It all started with a passionate thought and the words from a few of my dearest friends that I have a gift for working with children and that children are drawn to me like “bees to a honey pot.”

As an experienced teacher, I am well aware that it just takes a few words of encouragement and one person to believe in you to make your dreams come true…and ‘yes oh yes’ I try to practice what I preach. I try to never tire of reminding the children and teenagers I teach of just how special, talented, and capable they are. Every child is born to play a role in this world. There is a plan for each one of them.

December 2016 brought an end to an era of working within mainstream schools. Although I thought this would be temporary, five years later I was still teaching from the cottage attached to my parents’ cluster home. I decided to register and name my homeschool tutor centre The Cottage Academy. Success started to outgrow the space. In 2023, a friend mine of informed me that she was closing her nursery school. Needing the space, I asked if I could rent her magnificent ‘educational’ setup. My friend and her family have given me such an amazing opportunity for which I am eternally grateful. Come and see what I mean…

My learners’ perception of me as a teacher makes me laugh, but it is true. They perceive my dedication and the hours of work I put into my preparation and in return, they thrive. They notice how I try to make a difference to each learner. My enthusiasm for learning, tolerance to one another, and acceptance of challenges that come our way make our centre a happy and friendly environment.

Having a will to become a teacher from when I was in Grade 6, I obtained an H.Dip.Ed at The Johannesburg College of Education in 1993. My knack for understanding learning challenges motivated me to further my studies. Ten years later I studied for a B. Ed Hons in Special Educational Needs at WITs University. However, this is not where I stop…I learn on a weekly basis by reading up on ways to help children.

I consider myself a creative individual. This is reflected in my teaching as I attach meaning to the learning of many concepts….did you know that words in a sentence are friends? Let me show you how and you will never forget your Parts of Speech.

I tend to burn the candle at both ends, but I enjoy the diversity of education. I have had months where I was writing a book for McMillan, lecturing at a tertiary institution, and juggling between being a home school facilitator, a learning support specialist, and a NECT trainer. Although I have had to focus on fewer commitments, I still dedicate my best to being a homeschool facilitator, a learning support specialist, and the sub-provider of an online Cognitive Development Programme. When I have been asked why I work so hard, my response is…I do not know which to give up because they all involve education and education is not the only thing that I love…I love making a difference!!!