St John's College

The St John's College community proudly welcomes Mr Lester Lalla, the 11th Headmaster of St John’s Preparatory.

Mr Lalla joins us from St Stithians Boys’ Prep where he served as Deputy Head: Curriculum & Innovation. He is an educational leader with a wealth of experience in the classroom and in administration, having held senior positions within school environments for the past nine years.

Mr Lalla is an advocate of evidence informed change and pedagogy, with a determination to build strong school communities through collaboration, authenticity and the pursuit of excellence. Building on the successes of the Heads before him, he aims to lead a preparatory school that continues to recognise the unique value and contribution of all our boys. St John’s Prep will remain a place of welcome and belonging for everyone in our community, and a school that offers an exceptional educational experience of quality and relevance.

“It is a great honour for me to serve as the next Head of this most vibrant Preparatory School. I have a deep-seated appreciation for schools rooted in Christianity and liturgy as they provide a plumb-line for life and living, and an anchor during the vicissitudes of fortune. The Anglican ethos and its practices are a true gift to all Johannians,” he says. “I believe in the dualities of a traditional boys’ education which places an emphasis on the character of a man, and innovation and progression. Together, they keep our institutions relevant and responsive.”

Mr Lalla led the team who won the Apple in Education Award for their submission on Inquiry Based Learning in 2017. He has been involved in the International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) Action Research Programme, where his report placed in the top ten in 2018. He has been a speaker at a number of conferences, including the Google Summit and the inaugural ResearchEd Africa Conferences and serves as an educationalist on the Summit Education Trust.

It is a great honour for me to serve as the next Head of this most vibrant Preparatory School. I have a deep-seated appreciation for schools rooted in Christianity and liturgy as they provide a plumb-line for life and living. The Anglican ethos and its practices are a true gift to all Johannians.
Mr Lester Lalla, Prep Head

He began his teaching career at Briardene Primary, his alma mater in Kwazulu Natal, where he was also a sports coach. He went on to teach IT at Sandown High School and was the Deputy Head and then Headmaster of Summit College Preparatory School before joining St Stithians Boys’ Prep as Deputy Head. He holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of Kwazulu Natal.

Mr Lalla is married to Corinne, who is an Advisory Associate at PWC, and they have a 9-year-old son, Samuel, and a 3-year-old daughter, Abigail.