Daleen Janke appointed as new principal of St Andrew’s School

Born and raised in Welkom, Daleen Janke always considered education as her calling. She has now been appointed as the new principal of St Andrew’s School in Welkom. She will assume her new role in April, following the retirement of Gunther Hinrichs.

Daleen previously served as Head of the school’s Academic Department and as a member of the management team. “As a child, I admired St Andrew’s School, and it was a dream come true when I was appointed there in 2019. It has been a great privilege to have Mr. Hinrichs as my mentor,” she says.

As she prepares to take up the leadership of the school, Daleen looks forward to building on the strong foundation laid by her predecessor.

Her vision is to further strengthen academic excellence while nurturing a culture in which every learner feels valued, supported and inspired to reach their full potential.

Daleen matriculated at Hoërskool Riebeeckstad and completed her B.Ed degree through UNISA. She began her teaching career at her alma mater in 2006 and, in 2019, concluded her tenure there as Head of Afrikaans First Additional Language

A lifelong sports enthusiast, she excelled in netball and athletics and later coached at school, regional and provincial levels. Among her achievements, she coached a sprinter who represented South Africa internationally and guided two high jump athletes to South African medals.

She also serves as a Grade 12 IEB marker and takes pride in her learners’ national achievements. In 2025, she was named Teacher of the Year by GoldFM in its Global Awards. Married to Ashley Janke, she is the proud mother of Ashlynne (11) and Lienke (3 months).

Deur Petra de Blom