Morningside principal reflects on legacy as retirement nears

AFTER 35 years in education, Durban Preparatory High School’s (DPHS) principal, Barry Wilson will step down from the helm and retire in December.

Reflecting on his time as principal, Wilson said, “More important than the projects I have worked on are the people I have worked with and the staff I have been blessed to serve with. What stood out for me are the wonderful relationships I had over the years with the learners of the school, some of whom are now parents at the school. Some of the parents are Old Boys who I actually taught.”

Wilson, who is a DPHS Old Boy, has been involved at the school for nearly three decades. First as a learner, he then returned to coach, teach and then took on the role as the school’s principal.

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“I’m the 12th principal of the school in its 111 year history. The honour I have is that I am the first DPHS Old Boy to become the principal of this great school. I have worn the uniform. I have been involved in the programmes of DPHS since I was a scholar,” he said.

After he matriculated in 1978, and completed his studies, Wilson returned to DPHS and took up his first teaching post in 1985. He taught Grade 6 and 7 learners.

“In those days, the department posted you to your teaching position and my prayers were answered when they posted me to DPHS. They could have posted me anywhere in this province. I was a coach and student here prior to that. I would say I spent close to 27 years of my life involved at this school,” he said.

During his teaching career, Wilson left DPHS in 2003 when he took up a post at Northlands Primary in Durban North.

“I went through the ranks to the level of Head of Department at DPHS. I was promoted to deputy principal at Northlands Primary and then I became principal there, where I served for a total of 13 years,” he said.

Wilson returned to DPHS in 2017 to take up his post as principal.

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“I left as a son of DPHS and, in my eyes, have returned as the DPHS dad,” he said.

While he has cherished the role as ‘DPHS dad’, Wilson takes up the role of full-time grandpa as he retires from DPHS at the end of the year. Both he and his wife, Melanie, will leave Durban to enjoy quality family time with their grandchildren in Cape Town.

Wilson said, “I have always been a proud DPHS Old Boy, educator, coach, staff member and principal and I look forward to celebrating the further successes of the school in the future. Thank you in abundance to the staff members, the boys of DPHS, the parents, Old Boys and the school governing body members who I have been blessed to share my journey with thorough my career at DPHS.”