Kfm 94.5 celebrates exceptional teachers of the Cape

Leading Western Cape breakfast show Kfm Mornings with Darren, Sherlin and Sibs is looking for the most outstanding local teacher to crown Kfm Teacher of the Year. The campaign is an extension to Kfm 94.5’s annual Schools Red Jersey campaign.

More than 1,300 nominations were received from communities across the Western Cape, from areas as far afield as Knysna and George. The top 10 finalists will be announced daily at 6.40am, with a public vote deciding the ultimate winner. The Kfm Teacher of the Year will receive R15,000 cash plus R10,000 cash for their school from Kfm 94.5 and Pick n Pay School Club.

Kfm Mornings with Darren, Sherlin and Sibs is well-known for facilitating life-changing moments for individuals and communities. The Kfm Teacher of the Year campaign aims to highlight outstanding teachers and the selfless work they do.

“As the father of two boys, education is a cause that’s very close to my heart. I was lucky enough to have amazing teachers influence my life, so I know what a difference a passionate teacher makes. 2020 was a difficult time for learners. It’s so heart-warming to see how teachers in the Western Cape have stepped up to the challenge,” says Darren Simpson, co-host of Kfm Mornings with Darren, Sherlin and Sibs.

The quality of nominations attests to the passion of local Western Cape teachers. Three of the top 10 nominated teachers are Riedewaan Bassier, Jade Damonse and Jessica Ballantyne.

Mr Bassier teaches at New Dimensions School of Design in Lansdowne. During lock-down he delivered textbooks and personally installed software programmes on learners’ computers to allow them to continue their studies.

Jade Damonse from Rhodes High School in Mowbray initiated a crowdfunding campaign to fund data and airtime for students unable to access their online classes. She also motivated and rewarded star pupils throughout lock-down by sending small gifts and treats via courier.

Jessica Ballantyne, a teacher at Springfield Convent in Wynberg, selflessly gave up her Sunday afternoons and public holidays to give extra maths lessons, instilling a lifetime love for maths in the process.

The Kfm Teacher of the Year is sponsored by the Pick n Pay School Club – an initiative that annually supports more than 3,000 schools with curriculum-aligned free educational resources. Since lockdown started, Pick n Pay School Club and Feed the Nation Foundation also provided more than 3.5 million meals to learners in need.

“Pick n Pay School Club is excited to be partnering with Kfm on this wonderful initiative,” says Andre Nel, Pick n Pay’s Head of Corporate Social Responsibility. “Our School Club recognises learners for their achievements through the Pick n Pay School Club Hero Awards and we are honoured to now also be able to recognise teachers for their commitment and dedication to educating our country’s future leaders.

In the midst of the pandemic, teachers have gone beyond the call of duty to help learners through the academic year. This is our way of acknowledging their many sacrifices and saying a heartfelt thank you to these incredible, often-unsung heroes.”

Listeners and communities can vote for their favourite finalist on kfm.co.za from Friday, 20 November, to Friday, 27 November, before 10am. Videos of all teachers can be viewed on Kfm 94.5’s Facebook and Instagram pages and on social media handles #KfmTeacherOfTheYear and #KfmRedJersey.

The winning teacher will be announced on Kfm Mornings with Darren, Sherlin and Sibs week commencing 30 November 2020.