Publications
Partners
Lee-Ann Kannemeyer has been at the Seven Steps Academy for the Deaf in District Six for 17 years, five years of which were spent as principal “Our school is a special place, really like an extended family.
“Teaching is a calling.” So says Lee-Ann Kannemeyer, principal of Seven Steps Academy for the Deaf in District Six, on the eve of her retirement at the end of March.
She said she was looking forward to well-deserved “me time” after 40 years’ dedication to a profession that has given her profound satisfaction.
Kannemeyer has been at the academy for 17 years, five years of which were spent as principal “Our school is a special place, really like an extended family. Because it’s a school that goes from pre–Grade R all the way to matric, we have staff here that stay on to see kids through until matric.”
She explained why her job has brought her such satisfaction.
“Often kids have to repeat a lower grade, so it takes them a bit longer to get to matric. Because they have no language it is the most rewarding thing to see these babies matriculate with bachelor’s passes and going on to university. There is nothing more fulfilling than that.”
Kannemeyer has also authored a few textbooks during her career.
She said, as with other schools, academy learners are exposed to all kinds of social ills.
“We have our fair share of teenage challenges, such as drugs and pregnancies. The biggest challenge is poverty. Many learners come from impoverished backgrounds, and they can’t go to their school down the road because they have special needs.”
Kannemeyer added special-needs schools need more support from government.
“Funding is our biggest challenge. It’s a travesty that the government doesn’t allow special-needs learners to travel on public transport for free. We are the only deaf school that goes to matric. So parents with special-needs children have to get their children to our school in District Six, whether they live in Paarl or the deep South.”
On how she will spend her newfound freedom, she said: “I will travel or be at home reading and learning languages. I will be doing all the things I haven’t had time to do.”
Kannemeyer thanked staff and learners for their dedication and encouraged them “always to start the day right”.
“Start with making your bed every morning, it sets the tone for the day. You’ve done your first task for the day, then you go on to the next one.
“If you leave your bed a mess and you don’t pick your laundry up and keep your space tidy, you don’t have space in your mind for the tasks of the day. Start with a simple task and that will set the tone for the day.”
