Before teaching became a career for Liziwe Seabi, she wrote ‘Teacher Liziwe’ on a homework book and someone laughed.

She felt embarrassed, but somewhere inside she still wondered: Why not? In 2006, that little dream became a reality when she began her teaching journey. Nearly two decades later, Seabi is a Grade 2 teacher at Auckland Park Preparatory School, where she has taught since 2019.

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Her career has taken her through boys’ schools, government education and co-educational teaching, with each environment teaching her something different. “Boys taught me energy and spontaneity, co-education broadened my perspective, and teaching in different systems taught me resourcefulness,” she said, “but I have to confess, teaching girls has completely stolen my heart.”

Perhaps the biggest lesson has been learning that there is no single formula for good teaching. Every child arrives with different experiences, confidence and needs. That belief shapes the way Seabi teaches, with her remedial training teaching her to ask not what is wrong with this child?, but rather what is getting in the way of her learning? “If a pattern doesn’t fit the person, you adjust the pattern. You don’t change the person to fit the pattern,” she said, drawing on her love of sewing.

Her philosophy extends beyond academics. Seabi believes in clear boundaries, consistency and accountability, while ensuring children know they are still valued when they make mistakes. “I can say, ‘That behaviour isn’t acceptable’, without making a child feel unacceptable.”

One of the most difficult experiences of her career was losing a learner who had been experiencing persistent headaches, an ordeal she said nothing in teacher training prepares a person for. The experience taught her to notice the small things and gave her perspective on the pressures of everyday school life. “Teaching taught me to educate children. Losing a learner taught me to treasure the privilege of having them in my care.”

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Today, Seabi hopes her learners leave her classroom knowing their voices matter. She wants her girls to ask questions, express opinions and never confuse kindness with making themselves smaller. Above all, she hopes they remember her as firm, fair, funny, kind and warm – and perhaps as the teacher with the enormous smile. “I would much rather they remember how safe it felt to be in my classroom.”

For Seabi, that may be the greatest lesson of all.

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