MEET THE STAFF - Part Nine - Mathematics, AP Maths & Mathematical Literacy

August 08, 2018 | Girls’ College

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT - PAUL STATHAM 

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Paul Statham

Paul Statham was born and educated in Harare, Zimbabwe and has a BSc. Eng. (Chemical) (Honours) degree from the University of Cape Town. He has been teaching for nine years, having worked in the chemical, biotechnology and mining industries as a practicing Chemical Engineer for 20 years prior to becoming a teacher. He began his teaching career at the Kings School, Bryanston before joining St Stithians Girls College at the beginning of 2013.

Paul was promoted to Head of Department in January of this year and he is intent on growing and nurturing the experience and excellence of the dynamic and professional Mathematics team which he leads at the Girls College. Paul is passionate and dedicated to girls’ education in South Africa, particularly in the STEM subjects, and has made it his mission to encourage as many female learners as possible to become engineers!

Paul has been married to Wendy for 17 years and has two children, Erin aged 24 and Timothy aged 15 in Grade 9. He also has a Miniature Schnauzer named Rhombus (what else!). His other interests include hockey, cricket, football (West Ham United), chess, visiting Madikwe Game Reserve as often as possible and bird watching.

TEACHER - MULDRED MARAIS

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Muldred Marais

Muldred Marais was born and raised in Johannesburg and has been teaching Mathematics for 20 years. She has a B.Sc. degree in Mathematics and Zoology and a PGCE, both from Rand Afrikaans University.

Muldred began her teaching career at Sandringham High School, and taught at Dainfern College, Durban Girls' College and Heronbridge College, before relocating to Australia. We were certainly very blessed and fortunate when she joined our team five years ago after her family decided to return to South Africa!

Muldred has been married to Anton for 14 years, and they have two children; Matthew aged ten is in Grade 4 and Jessica aged seven is in Grade 1. She loves travelling to the bush or the beach on holiday and enjoys scuba diving and snorkelling. Muldred has a keen interest in DIY crafts and scrapbooking. She has swum the Midmar Mile several times and has also done a bridge swing (which she claims she will never ever do again!).

TEACHER - SOPHIA SMITH

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Sophia Smith

Sophia Smith was born and raised in Johannesburg and has a B.A. degree and a B.A. (Honours) degree in Psychology from Rand Afrikaans University. She also has a PGCE from RAU and has been teaching Mathematics for 19 years. Sophia has been at Saints since 2007, and prior to that she taught in London for three years and at Greenside High School.

Sophia married our Saints bursar, Johnny Smith, in April 2017 – a day celebrated by the entire Saints community! The other love of her life is a pitbull terrier named Biscuit. She is the second-eldest of four sisters, who live in Durban, Canada and Saudi Arabia. This makes Sophia a real jet-setter as she loves travelling around the globe visiting them and their families as often as possible.

Apart from her Mathematics commitments, Sophia is also the Grade 9 Seriti Director, and is responsible for the Bush School planning and groups which go to Kamoka Bush School for three weeks every year.

Sophia loves living in Johannesburg and has a passion for cooking and baking. She even has a professional diploma in cake decorating! Sophia also has a keen interest in crocheting and entertaining.

TEACHER - SHEPHERD MAGWEGWE

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Shepherd Magwegwe

Shepherd Magwegwe was born and educated in Maszvingo, Zimbabwe and has been teaching Mathematics for 18 years. He has three degrees, a B.Sc. with Education, a B.A. (Honours) in Social Behaviour Studies and a B.A. (Honours) in Education which he very recently attained with Cum Laude.

Prior to joining Saints in May this year, Shepherd taught in Zimbabwe for seven years mainly at Prince Edward High School, at St Martins School for six years, at Waterford Kamhlaba UWC in Swaziland for three years and at Christchurch College in Midrand.

Shepherd has been happily married to Grace for 14 years and they are blessed with three sons, Tawananyasha aged 13, Taremekedzwa aged eight and Matifadza aged six. He loves farming and Arsenal Football Club, and his other passions include praise and worship songs, reading life coaching books and community engagement.

TEACHER - TIMOTHY SCHAERER

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Timothy Schaerer

Tim Schaerer was born and raised in Johannesburg and completed a B.Sc. degree at the University of the Witwatersrand and a PGCE at UNISA before doing his teaching internship at St. John’s College. Prior to starting his career in teaching, he worked as a Sound Engineer for a radio station.

Tim has been teaching for 13 years, mostly at Saints, and has a passion for problem-solving and extension. One of his main portfolios is the problem-solving lessons that all our teachers hold with the Grade 6 and Grade 7 classes in the Girls Prep every week, and the extension classes which we started in Grade 8 this year.

Tim has been married to Robyn for 8½ years and they have two children, Riley aged seven and Matthew aged five. He has a passion for triathlons, cycling and road running and is also an avid cook! Tim has completed one Cape Epic, two full Ironman’s, three half Ironman’s and has cycled the Cape Town cycle tour six times. His next challenge is the Comrades Marathon!

