Open to opportunities

Andy Haefner

@andyhaefner

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Senior educational leader driving turnarounds and people development.

South Africa

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What I'm looking for

I seek senior leadership roles where I can lead organisational turnarounds, develop leaders, improve culture, and deliver measurable operational and educational outcomes in a collaborative, growth-oriented environment.

I am a senior organisational leader with over 35 years' experience in people development, operational management, culture transformation, and strategic project leadership. I led a major turnaround within the ADvTECH Group, moving a large institution from the bottom of a 130-unit network to the Top 10 in two years, and was awarded Innovator of the Year for scalable systems and leadership frameworks adopted group-wide.

I specialise in developing people, building cohesive teams, optimising processes, and leading cross-functional projects from concept to implementation. Known for calm, structured leadership that fosters psychological safety, accountability, and low staff turnover, I mentor emerging leaders, deliver financial and operational oversight, and drive data-driven decision-making to improve performance and sustain organisational capacity.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Head of Schools

Current

Pinnacle Colleges

Jan 2023 - Present (3 years 5 months)

Led a complex turnaround for a 500+ learner institution within the ADvTECH Group, moving the school from bottom of a 130-unit network to Top 10 within two years and earning Innovator of the Year for scalable systems and leadership frameworks.

Strategic Planning People Development Change Management Performance Management Stakeholder Engagement

Executive Head

King David School

Jan 2022 - Jan 2023 (1 year)

Oversaw multi-campus operations, HR, finance and curriculum development; introduced a Cambridge-aligned curriculum and built high-performance leadership teams to support growth and inclusive school culture.

Curriculum Development HR Management Board Governance Strategic Projects Team Building

Vice Principal / Educator

Saheti School

Jan 2018 - Jan 2022 (4 years)

Led operations, staff management, budgets and parent engagement; delivered classroom teaching (Grade R–6) and directed strategic projects including playground redevelopment, staff appraisal restructuring, and digital learning initiatives.

Operations Teaching Project Management Digital Learning Parent engagement Budget Management

Principal (Head)

Redhill School

Jan 2016 - Jan 2017 (1 year)

Provided strategic direction and operational leadership for a 50+ staff school, led curriculum initiatives and teacher training in inquiry-based instruction, and mentored principals in leadership and performance management.

Educational Leadership Teacher Training Curriculum Design Mentoring Performance Management Operational Management

Principal (Head)

King David School (SABJE)

Jan 2012 - Jan 2016 (4 years)

Managed school-wide operations including curriculum, HR, finance and facilities while fostering a nurturing, inclusive culture and implementing foundational systems across administration and education.

Operations Management HR systems Financial Management Inclusive Education Leadership Development