Roodepark School teacher bows out after 43 years
All the speakers who have worked with Daleen spoke highly of her experience and praised her long milestone.
Staff and learners of Roodepark School bid farewell to one of its long serving and dedicated teachers, Daleen Pommerel.
On Tuesday, January 24, the school organised a farewell lunch for the 65-year-old who stepped into a much-deserved retirement however, she will certainly miss her colleagues and more specially her learners.
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Daleen commenced her teaching career at Marlandia School which was closed 1991 and renamed Roodepark School.
The school moved to its current location in Discovery on October 8 in 1991 where Daleen created many unforgettable memories.
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Born and raised in Witbank she studied at National Key Point Training (NKP) and was appointed in January 1980.
All the speakers who have worked with Daleen spoke highly of her experience and praised her long milestone.
Daleen was involved in school and provincial athletics, school and provincial netball, Eisteddfod, revues, cultural events running various competitions and fundraising events, registrations, administration of the scholastic department and the compiling of numerous work- and textbooks throughout the years.
In 1995 she was appointed as the school’s Head of Department (HOD) and retired while still in that position.
Daleen told the Record that the highlight of her teaching career was in 2002 when she came second in the National Teachers Awards in the section for Excellence in Special Needs.
When asked for her reason choosing teaching as a career, Daleen said that her mother was in Special Education for 30 years and was part of the team that started WH de Klerk Special School in Witbank.
“What I will remember the most are the children and their unconditional love and trust, all the successes and achievements of the learners. Excellent leadership of the principals I worked under and the trust they put in me with various aspects of the school. The will to change children’s lives for the better, to help them achieve success no matter what,” said Daleen.
The advice that Daleen has for the younger generation of educators is for them to be positive role models, never discriminate, be loyal and make your work your passion and spend enough quality time with your loved ones.
Daleen got married to Robbie Pommerel in 1980 and the two are blessed with two sons, Mark and Neil.
Her husband passed away in 2013, Mark stays in Little Falls and Neil in Fort Meyers, Florida, America.
“Photography is a passion of mine and I am planning to travel extensively, taking road trips with friends and family. Visiting my children in America for a few months at a time, spending quality time with my granddaughter and doing everything I never had time to do and explore new things,” said Daleen.
