14 of the best: Kenya’s top secondary school teachers

Top principals

1: ROSEMARY WANASWA

Principal of St Brigids, Trans Nzoia County, Nzoia region.

A Bachelor of Education degree graduate and an active teacher of CRE.

The school attained a mean score of 9.872 (B+), an improvement from 9.609 in 2011. It was ranked position one in Trans Nzoia, 19 among national schools, and 40 nationally.

Her subject, CRE, achieved a mean of 10.698, an improvement from 9.87 in 2011 and was position 7 nationally.

The school had a broad curriculum, noted increased enrolment and expansion of facilities, and catered for expectant girls. Rosemary championed innovation and creativity in the school, established profitable income-generating activities for school workers, was actively involved in community service, and is the author of several text books.

2: HENRY KIPTIONY KIPLANGAT

Principal and CEO, Moi High School Kabarak in Nakuru County, Nakuru region.

Teacher of geography. The school attained a mean score of 11.265 in 2012, an improvement from the 10.994 attained in 2011, and was position one nationally. All the candidates achieved a mean of C+ and above.

Geography had a mean of 11.02 in 2012 from 10.84 in 2011. However, the mean was lower than the school mean and was position four nationally. The institution had a strategic plan and was active in co-curricular activities, competing at national levels in music and drama.

The school had several profitable income-generating activities and an internal bursary programme for needy students. Was actively involved in community activities and encouraged all the teachers to attain skills in ICT through acquisition of laptop computers.

3: MAURICE OGUTU ADERA

Principal, Agoro Sare, Homa Bay County, Lake region.

Taught history and CRE. The school attained a mean score of 9.463 (B) in 2012. This was an improvement from 9.165 in 2011 and was ranked position one in Homa Bay County, 16 in the county category, and 54 nationally.

95.39 per cent of the candidates attained a mean score of C+ and above. Taught history in 2012 and the subject registered a mean of 10.7, an improvement from 10.2 in 2011, and was position 31 nationally.

The school had a strategic plan and even advertised for prefects’ positions.

Was involved in many academic committees, both regional and local.

The school participated in several co-curricular activities up to national level.

Involved in community activities and utilised SWOT analysis in school management.

Improved discipline in the school.

Was head of delegation for teachers on a tour of Germany.

Established internal quality assurance system in the school.

4: FLORAH MULATYA

Principal, Machakos Girls High School in Machakos County, Metropolitan region.

Holder of a Master’s degree in education and a teacher of CRE.

The school attained a mean score of 9.266 in 2012, up from 8.84 in 2011, and was position one in Machakos County, 29 among county schools, and 77 nationally. Her subject, CRE, had a mean of 9.1 and registered a negative deviation from 2011 results, while 97 per cent of the students of CRE attained C+ and above.

The school had a strategic plan.

There was a support kit for disadvantaged girls.

Was a director of Tanathi Water Board.

Promoted the use of ICT in the school.

Challenge noted in publications.

5: LENAH NGESA KIKUYU

Principal, St Angela’s Girls, Kitui County, Northern Region.

A holder of a Bachelor’s degree in education and a teacher of geography.

The school had a mean score of 8.992, an improvement from 8.6409 in 2011.

Her school was ranked number 46 among county schools, 123 nationally, and position three in Kitui County, while 95 per cent of her candidates had a C+ and above.

The school presented both the 2013 Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year candidates for Northern region and the institution boasts a strategic plan and a strong staff welfare programme.

St Angela’s participated in co-curriculum activities up to national level, offers inclusive education, and ensures that all students are maintained in school by supplementing their fees

Challenges noted in publications.

6: HELLEN NECHESA MACHUKA

Principal of Kombeni Girls, Kilifi County in Mombasa region.

Holds a Master’s degree in education and teacher of agriculture. The school attained a mean grade of 6.2633 in 2012, an improvement from 5.529 in 2011. Was ranked second in Kilifi County, 903 in the nation. 37.86 per cent of the girls obtained C+ and above.

She did not handle a candidate class in 2012. However, in 2011 her mean score in agriculture was 6.75. The school presented both the 2013 Teacher of the Year and Principal of the Year candidates for the region.

She initiated a number of income-generating projects like a bakery, a fish pond, a dairy, and computerised the school systems.

Actively involved in community service.

7: ESTHER NYAMBURA WAIGWA

Principal, Loise Nanyuki Girls, in Laikipia County, Aberdare region.

Holder of a diploma in education and a teacher of CRE.

The school attained a mean of 8.02, a decline from the 8.094 realised in 2011, while 90 per cent of her students had grade C+ and above.

The school had a strategic plan and several income-generating activities, while the principal facilitated development of infrastructure in the young school.

Noted challenge in publications, and academics.

