CAPE TOWN–Fiona Blanchard, a teacher at Crystal Secondary School in Hanover Park, scooped the Excellence in Secondary School Teaching (Grades 8–12) certificate during the Western Cape Education Department’s Provincial Teaching Awards.
The ceremony was held at The Westin Hotel on Friday 15 August. The annual awards shine the spotlight on the outstanding work by the teachers in the Western Cape.
The categories included: national best teacher award, excellence in teaching Mathematics, excellence in special needs teaching, excellence in Primary School teaching and excellence in teaching Natural Sciences.
Wedaad Esau from Bridgeville Primary school walked away with the national best teacher award.
Blanchard was the only teacher from Hanover Park to receive the coveted award. With 35 years of teaching experience, she’s stayed at Crystal Secondary School since 1990 and taught accounting (former) and currently teaches tourism for 24 years now.
During this time she has mentored learners, supported extracurricular activities, and contributed to school development over three decades.
Blanchard is also the Deputy Principal at the school for seven years.
She says teaching in a community such as Hanover Park is where her life is fully embedded.
“This is an area where learners have social challenges at home. They come to school not having a mother or a father, raised by grandmothers. Not having a meal and depending on the school for a meal. The gansterism and the violence that the learners are exposed to every day and still having to learn and achieve with this mental state. Also our school does not have all the resources needed to educate learners effectively. There’s often no WiFi. Cables get stolen all the time,” she says.
She was overwhelmed with emotion after winning the award.
“I’m grateful, humbled, and deeply honoured. I could not believe it and it seems so unreal. Me coming from Crystal High School, competing with affluent schools, was a memorable moment. The applause from the audience was so heartwarming. I’m still on a high.”
Blanchard says that after 35 years of teaching in Hanover Park, the award felt like a recognition not just of her work, but of the strength and resilience of the learners, families, and community she’s walked alongside every day.
“For my family, it means everything. They’ve witnessed the late nights, the emotional weight, and the deep care I pour into each learner. This award is a reminder to them—and to me—that every sacrifice, every difficult day, has been worth it. For the community I serve and was raised in and taught in, Hanover Park, this award is a symbol of hope. It shows that despite the challenges we face—violence, poverty, broken homes—there is light. It reminds our children that they are seen, that their stories matter, and that success is possible, even when the odds are against you. I carry this award not just for myself, but for every learner who dared to dream beyond their circumstances.”
When asked what her future goals are she said: “As I look ahead, my personal goal is to continue serving with passion and purpose—mentoring younger teachers, sharing the wisdom I’ve gained over the past 35 years, and ensuring that the heart of teaching remains rooted in compassion and community. I believe in lifelong learning, so I can keep my teaching fresh and relevant for learners navigating an ever-changing world. For the school, my goal is to continue building a space where every learner feels safe, valued, and capable of achieving success—regardless of their background. I would love to see more career-driven and skills-based opportunities offered, especially in tourism. I also want to advocate for stronger support systems—more counseling services, nutrition programmes, and partnerships with community organisations—to help address the social issues our learners face daily.”
School principal Dino Abrahams say: “It is with immense pride that we congratulate our Deputy Principal and Head of Academic on this phenomenal achievement. Winning the Provincial National Teachers Award is recognition of her passion for education and her unwavering commitment to her students’ success. She is the heart of our academic excellence—a mentor to our staff and an inspiration to our learners. We have always known she is an extraordinary (teacher), and it is wonderful to see that truth affirmed on a provincial stage. We are so fortunate to have her leadership at Crystal HS.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.