When teachers arrived at the Knysna Primary School hall for KILT’s Class Fix 2026, they did not expect to begin the day barefoot and dancing. Yet as shoes came off and feet met the floor, it became clear that this would be a day shaped as much by movement, reflection and shared experience as by discussion and learning.

Delivered by two of South Africa’s most well regarded champions of education, Professor Jonathan Jansen and Alison Scott, Executive Head of Bellavista, the keynote speeches were grounded in the realities of classrooms and communities. Rather than distant theory, their engagement centred on courage, commitment and recognition of the inner strength teachers draw on daily. Together, their messages formed a call to action and renewed enthusiasm for the important work teachers do, and an invitation to explore and share ideas at the start of a demanding year.

Professor Jansen’s contribution set the tone early on. He moved easily between anecdote, challenge and humour, drawing on decades of experience working alongside educators confronted with complex realities. He spoke candidly about facing trauma, high expectations and consistency, not as ideals, but as daily practices that require emotional stamina and care. At several points, he drew teachers directly into the conversation, asking questions, listening closely, and pushing thinking further.

In remarks shared ahead of the workshop, he reflected on what sustains educators over time. He spoke about holding perspective, about learning to budget emotionally for disappointment, and how, as teachers, we “serve with our hands”. It was a reminder that teaching is deeply human work, shaped by relationships and moments that rarely make headlines, but matter profoundly.

 

Drawing on her background in inclusive and remedial education, Alison Scott spoke about the concept of Grit: where it comes from, how it develops, and why it matters for both children and the adults who support them. She emphasised that perseverance is not about pushing through at all costs, but about creating environments where challenge is matched with care, and where setbacks become part of learning rather than a reason to stop.

“Labels can help us choose the right tools,” she noted before the workshop, “but they should never become limits.” Her reflections resonated with teachers navigating classrooms shaped by diverse needs, expectations and pressures, reinforcing the idea that grit is something that can be cultivated.

That grounding in lived classroom reality continued across the breakaway sessions, facilitated by the KILT teacher development team: Mel Brouard, Sandra van Niekerk, Veronique Pretorius, Jenilee McKinlay and Fleur Durbach (pictured above). Teachers pre-selected practical workshops they felt would add the most value to their work, including sessions on asking and understanding questions, practical differentiation, developing thinking skills, playful learning, and supporting anxious learners. The sessions were active and participatory, encouraging discussion, experimentation and peer learning.

In one session, teachers were invited to experience how stress and anxiety affect thinking and behaviour, reflecting on what it feels like to learn under pressure. In another, they explored how a single task can support multiple pathways to understanding, making thinking visible through language and problem-solving. Throughout the day, the emphasis remained on practice: what teachers notice, try out, adapt and carry back into their classrooms.

 

Movement was woven through the programme with the support of Cecile Sasman, whose work focuses on the connection between learning, regulation and the body. Participants were encouraged to pause, move and reset, reinforcing the idea that readiness to learn is not only cognitive, but physical and emotional as well.

For KILT, the day represented a leap of faith: a belief that when opportunities are created with care and intention, people will meet them with commitment and engagement. The invitations to both speakers were extended without certainty or fanfare, simply the conviction that local teachers deserve access to the same depth of thinking and generosity often reserved for larger centres.

Thank you to Knysna Primary for hosting the KILT Class Fix workshop and to Food Lovers Market Knysna for the catering.