More than 20 of South Africa’s top private school teachers have been recognised at two flagship celebrations: the STELLAR Teacher Awards and the ADvLEARN Celebration of Excellence. This unified event highlighted the outstanding achievements of the country’s teachers, fostering a shared commitment to innovation, professional growth, and educational excellence.

The STELLAR Teacher Awards honoured exceptional teachers who have made remarkable contributions to teaching and learning. Nominated by their peers, teachers submitted portfolios showcasing their dedication, creativity, and impact. Finalists were invited to present live, with their submissions reviewed by a distinguished panel of judges.

The objectives of the awards were to recognise excellence by celebrating teachers who demonstrate exemplary practices and positively influence their school communities; promote professional growth by encouraging continuous development through recognising teachers’ dedication and achievements, and to foster a culture of recognition, by creating a motivating environment where teachers feel valued and inspired.

Award Categories

• Outstanding Teacher Award: Celebrating teachers who excel in teaching and student engagement.
• Innovative Teaching Award: Honouring teachers who bring creativity and innovation to learning.
• Collaborative Teacher Award: Recognising teachers who build strong partnerships with colleagues and communities.
• Student Impact Award: Acknowledging teachers who make a significant difference in students’ academic and personal growth.

The list of winners are:

1	Kirstin Price	Glenwood House	Outstanding Teacher Award
2	Andrea Kruger	Crawford International Pretoria	Innovative Teacher Award
3	Vicky Baard	Trinityhouse Randpark Ridge	Outstanding Teacher Award
4	Sue Jackelman	Glenwood House	Outstanding Teacher Award
5	Natalie Kruger	Trinityhouse Randpark Ridge	Collaborative Award
6	Cheryl Williams	Glenwood House	Collaborative Award
7	Heather Laubscher	Elkanah House High School	Innovative Teacher Award
8	Samantha Govender	Pinnacle College Linden	Innovative Teacher Award
9	Genevieve Claassen	Glenwood House	Student Impact Award
10	Carmen Groenewald	Crawford International Pretoria	Outstanding Teacher Award
11	Freedom Munukha	Trinityhouse Centurion	Outstanding Teacher Award
12	Jana Antonites	Trinityhouse Randpark Ridge	Student Impact Award

ADvLEARN Celebration of Excellence

This segment celebrated teachers leveraging ADvTECH’s unique ADvLEARN platform to improve student outcomes and personalized learning. With over 19,000 students and over 450 teachers engaged on ADvLEARN, the platform has driven remarkable improvements in Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, and Physical Sciences, with student improvement ranging between 15 and 30%.

These teachers were recognised for their exceptional use of ADvLEARN’s data insights to close learning gaps and maximise student success. These teachers exemplified the spirit of excellence in personalised education.

The event proudly recognised the following teachers for their extraordinary contributions:

ADvLEARN Top 10 Teachers:

1st	Lihle Gungqisa	Abbotts College Northcliff
2nd	Patsy Muller Fourie	Trinityhouse Glenvista
3rd	Kenny Zinyandu	Trinityhouse Glenvista
4th	David Maartens	Crawford International Pretoria
5th	Alicia Allen	Crawford International La Lucia
6th	Rianette van Vollenstee	Maragon Mooikloof
7th	Kerryn Viljoen	Crawford International North Coast
8th	Manju Deepchand	Crawford International Lonehill
9th	Margaret Manana	Trinityhouse Glenvista
10th	Laurentia Stephanie Van Muylwyk	Crawford International Ruimsig

“The STELLAR Teacher Awards was a powerful testament to the extraordinary talent, innovation, and dedication of teachers across ADvTECH. It was a day of inspiration and pride, reinforcing our shared commitment to empowering students and advancing education,” said Darren Purdon: Academic Project Manager from the ADvTECH Central Academic Team Schools Division.

Desiree Hugo, Academic Head of ADvTECH Schools Division said the Group was incredibly proud to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of the top private school teachers.

“These teachers embody the values of innovation, excellence, and dedication that are at the heart of our educational mission. Through initiatives like the STELLAR Teacher Awards and the ADvLEARN awards, we are committed to fostering a culture of recognition, promoting professional growth, and ensuring that our teachers are equipped with the skills and resources needed to deliver world-class education.”

IMAGE: Darren Purdon (Central Academic Team: Academic Project Manager), Shevon Lurie (Director IIE), Lihle Gungqisa (ADvLEARN 1^st Place – Abbotts College Northcliff), Kirstin Price (STELLAR Teacher Awards 1^st Place – Glenwood House Pre-Preparatory School), Desiree Hugo (Central Academic Team: Academic Head), Geoff Whyte (ADvTECH CEO), Izak Stander (Principal Abbotts College Northcliff)