy as the manager?
With my support and encouragement, I would like educators to trust themselves. I would like to create a culture where we are all managers and we lead together. I would like for us to take decisions together.
Moriting, Tembisa Gauteng
Erens Moeng became the academy manager of Moriting in 2019 after the passing of the previous academy manager, Thapelo Thulare. He has recently left Moriting because he has appointed as the principal of Tshimollo Primary School in Mamelodi, Gauteng. Tshepo Rampyeshe has been appointed academy manager in his place.
Erens Moeng
What did you learn from being a PEP Academy manager?
PEP is an enrichment programme and different to the school day. I learned the value of this while working with people nationally towards a common purpose. I learned about the importance of differentiated learning to include shy learners, building confidence by making learning fun, how to properly resource a project and the importance of monitoring.
How have you enjoyed becoming a principal of a new school?
I have had to spend time learning the school’s culture, mission and vision. And I am starting to develop professional relationships with educators, learners and parents. While the infrastructure isn’t as good as it was at Moriting, I will strive to manage. I have had a warm welcome and the climate at the school is hospitable to education.
Any words to share with the PEP Academy team?
I want to thank the Lord, PEP and Social Innovations for entrusting me with such big responsibility. It has contributed to my professional development and the workshops have taught me new ways and strategies. If there was budget, I wish PEP Academy could expand to Pretoria, starting with my school. I really enjoyed being part of the PEP team. Viva Dynamos Viva!
Tshepho Rampyeshe
How has your experience of becoming a manager been?
It has been a good experience and I have taken on the of monitoring learner attendance, preparation of lessons, building learners confidence and communication with parents. Being a deputy to Mr Moeng has given me an opportunity to learn more about leadership and management skills. I have the support from the Principal and my colleagues. I believe there is a lot that I am still going to learn through this journey as a PEP Academy Manager.
How has being a PEP Academy teacher helped you to become a manager?
I have gained a lot of experience as a PEP Academy teacher since 2019, and I know what PEP Academy aims to achieve. I have attended training that has taught me teaching methodologies. I have learned that discipline and commitment yields results and that team work and respect of other peoples’ opinions can help you to grow.
Is this your first time experience as a manager?
In 2019 I was acting Head of department in the intermediate phase. I am now secretary of intermediate phase and serve on the School Assessment and School Safety committees. I am the Social Sciences Subject Head, the Sports Master and Secretary of the School Governing Body. I have attended leadership and management workshops and in 2019 I acquired an Honours Degree Specialising in Education Management from UNISA to sharpen my leadership knowledge.
What mark would you like to leave on the academy as a manager?
Our country has a serious challenge of learners who cannot read with meaning and who perform poorly in mathematics from an early age. My goal is to work hard through PEP Academy and other programmes to turn things around by producing good results, developing educators, teaching our learners to read with meaning and making mathematics fun. I would also like to encourage more parental involvement and to produce learners who are responsible citizens.
What message would you like to share with your PEP Academy team?
I would like to thank the PEP Academy team for their support. We must continue to work as a team, be consistent at all times, build learner confidence and make learning fun. We can improve academic performance of our learners and change our society for the better.
Esithebeni, Soweto Gauteng
Nomusa Dladla has been our academy manager at Esithebeni Primary in Soweto since we started with the school. The principal of the school has retired, and from 1 September, Nomusa has been appointed as acting principal. She has stepped down from her responsibility of PEP Academy manager and has handed the reigns to her deputy, Enos Makoro.
Nomusa Dladla
What has been the best part of your PEP Academy experience?
The best part of was showcasing our life skills play last year. The learners and educators put all their effort in to make sure the play was meaningful and enjoyed by all. The level of creativity was impressive and it made me realize that despite our different backgrounds, when we put our minds into something we will always conquer.
How has PEP Academy benefited your school?
Since PEP came to our school, the culture and discipline has changed drastically. Attendance has improved because learners know that they are supposed to be at school everyday. Most learners look forward to school because of the snacks and incentives at PEP Academy. Learner confidence has grown. Having PEP Academy has differentiated us from the neighbouring schools and our enrolment has been growing. As a PEP Academy manager I have become popular with parents and learners and I have learned to know all learners by their names.
How do you feel about stepping into the acting principal role?
I am taking this as an opportunity for me to grow personally and professionally. The managerial skills learnt from PEP will always be carried to the principalship post. I am ready to adjust and I am not afraid to learn. Making mistakes will be part of the journey but what is important is too always learn from the mistakes and become a better person
Any message you would like to share with the PEP Academy team?
I will always miss being part of the PEP family. Good practices shared during our training and conferences will always be part of me. I’m expressing my gratitude to Mama Thandi and Carien from Social Innovations for supporting our Academy and for helping us grow and improve.
Enos Makoro
How have you enjoyed being a PEP Academy teacher?
I wasn’t sure how I was going to teach English and Life skills at PEP as I’m a mathematics and NST teacher during the day. But today I can teach all those subjects and can see the integration between them.
Being a PEP Academy teacher have been fulfilling: seeing learners understanding a difficult concept and helping them learn through games is something they don’t normally do in class. At PEP I had the freedom to make my lessons more interesting. I brought the projector, played videos and showed pictures relating to a story.
How is it different from being a teacher at the day school?
At school we are expected to run after the curriculum coverage and complete a number of activities per day regardless of whether all learners are getting the concepts or not. PEP Academy provides a chance for learners to explore their interest outside the traditional school day. PEP lessons offer more opportunity for engagement and even those who are introverted participate. Learners who attend PEP appear more confident.
How are you feeling about becoming the academy manager in September?
I have mixed emotions. I am excited about the position but also sad that I will no longer be in class teaching. When I told them few days ago about the changes that are going to happen, they said “Sir why don’t you be with us till end of the year?” I promised them that I will still be around. As for managing I don’t think that will be a problem as I am already the Departmental Head in our school so as part of SMT it is our duty to see to it that learning takes place in the school daily. Because I have been a PEP Academy teacher I already know what the programme is about and what is expected.
What message would you like to share with your team?
Teamwork makes dream work. But a vision becomes a nightmare when the leader has a big dream and a bad team. I am positive my team will continue flying the flag of our school very high, and I will create the opportunity for each one of them to shine.
Social Innovations
At Social Innovations we thank Amanda Zulu for her service to PEP Academy as the programme coordinator. She was at the heart of every query and every activity for a long time, and the PEP Academy team got to know her well. She has left Social Innovations and we wish her well with the next chapter of her story.
With every goodbye there is a hello, and we welcome Karen Damon who has stepped into that role at Social Innovations. Karen comes with many years experience as a project manager in the education sector and she is looking forward to getting to know the PEP Academy team. We wish her well on her new chapter.