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Top teachers

1: JOSEPH KAMAU NDIRANGU

School: St Angela’s Girls Kitui, Kitui County, Northern region

Category of school: County

Qualifications: Holder of Master’s degree in education.

Subject taught: English.

Achievements:

His students attained a mean of 9.5642 (B+), an improvement of 0.318 on the 2011 mean score. The subject mean of the subject was above the school mean and was position one in the school, three in the county, and 95 nationally.

The subject performance has been on an upward trend since 2005.

A KNEC examiner and author of several books, including Breakthrough and Golden Tips guide books.

Lawn tennis coach and national umpire with KLTA.

Guided the school lawn tennis team to the nationals in 2011 and 2012.

Individually digitised curriculum in his classes.

Actively involved in community work.

Donates books to primary schools and fundraises for HIV/Aids orphans.

2: FRANCIS MAINGI MUKORA

School: Molo Academy Boys High, Nakuru County, Nakuru region.

Category of school: County.

Qualifications: Master of Science.

Subject taught: Chemistry.

Achievements:

Students obtained a mean grade of 11.3396 (A-), an improvement of +0.666 over 2011 mean. The subject was ranked position two in the school, two in Nakuru County, and two nationally.

The mean score was above the school mean by +0.906, while 98.1 per cent of candidates attained grade C+ and above. Only one out of the enrolled 53 had a mean grade of C (Plain).

Noted continuous improvement in performance of chemistry since 2008. Used a practical approach to teaching chemistry and applied SMASSE techniques of improvisation.

Examiner of with KNEC and judge at science congress.

Challenges noted in publications and involvement in community activities.

3: HENRY ONYANGO

School: Cardinal Otunga Girls’ High, Bungoma County, Nzoia region.

Category of School: County.

Subject taught: English.

Academic/professional qualification: Bachelor of Education, currently pursuing a Master’s degree course.

Achievements:

Taught English language in 2012 and attained a mean performance of 9.4349 (B), an improvement of +0.339 on the 2011 mean. The mean of the subject was above the school mean by +1.4118. His subject was ranked position one at the school, position three in the county, and 115 nationally. 98.01 per cent of the candidates attained C+ and above.

Actively involved in community affairs.

Coach of table tennis, hockey, and volleyball teams.

Challenge noted in publications.

4: ESTHER MUREKE NJERI

School: Nyeri High School, Nyeri County, Aberdares region.

Subjects: German and English.

Achievements:

She handled German in 2012 KCSE and attained a mean of 9.593, a drop in performance of -0.296 from the 2011 mean score. The subject was position four in the school. one in the county, and 18 nationally. The subject performed above the school mean by +0.118.

Was a swimming coach although the school did not own a swimming pool.

Involved in community work at King’ong’o Prison, including teaching inmates, mentoring, tree planting, and construction of a library. She is also the St John’s Ambulance matron.

Took students to Turkey for global financial award competition.

5: MARY KYULE NGONYO

School: Mbiuni Mixed Day and Boarding in Machakos County, Metropolitan region.

Holder of BEd and Master’s degree in education.

Subject taught: CRE in 2012.

Achievements:

Subject attained a mean performance of 8.4285, an improvement of +0.807 and was position one in the school, 10 in the county, and 497 in the nation.

The mean score of the subject was above the school mean of 4.833, while 92.58 per cent of the candidates attained a mean grade of C+ and above.

Is an examiner and director of studies. Challenges noted in involvement in community activities and publications.

6: PETER AUMA ODHIAMBO

School: St Mary’s School Yala, Siaya County, Lake region.

Category of school: County.

Subject taught: Mathematics.

Achievements:

His students attained a mean score of 9.0873, an improvement of +0.1463 on the 2011 score. However, the subject mean was below the school mean by -0.193.

77.7 per cent of the candidates achieved a mean grade of C+ and above in maths in 2012.

Noted improvement in performance of maths in all the schools he has taught.

Training of teachers in ICT under Microsoft, British Council Badiliko project.

Head of delegation to teachers who visited Ghana and UK.

Chairman of maths panel in the district.

Introduced maths contests in the county and among schools.

In charge of an orphan trust.

Challenge is limited publications and professional development.

7: JOSEPH NDIANGUI NDIRITU

School: Kombeni Girls, Kilifi County, Mombasa region

Category of school: County

Qualifications: Bachelor of Education

Subject: English.

Achievements:

He taught English language in 2012 and attained a mean of 7.5142, an improvement of +0.0912. The subject was ranked position two in the school, two in Kilifi County, and 595 nationally. The mean of the subject was +1.237 above the school mean and 73 per cent of the candidates attained a mean grade of C+ and above.

His strength was in team and peer teaching, group work, and adequate syllabus coverage. Was a director of school choir and coached the chorals team to the national level. Authored a revision book.