Mrs Stear on News24
Mrs stear at the helm
As of 1 February, Mrs Kieran Stear has been appointed as the principal of Riebeek College Girls’ High School. Mrs Stear is the 15th principal of the school in its 140 year history.
Mrs Kieran Stear holds a Bachelor of Science and post graduate teaching diploma from the University of Natal. Mrs Stear has extensive teaching experience teaching Life Sciences at Umtata High School, lecturing adults at a tertiary institution and as a Head of Department in the high school and junior school of Riebeek College Girls’ High School. Mrs Stear gained valuable business and financial experience when she took a break from teaching to assist and ultimately run the financial side of her husband’s business. In this capacity, she became proficient in various Accounting programmes, in labour relations and labour law, financial statements and sound business practices. During a supposed stint as a stay at home mom, Mrs Stear found herself doing relief teaching and she experienced the policies and procedures of many Port Elizabeth schools in the process, including Pearson, St George’s College and Collegiate.
Mrs Stear’s hobbies include gardening, reading, swimming, sewing, walking, cooking, crosswords, Sudoku, participation in a book club and travel.
Having taught at Riebeek from 1996, with a break for being a mom and learning the ropes of the business world, to the present; Mrs Stear has 20 years of involvement in the school with her two eldest daughters having been Riebeek girls too. Mrs Stear’s late husband did some relief teaching at Riebeek in the 1990s, and this is where she met him and this ultimately led to her marriage to her soulmate. Mrs Stear’s mother in law is well known and respected educator, Mrs Natalie Stear, who served as principal of Riebeek from 1988 to 2000. It is thus safe to say that Riebeek runs in the family.
Mrs Stear is a devoted mother to five children. Her step son James (28 ) is an electrician in Johannesburg. Her eldest daughter Clare (32 ) is a lecturer in the hospitality industry in Port Alfred at Stenden University. Daughter Laura (30 ) is teaching and travelling in the Far East while holding a Bachelor of Law and she gained experience in the media industry in Cape Town before pursuing her dream of travelling. Daughters Kate in Grade 12 in 2017 at Collegiate Girls’ High School and Leigh in Grade 10 in 2017 at Collegiate Girls’ High School and due to visit Australia in the third term of 2017 as an exchange student, complete the family. Having parented these dynamic individuals, Mrs Stear is well versed in the art of dealing with young children and teenagers, and the challenges and joys of parenting.
Mrs Stear’s philosophy of education is that learning should be fun and goal-directed and that excellence is worth striving for. She encourages healthy bodies and healthy minds in a holistic way and believes extra murals benefit our girls. She is passionate about running a steady ship with good communication with the parents and a focus on academic programmes that allow each learner to reach her full potential. She does not sweat the small stuff and believes that challenges are opportunities to dig deep and reach your full potential. Mrs Stear has humbly accepted the mantle of heading Riebeek in its 140th year. As of 1 February 2017, Mrs Stear will head up a school rich in history and with a vision of adapting constantly to a changing world while retaining the character and ethos of a school of that prides itself on being a happy place where potential is reached.
Mrs Kieran Stear said, “I am more excited today at the prospect of leading Riebeek than I have ever been in my career. I won’t make big promises but can promise that I will work hard every day and allow my actions to speak to who I am and to tell of my commitment to our school. We will make mistakes and we will work hard to correct those mistakes. I know I will see successes and join in the celebration of those successes. On the topic of successes, I commend Mrs Cheryl Snyman who stepped in as acting principal until my appointment and have admiration for the way she ran the school, and look forward to working with her. Riebeek’s staff is a friendly and capable group, and I cherish the opportunity to lead such a talented, devoted group and I hope to give them the space to grow, the recognition they deserve and the development opportunities they deserve. I am honoured to be the custodian of the girls of Riebeek, having seen most come through the gates of the school for the first time in Grade 4. I know that our girls are super awesome and I want each one to feel safe and to know that they can reach their full potential in our happy, goal-directed school. I am also grateful to our School Governing Body whose service to the school and sound judgement are valuable contributors to the success of Riebeek College. I believe in the power of common sense, values based decision making and thorough communication with the parents and stakeholders of the school. As our school song indicates Ora et Labora (work and pray) will always stand the test. I may not have any experience as a principal but I do have experience in getting stuck in, getting my hands dirty on the job and I know teenagers. Having raised 5, there is not much the girls of Riebeek can do that will be new to me! I also know that there is not mountain high enough or valley deep enough to quote from a song that can stop Riebeek, in its 140th year from continuing its awesomeness. We are Riebeek and that is our superpower.”
