Page 33 - Education Supplement August 2025

Teaching Humans, Not
Subjects
Colleen’s career started the way
many do – teaching imaginary
students lined up as teddy bears in
her childhood bedroom. But from the
beginning, it wasn’t about standing
at the front of a class or chasing
titles. It was about connection. About
the work of shaping humans, not just
teaching content.

She taught at Bryanston High
during the Model C years, when the
country was changing and so were
the classrooms. Later, she became
founding acting Deputy Principal
at Beaulieu College, senior English
teacher at Crawford College Lonehill
and was the founding Principal at
Reddam House Helderfontein. She’s
also authored English Language and
Literature textbooks, helping shape
the way students engage with texts
today.

...people will forget what you

said, people will forgive what
safer spaces. But their teaching, who understand the
you did, but people will
too often, schools responsibility of shaping young lives.
never forget how you made drift into becoming “Teaching is a privilege,” she says. “If
businesses first you want to walk beside a child while
them feel.
and communities they grow, you need more than a
MAYA ANGELOU second. Colleen has qualification – you need heart.”
seen this happen,
which is why she’s A Legacy That Lasts
But if you ask her, it’s never been stayed focused on what matters: Now, decades later, she’s still doing
about roles or positions. It’s about relationships. the same work – but at scale.
growing people who can think, feel, Leading schools that prioritise people
and live with integrity. It’s about She believes children learn best when over process. Building learning
helping children understand the they feel safe, valued and seen. Her environments where growth matters
world – not just pass through it. approach isn’t about chasing top more than grades.
marks at any cost – it’s about helping
The work isn’t always visible each child find their own spark. Most of the time, teachers never get to
straight away. It shows up years Whether it’s literature, sport, cultural see the results of the seeds they plant.
later – in the way people speak, participation or leadership, she But every now and then, one of those
lead, listen, or care for others. believes every child has something seeds circles back. And when it does,
That’s the part of teaching most to discover about themselves. Her it’s a quiet reminder that the work lasts
people don’t see. But Colleen has view of education stretches beyond longer than you think.
never lost sight of it. academics. It’s about building
resilience, learning balance, and Some lessons don’t stay in the
Schools That Put People First figuring out how to live in the world. classroom. They carry through a life,
Private schools have changed. shaping who you become and how
They’re no longer just for the When she hires teachers, she looks you move through the world.
wealthy – more families are making for more than degrees. She looks
sacrifices for smaller classes and for people who carry integrity into This is one of them.

Education | August 2025 | 31