Topper goes back to his calling

AFTER dreaming of becoming a farmer for many years, St Benedict’s new headmaster, Sean Topper made the decision to pursue a career in teaching in his Grade 11 year.

His teacher encouraged him to start a career in education after noticing that he would work well with children because of his personality. Topper first obtained a Bcom Degree before getting his teacher’s degree at Natal University.

“When I was studying my Bcom, I kept asking myself what am I doing here as I wanted to go to the classroom and teach,” said Topper.

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He started working at Vryheid High School before joining the military service for a year.

From there, he taught at Dundee High School for five years and then at St Dominics College in New Castle.

After teaching Accounting, Business Studies and PE at Clifton for almost 11 years, Topper felt that he needed a new challenge and moved to the private sector. He resigned from Clifton as a Director of Academics.

“Even working at the private sector I still kept my hand in education. I was a locum teacher in Durban Girls and Westville Boys, I stayed with IEB as an examiner.

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“After a while I realised that this was not me. I said to myself I am a teacher, I want to go back to the classroom and this is when this opportunity arose.

Topper said what he loved most about being a teacher is making a difference in children’s lives. “There are many children who need us.”

He said one thing that always makes him emotional is getting a letter from a learner addressed ‘Dear Dad’.

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As St Benedict’s new headmaster, Topper hopes to build on a good foundation that the school already holds in all four aspects; academics, sport, culture and faith.

Topper is also married to a teacher and said that makes his relationship much easier as they both understand each other’s frustrations related to their job.

“Teaching is a unique profession and we deal with different people,” he said.

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