Metro East Principals Conference
14 March 2022
Principals in the Metro East Education District were inspired to lead their schools with courage and create a culture of excellence by building relationships with staff, parents and learners.
The principals conference on 5 March 2022 at Protea Height Academy was a rousing success.
Dr Gillian Arendse, Head of Communications and Stakeholder Relations at
iThemba LABS, welcomed attendees.
Landeka Diamond, District Director, set the scene and shared her passion for education and vision to ensure a future for every learner in the Metro East Education District.
Brent Walters, Head of Education, emphasised the important role of principals if we want to achieve the Western Cape Education Department’s vision to deliver quality education in every classroom in every school in the province. Walters said this is a time for principals to be strong and resilient leaders.
Dr. Jessica Johannisen, Lecturer at Hugenote College, guided a discussion about resilience and selfcare.
David Millar, Chief Executive Officer of NAPTOSA Western Cape, delivered a powerful presentation on "Leading the learning school" during the final plenary session.
Millar spoke from personal experience as a former principal of Norman Henshilwood High School in Constantia. The school grew from 550 learners in 2004 to 1200 learners in 2010.
Under Millar's leadership, Norman Henshilwood High School's Bachelor Pass Rate soared from 38% to 95% and the school became a preferred school in Cape Town's southern suburbs.
Millar discussed urgent and necessary actions principals must take to turnaround underperforming and dysfunctional schools.
Five breakaway sessions were facilitated by experts in these fields. Principals had to select two from the following topics: Future-focused learning, facilitated by Prof Jean Greyling; Financial Management and Records Management, facilitated by William Jantjies; Policy to Practice, facilitated by Advocate Lynn Coleridge-Zils; Functional curriculum management, facilitated by Dr Nadeen Moolla; and Data-informed planning, facilitated by Dr Jonathan Clark.
Chis Hani High School’s marimba band of and the school choir of Brackenfell High School performed with excellence.
Described as a “fantastic day” by many, we hope that our Principals left inspired, motivated and appreciated.
