Lambton\u2019s Andr\u00e9 Grobler was formally introduced to the pupils and teachers at Ho\u00ebrskool Primrose High School as the new principal, on May 20.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been the acting principal since the previous principal, Arrie Olivier, resigned some time last year and, prior to that, I was the deputy principal,\u201d said Grobler.<\/p>
\u201cI learnt a lot from Olivier, he was a great leader and I am privileged to have known and worked with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grobler, whose appointment as principal officially takes effect today (June 1), told GCN that he began his teaching career in 1989.<\/p>
\u201cI have been a teacher for 27 years now and I will continue teaching, because I believe it is important, otherwise you might lose your grip on what is happening in the classroom,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat bond between you and the students is important, so I will keep on teaching, even if it is just one or two periods a day it’s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Grobler gained experience throughout his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cBack in the day, a teacher had to start by doing army duty, so I joined the South African Defence Force (SADF) from 1989-1990, as a teacher,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd then, for six months, I taught at Diversity High School.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore Ho\u00ebrskool Palmietfontein and Die Varing merged I was a teacher at Ho\u00ebrskool Palmietfontein for seven years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the merger happened, Ho\u00ebrskool Dinamika was formed and I taught there from 1993 until my appointment as an HOD at Afrikaanse Ho\u00ebrskool Germiston in 2002.<\/p>\n
\u201cI joined this school as the deputy principal in 2009.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe in going through the ranks; you start-off with post level one teaching and gain experience, and as soon as there is a post you apply and hope for the best.<\/p>\n
”Then you move to HOD position, which is post level two, and I gained seven years of experience there.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next level is the deputy, followed by the principal position, which is a post level four.<\/p>\n
”You can have a 100 degrees, but at the end of the day you have to gain the experience needed before applying for higher posts.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have always wanted to become principal, but little did I know this school would be the one where my dream would materialise.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a great honour that was bestowed on me, to be the leader of such a fine school.\u201d<\/p>\n
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