#YourStory – Passionate about teaching
'I have been very lucky to work with amazing teachers along my journey who have inspired me'
![](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2016/08/MsPeta-LeeLevitan_50646.jpg)
Ms Peta-Lee Levitan has been a school teacher at Glenoaks Remedial School for three years now.
“Teaching has always been my passion. I was inspired by my parents who were both teachers. After completing my matric I went to the Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) (now University of Johannesburg) where I studied a Postgraduate Higher Education Diploma in Teaching. I then enrolled for my Bachelor of Education in Learners with Special Educational Needs honours degree. I haven’t looked back since then,” Ms Levitan said.
“I have taught in a variety of different schools for 15 years, from government schools to private schools. I had the opportunity to teach at Tara Hospital School for two and a half years,” said Ms Levitan.
“I teach a class in the special stream here at Glenoaks. The children in this stream have special needs which means they have severe barriers to learning. Each child is on their own individual learning programme and they work at their own pace. I try and push them as much as possible so they can reach their potential,” said Ms Levitan.
“A lot of the learning surrounds functional everyday skills that most of us take for granted. They are challenging to my learners. I strive to create a loving, happy environment where the learners are able to be themselves and have a productive day,” said Ms Levitan.
“I have been very lucky to work with amazing teachers along my journey who have inspired me. I have taught children at the Tara Hospital School who endured the most atrocious emotional and physical abuse. They taught me endless lessons about love, acceptance and that daily experiences are often more important than the curriculum,” said Ms Levitan.