Karen to lead KJPS to a bright future

KLOOF Junior Primary School welcomed Karen Leppan as its new principal in March 2016.

Karen studied at Edgewood College and received a higher diploma in education in 1981 and began her teaching career soon after graduation at Umbogintwini Primary School, near the old airport, where she taught Grade 3 children for three years. She was then offered a position at Winston Park Primary School and taught children from Grade 1 to Grade 6 for 26 years. She then accepted an HOD post at Kloof Senior Primary School in 2011 and ran the remedial unit and was involved in the running of the mainstream part of the school as well.

“Winston Park is a very special school and its known as a small school with a big heart. You can’t just drive down the avenue of Plane trees without giving it a piece of your heart. My fond memories at KSPS are of the launch and initiating the remedial unit. It was a place to cater for children with special needs, and that is a passion of mine,” said Karen.

“I have a passion for children and for making a difference for those children that don’t normally fit the mould of those in a normal school environment. To make a difference in their lives and make sure that the children that I have touched can be happy with their school environment, themselves and give them a way to protect their self image,” she said.

A memory that burns bright in her mind’s eye is arriving back at school after the holidays with a new hairstyle. “I had blow dried my hair and I can just remember a child that could not stop laughing at my hairstyle. She just fell about laughing and thought it was absolutely hilarious. That is the pleasure working with children, they don’t hide it away and they will tell you as it is,” laughed Karen.

Holding the reigns to the school in a tight but sturdy grip, Karen hopes to lead the KJPS to new horizons with her big plans. The biggest of them is to rebrick the school by upgrading all of its classrooms, making it a solid double-storey structure. The upgrade will roll out in 2017.

“This is an eight to 10 year roll out. We are also installing interactive white boards. As teachers, we need to learn to talk the language of the 21st century child and the modern child is visual and they are digital natives and it is up to us as teachers to teach them at the highest possible levels. These boards will involve the children in the education process,” she said.

There are plans to introduce a tuck shop and school uniform shop as well as a drive to increase the eco side of the school. “We are recycling three days a week and are now looking at making that into four days a week and to broaden the scope of our recycling by introducing other products. We are looking at installing Jojo tanks so that we can become a truly green eco school. We have already planted two indigenous gardens,” she said.

The school is currently undergoing upgrades and tiered seating has been added to the swimming pool and outside the hall, but the biggest delight is the double astro turf field.

“Having gained the wisdom of experience, I find it easy to engage with both children and parents with the issues that arise and that as you climb the ranks in a school you have the privilege to make a difference for both the pupils and the staff. You can make it better for them, you can make it right for them,” concluded Karen.