My name is Lee Hoffmann, Acting Principal of Simon’s Town School. The school is situated in the picturesque town of Simon’s Town which is home to Naval Base Simon’s Town, the South African Navy’s largest base. The school is a fee-paying school, servicing learners predominantly from Masiphumelele, Ocean View, Da Gama Park, and even from other provinces as it’s the only school in Africa offering Maritime Studies, Nautical Sciences, and Marine Sciences as a subject stream. 

I started teaching in 2007 in a permanent capacity at Parkhurst Primary School in Mitchells Plain. In 2015, I was appointed at the Mitchells School of Skills where I spent three years as a departmental head. Due to my involvement with the teacher union, NAPTOSA, I was seconded to its provincial office in Rondebosch as a Shop Steward at the start of 2018 where I spent three years representing the union on various committees and processes, represented members in disciplinary proceedings among other things. 

In 2021, I was appointed as Deputy Principal at Simon’s Town School, and immediately filled the Acting Principal’s position as the principal was seconded to the district office as a circuit manager. Being new to the role, I realised that I needed all the support and guidance that I can get for this huge responsibility to lead a combined school offering tuition from Grade R to Grade 12 and including a boarding house. It was then that I decided to join the PPA as a member school. In 2021, I was elected to serve on its Executive Committee in the position of Assistant Public Relations Officer and am proud to be associated with this organisation that aims to provide support to poor and marginalised schools in our society.