Profile of Imagineer Renate van der Westhuizen
Imagineering (from "imagination" and "engineering") is the implementation of creative ideas in practical form

MEET
IMAGINEER
RENATE VAN DER WESTHUIZEN

Renate van der Westhuizen currently serves as the founding principal of Apex High School, a no-fee collaboration school in Eersterivier. In 2020, the school was awarded the Media24 School of the Year award. In 2021, Renate was selected as the National winner of the National Teaching awards for the category secondary leadership. Prior to her current post, she worked for eight years as a Deputy Principal at a private school with the focus on the inclusivity of remedial learners, whilst teaching grade 12 Religion Studies, English, Life Orientation and Visual Arts. She served on numerous academic boards, leading discussion with regards to violence, rape culture and gender-based violence in South African Schools. Renate has also been a guest speaker at the University of Stellenbosch, discussing Gender Violence in South African Schools. Nowadays, Renate describes herself as an Instructional Leader with the focus on closing the academic gap between previously advantaged and disadvantaged schools. She personifies the school’s motto, “Whatever it Takes”, believing that every child in South Africa should be given the opportunity to fulfil their highest potential. For this reason, the school does not select students on academic excellence – instead, it offers an opportunity to every scholar to learn.”

Read Renate's Blogs Below


Written by Renate Van der Westhuizen


Pursuing the Passion despite the Paper Jam

Teaching is gruelling and arduous. If you are not fighting with the learners, you are fighting...

Written by Renate Van der Westhuizen


Data Driven Education

To improve learner results, we need to stop crossing our fingers and start doing this.

Written by Renate Van der Westhuizen


Finding the carrot in the rabbit Hole

I love teaching literature; focusing on the different figures of speech, the expressive ways in which a poet can describe something ordinary and the meaningful discussions I get to have...

Written by Renate Van der Westhuizen


Taming the Lizard Brain: Part 1

What if doing well at school has little to do with your ability to learn quickly? That is the question Angela Duckworth asked when she started...

Written by Renate Van der Westhuizen


Taming the Lizard Brain: Part 2

For years, educators and parents believed that praising children for being smart would increase their self-confidence and help them enjoy learning. We know now this is...

Written by Renate Van der Westhuizen


Taming the Lizard Brain: Part 3

Alice Wellington Rollins said that the test of a good teacher is not how many questions he can ask his pupils that they will answer readily, but how...