This is the second in our series introducing the leadership that will shape St John's College as we move into 2026 and beyond. These are the individuals who will steward our values, support our community, and uphold what it means to be a Johannian.
As we welcome Noluthando Nkuna as Headmistress of St John's Pre-Preparatory, we introduce you to a woman whose understanding of early childhood education begins with her own memories.
"I can't remember my Grade 1 teacher's name," Noluthando reflects. "I couldn't write 'Noluthando' on my first day at school, and I'll never forget her public condemnation. I erased a year of my childhood to protect myself from those memories."
It's a painful recollection, yet it has become the foundation of her educational philosophy. "My hope is that children will remember each stage of their childhood, treasuring the moments of joy as well as the challenges that shaped and stretched them."
My hope is that children will remember each stage of their childhood, treasuring the moments of joy as well as the challenges that shaped and stretched them.
This conviction drives everything Noluthando does. Her career began at Oatlands Preparatory in Makhanda, followed by nearly a decade at St Stithians College, where she rose from Foundation Phase teacher to Grade Director and Transformation Director. Since 2017, she has also been a presenter for the Thandulwazi Teacher Development Programme, mentoring teachers and sharing best practices across diverse educational contexts.
From 2022 to 2024, she served as Deputy Head: Academics at St John's Pre-Preparatory. She rejoins us from St Stithians Girls' Prep, where she currently serves as Deputy Headmistress, bringing with her valuable experience from leading in both boys' and girls' schools.
"I have a deep belief that the earliest years of schooling are where the foundations for lifelong learning, character, and confidence are laid," she says. "Education is not just about imparting knowledge, but about nurturing the whole child in body, mind and character."
"Having held leadership roles in both boys' and girls' schools, Noluthando brings a nuanced understanding of how different contexts shape learning. She's particularly attuned to the spontaneity and energy that characterise boys' classrooms—the lessons that don't go as planned but yield rich, experiential learning."
Ask Noluthando about her vision for the Pre-Prep, and she'll tell you about safety and celebration. "It's my wish that we all recognise that learning is nonlinear and progress is a result of attempt. All our boys are gifted, and each one will unwrap their talents at different times during their phases of learning."
Her respect for teachers runs deep. "For a school community to flourish, we must align with a shared strategic vision. At the very heart of this, teachers stand as the vital bridge, balancing the daily demands of today's society while preparing children for a future none of us can fully predict. Put simply, teachers are nothing short of superheroes."
When it comes to the boys themselves, Noluthando strikes a balance between structure and freedom. "The learning environment we create must be a place where children can take risks, make mistakes, and experience both the joy of achievement and the lessons of 'not yet.' For boys especially, a clear framework is essential, but within it, they need the freedom to colour outside the lines, quite literally. Our focus is on progress, not perfection."
Noluthando views parents as essential partners. "The boys we receive are not empty vessels; they arrive already carrying family values, ways of seeing the world, and experiences that shape who they are. My role, alongside our teachers, is to build on that foundation. Communication, she believes, must go both ways: sharing each child's progress while also reflecting on how the school's structures serve them. "Every stakeholder has a thread to weave," she says, "and together these threads form the tapestry of each boy's learning journey."
"I'm inspired daily by the curiosity and endless creativity of our boys," she adds. "They remind me that education is about witnessing and helping shape those pivotal 'Aha' moments when children discover something new about themselves and the world around them."
What emerges from conversation with Noluthando is someone who understands that these formative years matter immensely, not just for what children learn but for how they come to see themselves as learners. She believes in a Pre-Prep where every boy feels known and supported, where memories are treasured, not buried.
As an experienced teacher and a mother of three boys, Noluthando Nkuna brings to St John's Pre-Preparatory the perfect combination: professional excellence paired with personal understanding.
Please join us in welcoming Noluthando as she returns to lead the Pre-Prep and shape the foundation years of our young Johannians.