New principal aims to build a strong foundation at Abbotts Bordeaux High School

Marion Kohler brings more than 21 years of experience to Abbotts Bordeaux High School in Randburg, where she aims to create a community centred around academic excellence, responsibility and belonging.

As the new principal, Kohler sees this as an opportunity to create a culture and traditions from the very beginning, while also creating a space where learners are supported and encouraged to reach their fullest potential.

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“There is something very special about being able to say, ‘We were here from the beginning,’” she said. “We want our founding families to feel that they are genuinely part of the journey. I hope our students will one day say, ‘I was challenged, I was supported, and I discovered what I was capable of.’”

Kohler studied psychology, then completed a master’s degree in advanced education and is currently pursuing an EdD in educational leadership. While she spent over two decades within the Advtech Schools Division and recently served as principal of Abbotts High School Johannesburg South for five years, she explains her career started in the entertainment industry.

“Working in entertainment taught me how to communicate with all kinds of people, think on my feet, manage unexpected situations and connect with an audience. Those skills have translated surprisingly well into school leadership.”

As a result of her continuous commitment to learning, her philosophy is centred on understanding people and helping them realise their potential. She believes every learner has different strengths, talents and challenges that need to be nurtured and recognised.

She further highlights the importance of balancing responsibility and independence, emphasising the school’s ‘Freedom with Purpose’ philosophy, which acknowledges teenagers as young adults in preparation. Through her work, she believes learners will be guided by teachers and still offered support, while understanding the importance of responsibility and what it truly means.

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“Teachers can teach, parents can support, and schools can provide opportunities, but ultimately students must learn to take ownership of their choices, effort and progress. The ultimate goal is not to create students who always ask, ‘What do I have to do?’ It is to develop young adults who ask, ‘What do I need to do to achieve this?’”

As Abbotts Bordeaux welcomes its newest principal she emphasises that the learners will actively play a role in creating its foundation of traditions, character and achievements. Kohler’s vision is one where learners will leave the school fuelled with confidence, kindness, ambition and the determination to turn their dreams into reality.

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