Crawford get a new principal
LONEHILL - Newly-appointed principal of Crawford Preparatory in Lonehill, Dean Marsh, is a teacher with a passion for education and who believes that children are the same everywhere and deserve the same individual attention to succeed.
Marsh began his teaching career in 1991 as a mathematics teacher at Lynnwood Ridge Primary School after studying at the Pretoria College of Education.
He said his time at Lynnwood Ridge was an immense learning experience in that he was able to meet the children and parents and learned to know what makes a school work.
He then moved to a number of schools, first to Rietondale Primary as a senior head of department in 1995, Waterkloof House Preparatory where he was the head of department in mathematics in 1996, and Beaulieu Preparatory School where he served as deputy principal. In 2006 he became the pioneering principal for the newly-established Southdowns College, and held this post for six years.
Marsh said, “The most rewarding experience in my time at Southdowns College was watching the school grow from the ground up. I was involved in the hiring and training of new teachers and staff, and watching them all grow.”
In May Marsh was ready for the long drive from Pretoria to Johannesburg and took the position of principal at Crawford Preparatory Lonehill which he said promises to be an exciting journey.
Marsh said, “I’m still learning the kids’ and staff’s names, and asking them to forgive me if I forget. But I am able to make it rewarding for them when I do.”
Marsh said that he knows the reputation that the Crawford brand has built and maintained which centres on impressive academic records; but he looks at schooling in a holistic way, being aware of the importance of extra-murals and building the individual.
“Education is very different from when I went to school. Back then it was all about teaching the class, but now, especially in a school like Crawford Prep, we need to focus on the individual. And we support our kids in every way,” said Marsh.
He said he believes all children deserve the same attention and care.
“The most rewarding part of teaching is when you see someone on the beach and they say ‘Thank you Mr Marsh’ and you [remember] that they were [once] one of your pupils and now they’re a successful professional with a family,” said Marsh.
