Meet New Forest High’s newly-appointed Departmental Head of Humanities

HAVING spent more than four years as the acting Departmental Head of Humanities at New Forest High School, Jenna-Lee Bruce, was left feeling elated after she was officially appointed in the position recently.

Bruce, 35, of Woodlands, said she now hoped to further uplift the humanities department at the school.

“It is a great privilege to be officially acknowledged for the role I have played in this department over the past few years. It is also an opportunity for me to give back to the school, which I attended and molded me into the person I am today,” she said.

Bruce, an English and history teacher, said after completing her matric at the school, she completed a four-year Bachelor of Education degree at the UKZN College of Humanities, Edgewood campus, in Marian Hill in 2008.
She said she then joined the school as a level one teacher in January 2009.

“I am grateful that soon after I completed my degree, I had an opportunity to work at the school. I started as an English and History teacher for the junior grades and about two years later, for the higher grades.

“I also taught other subjects, such as social sciences and natural science when needed. During my studies, while I was only supposed to do English and history, I picked up other subjects, because it was too far for me to travel home when there were long breaks in the year. It was probably one of the best decisions I made,” she said.

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Bruce said she joined management at the school in 2019.

“I was tasked to look after a grade, which entailed maintaining discipline, doing parent interviews and discussions. I started by taking care of Grade 10 and then Grade 8,” she said.

Bruce said the departmental head of humanities post became available earlier this year.

“While I was acting in the position, a post can only officially be made available once a head of department leaves. One of our head of departments had left this year and the post was open. So I applied and was successful.

“It was not a shock that I was appointed as I have been doing it for so long, it was a great feeling to be recognised. We all know that a piece of paper with that gratitude means a lot,” she said.

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Bruce said, in her new position, she is tasked to look after the teachers, the departments, and the academic development of the subjects that fall under the department of humanities.

These include history, geography, social sciences, arts, and drama for all grades.

“However, each subject has a head, so everything will go to them first, and what’s important will filter to me, and when I need to then step in, I will. But, I do have a great support system,” she said.

Bruce said her aim was to uplift the department.

“I always tell the children, that I am here because I want to give back to the school, which made me what I am today. So, I will do everything to the best of my ability to grow the humanities department,” she said.

Bruce said while teaching was not her first career choice, she later learnt it was her calling.

“I always thought I would go into the medical field. However, our school had sent us for a week-long work experience during our Grade 11 year. I was at a hospital and while being around the sick people, I realized it was going to really break my spirit trying to work in that environment every day. I would get emotionally attached.

“However, I decided to become a teacher as I would still be helping people. It has definitely been one of the most rewarding choices I have made.

The small gestures from the children, such as when they say thank you mam, or I really appreciate you, or when they come back after completing their matric, and tell me how I have impacted their lives, it is all worth the countless hours we spend in the classroom and after hours,” she said.

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