TEACHER - MANDEEP KAUR

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Mandeep Kaur

Mandeep Kaur was born and educated in Punjab, India and has been teaching Mathematics for 11 years. She has a B.Tech. degree in Computer Science and Engineering from India and a H.Dip. in Java Programming from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Mandeep completed her PGCE at the University of the Witwatersrand in 2006 and taught Mathematics at De La Salle Holy Cross in Victory Park for eight years prior to moving to Saints in 2015.

She was the state athletics champion over the 100m and 200m sprints at High School and has a passion for running, reading spiritual books and watching the Food Network channel. Mandeep has been married to Daljit for 20 years and they have two children, Simran aged 19 and Armaan aged 15.

TEACHER - KATE ROWLEY

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Kate Rowley

Kate Rowley is our Head of Subject – Mathematical Literacy and is currently in her fourth year of teaching. She was born in Kokstad in Kwazulu-Natal and grew up on a farm in Swartberg, East Griqualand, where her parents still live.

Kate has a B.Acc. (Honours) degree and a PGCE from the University of Stellenbosch. Although she did her teaching practical at Bridgehouse School in Franschhoek, Saints is her first permanent teaching post and we have been privileged to watch her grow and develop into a wonderful Mathematics teacher over the past four years.

Kate has a passion for sewing and has made many of her own clothes, and she also loves cooking, tasting wine and reading. We are all extremely excited that she is getting married to Chris in April 2019, and they are both currently in the middle of planning a very beautiful ceremony and celebration close to her where she grew up.

TEACHER - JENNIFER JUDD

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Jennifer Judd

Jennifer (Jen) Judd is one of the newest members of our Mathematics team, having joined us in January this year. She is currently in her first year of teaching and is enjoying all the challenges that being an educator brings.

Jen was born and raised in Johannesburg and is a St Stithians Girls' College alumnus. She matriculated in 2012, before moving to the Cape, where she studied a B.Sc. degree in Human Physiology, a B.Sc. (Honours) degree in Human Genetics and a PGCE, all at the University of Cape Town.

Jen’s hobbies include running and hiking, hockey, genetic modification and travelling. She claims that she once had a DNA test which revealed that she has ±150 Neanderthal genes, and she has also just entered her first half-marathon. We wish her a very successful run!

TEACHER - MOTSAMAI NONYANE

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Motsamai Nonyane

Motsamai Nonyane is the other new member of our Mathematics team, having also joined us in January this year. He is currently in his first year of teaching and is facing the challenges of being a first-time teacher head on.

Motsamai was born and raised in Sebokeng and completed his five-year Thandulwazi internship at St Stithians last year, after which he was offered a permanent post at the Girls College. He has a B.Ed. degree from UNISA, loves doing research on random topics and is a self-professed information hoarder and junkie.

Motsamai has one son named Kananelo who is four years old and the apple of his father’s eye! Motsamai loves watching psychological thrillers, reading about diversity and culture, and soccer.

TEACHER INTERN - TAKALANI MULIDZI

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Takalani Mulidzi

Takalani Mulidzi is one of four interns based at the Girls' College, and specialising in Mathematics. He was born and raised in Venda, Limpopo and is currently in the second year of his Thandulwazi internship at Saints. He is studying towards a B.Ed. degree in Mathematics and Science (FET and Senior phases) and is in his second year.

Takalani is proud of the fact that he has never tasted beer and has never smoked, but he does confess that he never stops Googling.

TEACHER INTERN - DELISIWE MASEKO

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Delisiwe Maseko

Delisiwe (Penelope) Maseko is the second of four interns based at the Girls' College, and specialising in Mathematics. She was born and raised in Soweto and is currently in the third year of her Thandulwazi internship at Saints. She is studying towards a B.Ed. degree in Mathematics and is in her third year.

Delisiwe loves horror movies, reading and collecting books, and cooking.

TEACHER INTERN - S'BUSISO SHABALALA

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S'busiso Shabalala

S’busiso Shabalala is the third of four interns based at the Girls' College, and specialising in Mathematics. He was born and raised in Newcastle, Kwazulu-Natal and is currently in the second year of his Thandulwazi internship at Saints. He is studying towards a B.Ed. degree in Mathematics and is in his second year.

S’busiso has a curious mind and is quite shy. He loves playing soccer and reading.

TEACHER INTERN - THOKOZILE SIBANDA

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Thokozile Sibanda

Thokozile Sibanda is the fourth of four interns based at the Girls' College, and specialising in Mathematics. She was born and raised in Wattville, Benoni and has a B.Tech. degree in Engineering Metallurgy. Thokozile is currently in the first year of her Thandulwazi internship at Saints. She is studying towards a PGCE in Mathematics.

Thokozile has a daughter named Kopano Hope who is three years old, and she loves aerobics and listening to music. She recently taught us that Coca-Cola ™ would be green if it did not have a colouring agent added to it!