We are thrilled to introduce the two outstanding educators who will lead Maths and Science in our founding year

October 2, 2025

A warm welcome to Douglas Dzinoreva and Joanne Erasmus. Their expertise, energy, and care, together with ThriveEd’s purpose-driven approach, will set the stage for strong results and an inspiring student experience from the very start.

Douglas Dzinoreva – High School Mathematics:  Douglas brings over 10 years of teaching experience, holds an Honours degree in Mathematics, and is also an avid Chess coach. Colleagues describe him as “empathetic,” “approachable,” and “deeply committed to student success.” One remarked, “I have seen students go to him for support during his free lessons, and he would willingly help them even when he had planned to do something else.” His results speak for themselves: recently, under his guidance, 91.5% of students at Nova Pioneer Ormonde exceeded their CAT4 predictions in IGCSE (Cambridge) Mathematics.

Joanne Erasmus – Natural Science & Intermediate Phase Mathematics:  Joanne has over six years of teaching experience and joins St Luke’s from the prestigious Crawford International in Pretoria. Former colleagues speak with great fondness and respect of her integrity, intelligence, and collaborative spirit. She has been described as “one of our most innovative teachers,” “wonderful,” “gentle,” and “a favourite with students.” This rare blend of innovation and warmth has made Joanne exceptionally effective in the classroom. As one colleague noted, “She sets the bar high, and students inevitably rise to the occasion.”

In addition to passionate and effective teachers, three elements set Maths and Science education apart at St Luke’s:

High-impact teaching:  There are many ways to teach, but research shows not all are equally effective. At St Luke’s, we commit to what works: high-impact strategies that drive engagement, deepen understanding, and build student ownership. Guided by ThriveEd’s Thriveway Accreditation Framework, our teachers are equipped to deliver approaches proven to make learning stick.

Purpose-driven education in action: At St Luke’s, learning is never just about mastering content, it’s about preparing students for purpose. In Science, this comes to life through project-based learning (PBL). Research shows PBL is most powerful when it helps students apply and deepen knowledge they already understand. That’s why our classrooms balance direct instruction and practice with real-world projects, where students don’t just learn to contribute, they also contribute to learn.

Clarity and ambition:  At St Luke’s, we set bold, shared goals for what we want to achieve. This clarity allows us to focus resources where they matter most. In Maths and Science, that means aiming high.  We aim to exceed typical IEB benchmarks both in the proportion of students taking Core Mathematics and Science, and in their results. By combining academic excellence with 21st-century skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving, we prepare our students to unlock opportunities for further study and future careers.