TEACHER Mardaleen Derks

For Mardaleen Derks, the path to teaching began long before any formal classroom. As a child, she lined up her cousins, handed out homemade booklets, and used fold-out TV trays as desks.



“I should’ve known back then I was destined to be a teacher,” she says with a smile.



Despite her early interest, Derks didn’t initially study education. It was only after her children started school in a small town that she felt a pull toward the classroom.



“I realised I had something to give,” she says. “Rather than stand on the sidelines and criticise, I wanted to get involved and plough back into the community.”



That sense of purpose has guided her teaching philosophy ever since. For Derks, the most meaningful part of the job is seeing the long-term impact. “It’s when an old student tells you that you made a difference,” she explains. “You plant a seed, and years later, you see it grow.”



The joy of learning

While she embraces new technology, she also believes education must remain grounded in discipline and imagination. “Technology gives us powerful tools, but I still believe in real books, highlighters, sticky notes,” she says. “Students today struggle with deep thinking, and I believe too much screen time is part of the reason.”



Derks sees teaching evolving rapidly in response to today’s tech-savvy learners. “We have a generation that’s visually stimulated. We need to match that with creativity and energy to keep their attention,” she says.



To those considering a teaching career, she offers honest advice: “Don’t just job shadow. Spend a month with a teacher, see the late nights and the stress, but also the magic when a struggling student finally gets it. That moment is everything.”



Though not without challenges, Derks remains hopeful about the future of education. “The tools are changing, but the heart of teaching remains the same: Connection, focus and the joy of learning.”