Izel’s journey from South African teacher to New Zealand Principal

When Izel Thomson travelled to New Zealand from South Africa in 2020, she carried with her 20 years of teaching experience and a dream for her family’s future.

Today, as Campus Principal at OneSchool Global Auckland, she’s proof that taking the leap can transform careers.

“It has been an interesting journey, I would not change it for anything, it was the right move at that stage.”

What she didn’t anticipate was how quickly her career would flourish in OneSchool Global’s New Zealand’s supportive environment, after being promoted to primary lead teacher and now leading the whole campus in the space of less than six years.

Izel says after working in independent schools in South Africa it was a smooth transition to OneSchool Global and she found the New Zealand lifestyle easy to embrace.

“New Zealand is an easy place to adjust to. Lifestyle is different, the learning curve is huge but for any teacher learning is what you like doing. If you are considering it, I would certainly recommend New Zealand.”

She says the close-knit school environment is one of the many positive differences she enjoys.

“OneSchool is smaller than the schools I taught at in South Africa which means you really get to know the staff, the parents and the students, which just adds another layer of the support we can give to students.”

Izel says other teachers contemplating a similar move shouldn’t hesitate. Not only are the lifestyle and career opportunities appealing, but teaching also offers the opportunity to experience a new country.

“If I had to give myself one piece of advice before moving to New Zealand it would be to just jump on that plane and do it, and to not overthink everything and not try to learn everything in one day.

“I would recommend making contact with OneSchool Global because there are always opportunities within our organisation.”