Local teacher and recent graduate from STADIO School of Education Florance Vermeulen came second out of a whopping 15 finalists at this year’s Solidarity’s Teacher of the Year competition in the high school category.
After obtaining an Advance Diploma in Professional Acting for Camera, Vermeulen went on to complete a BCom degree in Management Marketing and then his Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with STADIO via their distance learning model.
The Lückhoff teacher’s high school teaching career began at Bishop Lavis High School in Bishop Lavis, Cape Town, where he taught business studies and EMS before moving to Lückhoff Secondary School in Stellenbosch. Here most of his learners hail from a community rife with gang violence and other social ills, but that hasn’t stopped Vermeulen from being a shining inspiration to his young learners.
Over the last year he has gained a prominent following on social media after incorporating quirky dance routines into his lessons – commonly known as business studies with a beat. “I know my learners are heavily influenced by music, especially hip hop, so I have tried to use this to bridge the gap between content-rich subjects and barriers to learning” he explains.
That’s not all. Vermeulen’s teaching contribution stretches far beyond his specialist subject, being a mentor and tutor under the umbrella of the Cape Winelands Education District (CWED). Additionally he is also an active member of the district professional learning community where he shares his knowledge and expertise.
Speaking of his award Vermeulen says: “I am so honoured that my passion and calling for teaching and learning and the role I play in my learners’ life has been recognised. I have always tried to focus on what is happening both inside and outside of the classroom so that I can use education and my subject knowledge to grow learners into holistic and responsible individuals who have a meaningful place in their communities. I firmly believe everyone can positively change their life with the right support and motivation, and teachers play an important role in inspiring and instilling values, dreams, and aspirations in their learners”.
