Staff

I have compiled a report giving an account of the staff of Herschel Girls High School from 1922 - the start of the school up until the current year, 2012. Unfortunately, for many of the years there were few staff members and not much thought was given to the staff. The names, numbers and subjects they taught were not recorded well until 1982 and consequently, historically speaking, much information has been lost.

1922
Miss Morley A. Ralph (1922 – 1933)

In 1922 when the school first opened, there were only four members of staff.
Miss Ralph, the head of the school; Miss van Heyst – English; Miss Seabridge – Music; and the trained nurse and house mistress, Miss Statford.

1932
Miss Morley A. Ralph (1922 – 1933)

Miss Harriet Robinson (1933 – 1944) was the new head in this decade as Miss Ralph left in 1933.
In this year, one person had left and no more staff had joined. The school now also accepted staff members that were married.

1942
Miss Harriet Robinson (1933 – 1944)

Miss Barbara Elcome (1945 – 1947), successor to Miss Robinson was only head for a short two years. Miss Elcome married in 1947 on the 31^st July, in England. After her Miss Caroline McLean (1947 – 1962) served as head. That year, two more women joined the staff. On the 5^th of June that year, there was a staff play reading by the name of “Tons of Money”. £23 was raised for war funds.

1952
Miss Caroline McLean (1947 – 1962)

Miss McLean was the head for the whole of this decade and under her leadership, just in 1952, there came 13 staff members. Not a single person left that year either.

1962
Mrs Mavis Kittow (1962 – 1970)

Another 13 staff joined in 1962, but 5 left. Dr Barbara Silberbauer (1970 – 1978) became the new head in 1970 and also served for eight years like Mrs Kittow. Dr Silberbauer is to this day the only head with a doctorate.

1972
Dr Barbara Silberbauer (1970 – 1978)

In 1972 Miss Montgomery who had taught at Herschel for over thirty years and Miss Winifred Mulliner who had taught since 1949, tragically passed away. There were no changes to staff. Miss Pamela Geldard (1979 – 1985) was also head in this decade.

1982
Miss Pamela Geldard (1979 – 1985)

Between 1972 and 1982 a major change had occurred in staff numbers, positions, and structures. There were now thirty eight Senior School teaching staff, eight administrative staff, thirteen kitchen staff, seven ground staff and eleven part time staff. A position as vice principal had opened and Mrs S. Gillham had filled this position. Another Pamela, Mrs Pamela Duff (1986 – 1997) became head after Miss Pamela Geldard in this decade.

1992
Mrs Pamela Duff (1986 – 1997)

Not many things changed in the next decade. There were thirty two Senior School teaching staff, nine administrative staff, fourteen Music staff, four boarding staff and seven part time staff. The numbers for ground and kitchen staff stayed the same and there were now sixteen people on the Council. Senior teachers were P.L. Allen and Mrs C. M. Brathwaite and deputy head, Mrs M. Robinson. Mrs Diana van Zyl (1997 – 2007) would be the next headmistress of Herschel.

2002
Diana van Zyl (1997 – 2007)

This decade saw through further changes. Ground staff branched off into estate (six) and maintenance (two) staff. Kitchen staff remained as thirteen. Administrative staff increased to an unbelievable twenty people and part time staff increased to ten. Senior teachers included Ms D.M. Baws, Mr A.P. Scott, Mrs M. van Schalkwyk and the chaplain, Revd. J. Tyres. The Council consisted of fourteen people. Deputy, Mrs L.C. Clarke. Mr Bruce Probyn (2008 – 2012) would be the next headmaster for five years.

2012
Mr Bruce Probyn (2008 – 2012)

A major change occurred for the first time ever in Herschel history; the first male principal ever – Mr Probyn. Mrs L.C. Clarke is still the deputy head and senior teachers Ms D.M. Baws, Mr A.P. Scott, Mrs M. van Schalkwyk remained as well, but with the addition of Mrs S. Grové and the Revd. B. Commin. The Council remained constant at fourteen. There are now fifty two Senior School teaching staff; six part time; eleven kitchen staff; eleven estate staff; six maintenance staff and twenty two administrative staff.

It has been ninety years of hardworking, dedicated staff and ten different principals. From four unmarried female educators, to over one hundred and twenty two staff members, male and female; married and single, in the Senior School alone. In 2013, we will welcome Mr Stuart West as the new headmaster of Herschel Girls High School.

References:

Authored by Shinoa Foflonker