SURNAME: Stear
FIRST NAMES: Kieran
MAIDEN NAME: Cavanagh
CHILDREN: Clare
Laura
James
Kate
Leigh
INTERESTS & HOBBIES: Gardening, reading, swimming, sewing, walking, cooking, crosswords, Sudoku.
EDUCATION.
SCHOOL: Convent of the Holy Family - Pietermaritzburg.
Pietermaritzburg Girls' High School. Matriculated
1977.
UNIVERSITY: University of Natal - Pietermaritzburg.
B.Sc - Botany and Geography. 1978 - 1981.
H.D.E 1982.
PMB. TECHNICAL COLLEGE: 6 months in 1983.
Accountancy and Typing.
PASTEL ACCOUNTING COURSE: 2001
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY.
- ST JOHN'S COLLEGE - UMTATA.
POSITION: Teacher - Biology and Physical Science.
Grades 10 and 11.
DATES: September 1983 to December 1983.
- UMTATA HIGH SCHOOL:
POSITION: Teacher - Biology and General Science.
Grades 8 to 11.
DATES: January 1984 to June 1984.
- UNIVERSITY OF TRANSKEI:
POSITION: Senior Laboratory Assistant with certain lecturing
responsibilities. (First year students)
DATES: November 1986 to June 1990.
- UMTATA HIGH SCHOOL:
POSITION: Teacher /acting H.O.D
General Science - Grades 8 & 9.
Geography - Grades 8 & 9.
Biology - Grades 10 to 12.
Mathematics - Grades 8 to 10.
Physical Education - Grades 8 to 12.
DATES: July 1990 to December 1995.
- RIEBEEK COLLEGE:
POSITION HELD: H.O.D - Biology.
Biology -Grades 8 to 12
Mathematics - Gr 8 & 9.
Physical Science -Grade 10
DATES: January 1996 to December 2000.
- ST. GEORGES COLLEGE:
DATES: January 2001 to December 2001.
POSITION HELD: Part - time Natural Science teacher
Grade 8. (1 lesson per day)
- PEARSON HIGH SCHOOL:
DATES: April 2003 to September 2003
POSITION HELD: Part - time Biology teacher.
Grade 12. (1 lesson per day)
- COLLEGIATE GIRLS' HIGH:
DATES: September 2003 to December 2003.
March 2004 to September 2004.
POSITION HELD: Biology teacher Grades 8 to 12.
9 MEASURE FOR MEASURE:
DATES: January 2001 to August 2007.
POSITION HELD: Bookkeeper / Admin. Manager.
This was my husband's company and I was responsible for his books and general administration.
- KROSCUT SHOPFITTERS cc:
DATES: September 2007 to December 2008.
POSITION HELD: Bookkeeper / Admin. Manager.
11. RIEBEEK COLLEGE:
DATES: January 2008 to present.
POSITION HELD: HOD in charge of the Junior Section of the school.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:
SPORT: Swimming / hockey / tennis.
DAT – Didactical Aid Teaching – Mathematics.
Going Green Co-ordinator.
Quiz.
CURRICULAR / CO- CURRICULAR DUTIES:
Computing end of term marks. Prefect voting
Matric Dance / Matric Banquet. Matric entries and Admin.
Teacher in charge of exam cupboard. Prefects’ camp.
Tuck Shop Convener Head of PTA
Academic Awards Safety Committee
Counselling Fund Raising.
LEADERSHIP ROLES:
HOD in charge of the Junior School. Head of Junior academics.
Teacher in charge of Dance Committee. Teacher in charge of prefects.
Teacher in charge of ANA Teacher in charge of Speech Night.
Didactical Aid Teaching Co-ordinator. (DAT) Discipline in Junior School.
Junior School Timetable. Extra Mural Timetable.
Exam and invigilation timetables Moderation
Student teachers mentor / New teachers mentor.
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