Redefining Education Through Our Passion Driven Approach to Learning
Out of the Box Academy, our name is our promise. We’re not just another school – we’re a community where children are empowered to think differently, dream bigger, and discover their unique potential.
Our Promise
At Out of the Box Academy, our name is our promise. We’re not just another school – we’re a community where children are empowered to think differently, dream bigger, and discover their unique potential. Founded on the belief that every child deserves an education as unique as they are, we’ve created a learning environment where curiosity thrives and confidence blooms.
Our approach combines innovative teaching methods with deep care for each child’s wellbeing. Here, learning happens through exploration and discovery, whether that’s through hands-on projects, outdoor adventures, or creative expression. We adapt our teaching to each child’s learning style – visual, auditory, or kinesthetic – ensuring every student can succeed in their own way.
Standing tall and proud isn’t just our motto – it’s what we see in our students’ faces every day as they overcome challenges, master new skills, and discover their own capabilities. With small class sizes and a focus on individual growth, we’re creating tomorrow’s leaders, thinkers, and innovators.
My Story
As the Principal of Out of the Box Academy, I believe that education is not only about academics, but also about nurturing confidence, creativity, and resilience in every child. My own journey into teaching has been shaped by both challenges and triumphs, and it is from these experiences that my passion for education was born.My dream of becoming a teacher began at the age of seven. For every Christmas and birthday, my wish lists were filled with stationery, books, a blackboard, and a desk. My dolls and teddies became my students, and we all had great fun together!
My own learning journey, however, was not a happy one. I was very shy, and I found most of my schoolwork challenging. From a young age I was labelled “stupid” and “dumb.” I can still remember the humiliation—not only from peers, but sadly from teachers too.
I was diagnosed with a form of dyslexia as a child, but with large classes and little understanding of learning difficulties at the time, there was neither the time nor the inclination for teachers to give me the extra help I desperately needed.
This painful experience is what gave me my passion and drive to make a difference. I wanted to ensure that every child was given the time they deserved—to help them build confidence and to believe in their own uniqueness and talents.
Every child has a talent. You just have to find it!
At 14, I began helping in a crèche in the afternoons after school, and that quickly became my happy place. At 19, I received my first teaching post, and I have never looked back. I have been teaching ever since—studying while working and soaking up everything I could to help children succeed.
Special needs have always played an important role in my career. I’ve had the privilege of teaching children with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and behavioural challenges, to name a few. The joy of witnessing their achievements has been genuinely priceless.
My career has taken me through several schools, mostly in Johannesburg, and I was fortunate to teach in the UK for five years as well.
My dream was always to open my own school. In January 2016, that dream became a reality.
At first, the school was intended to cater only for preschool through Grade R. We started with just five children. Today, we have around 40 children, and due to demand, we expanded to include the higher grades. We now proudly offer classes from Grade 00 through to Grade 7.
I believe in learning by doing—by giving children the freedom to problem-solve, form their own opinions, and learn through play and experimentation.
At OTB we encourage and uplift children’s spirits, helping them believe they can succeed and achieve whatever they set their hearts and minds on. We allow them to learn at their own pace and ensure that teaching reaches every learning style. Creativity, art, storytelling, and drama play an important role in our hands-on approach.
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine we would be where we are today. But it just shows that dreams really do come true when you believe in them passionately.
— Shannon Byers
At Out of the Box Academy, we believe every child deserves individual attention and care. We don’t just follow the curriculum—we bring it to life through hands-on, multi-sensory learning experiences that help children understand, retain, and develop a genuine love for learning.