Serving 34 years in the education department is quite a milestone.
Avril Daniels, the Western Cape Education Department’s Circuit Manager in Vredenburg reached this milestone and will be leaving the education department at the end of the year.
It all started back in 1988 when Daniels entered the educational world, although it was not his first career choice it was one of the best decisions he made, he told Weslander.
Starting out as a teacher at Ravensmead High School in 1988, he made his way to Diazville High School in 1989.
During his 10 years there he taught woodwork and geography, served as a subject head and went on to be a departmental head.
The opportunity to apply for the post of deputy principal at Noordhoek Primary School in Velddrif came to Daniels in 1998.
“I was shortlisted, but initially did not get the post,” Daniels pointed out.
“I, however, received a phone call two weeks later stating the person they nominated did not accept the position and I then took the post.”
A year later the principal at the time took early retirement, which gave Daniels the opportunity to be acting principal of the school.
Applying for the post, he eventually went on to be principal of Noordhoek Primary for 11 years.
It was in 2010 when Daniels was seconded to the circuit office and applied for the Institutional Management and Governance Manager position at the local circuit office.
Not wasting any time Daniels took it on himself to apply for the Circuit Manager position in 2016 where he has been serving ever since.
“Working with learners and changing their lives has always been the highlight of my career. The hardest part of the job is to work with incidents that are out of your control.”
Daniels adds that being a leader, mentor, making changes, advising and helping others has been the best thing that he could ever do.
Over the years he has built relationships with the community, learners, principals and so many other people.
“I will miss the interaction with school communities and assisting parents who have challenges with education related issues.
“I will also miss the vibrancy that the post of being a education leader brings.”
Readers should, however, take note that Daniels is not retiring, but taking on another challenge in his career.
“I can definitely say watch the space.”
