Danielja Stols

I am an education leader with a strong engineering background and a passion for developing learners in STEM. As the Owner and Director of Advanced Tutors, I have led the growth and day-to-day management of a successful academic centre while teaching Mathematics and Physical Sciences across the CAPS, IEB and Cambridge curricula. My experience combines educational leadership, stakeholder engagement, project management and operational oversight with a commitment to academic excellence and learner success.

I thrive in collaborative environments, build strong relationships with students, parents and educators, and am driven to create meaningful educational opportunities that inspire achievement and lifelong learning.

Owner/Director at Advanced Tutors (2019-03 – Present)

• Manage the day-to-day operations and administration of the academic centre.
• Lead, coordinate and support a team of external tutors across multiple subjects.
• Plan timetables, allocate learners and monitor tutor performance and academic progress.
• Deliver Mathematics and Physical Sciences tuition to primary and high school learners.
• Develop lesson plans, learning material and targeted intervention strategies to improve learner performance.
• Engage with parents regarding learner progress and academic support plans.
• Oversee client relationships, enrolments, scheduling and general business operations.
• Provide academic support aligned with the CAPS, IEB and Cambridge curricula.

Substitute Mathematics Teacher at Hoërskool Brandwag (2022-05 – 2022-09)

• Teach Grade 10 Mathematics in accordance with the CAPS curriculum.
• Prepare and deliver engaging lessons that support curriculum outcomes.
• Develop, administer and mark classwork, tests and examinations.
• Assess learner performance and provide constructive academic feedback.
• Maintain classroom discipline and foster a positive learning environment.
• Complete required lesson planning, learner records and administrative duties.
• Collaborate with the Mathematics department to ensure continuity of teaching during the maternity leave period.

Substitute Mathematics Teacher at Hoërskool Brandwag (2025-04 – Present)

• Teach Grade 10 Mathematics in accordance with the CAPS curriculum.
• Prepare and deliver engaging lessons that support curriculum outcomes.
• Develop, administer and mark classwork, tests and examinations.
• Assess learner performance and provide constructive academic feedback.
• Maintain classroom discipline and foster a positive learning environment.
• Complete required lesson planning, learner records and administrative duties.
• Collaborate with the Mathematics department to ensure continuity of teaching during the maternity leave period.

TOP/Commissioning Engineer at Kusile Power Station at General Electric (GE) (2016-08 – 2019-02)

• Manage the turnover of systems and subsystems from construction to commissioning and client handover.
• Conduct internal, mechanical completion and safety walkdowns to verify installation readiness.
• Manage punch lists and ensure timely close-out of outstanding works.
• Coordinate turnover progress through TOP tracking, weekly coordination meetings and client progress meetings.
• Review and update turnover documentation, including quality records and red-line mark-ups.
• Verify completion of quality documentation and prepare turnover certificates for stakeholder sign-off.
• Compile construction-to-commissioning safety and site conformance documentation.
• Plan, coordinate and supervise the safe and timely commissioning of water-steam cycle and auxiliary systems.
• Execute cold and hot commissioning, trial runs, acceptance testing and system performance verification.
• Commission systems including cooling water, firefighting, feedwater, condensate, lubrication oil, auxiliary steam and drainage systems.
• Manage commissioning inspection and test plans (ITPs), quality records and non-conformance reports (NCRs).
• Monitor compliance with client safety requirements, environmental, health and safety (EHS) standards and commissioning procedures.
• Report technical deviations and coordinate commissioning personnel and contractors.
• Perform field commissioning activities including valve stroking, instrument calibration, limit setting and pressure, temperature and level device commissioning.

Design Mechanical Engineer at General Electric – seconded to AXIS Mechanical Design (2016-02 – 2016-07)

• Led the mechanical design and project engineering of a jet/vacuum sewer truck.
• Designed hydraulic and pneumatic systems, process flow diagrams and performed engineering calculations.
• Conducted mass, centre of gravity and structural analyses, including Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
• Designed storage tanks in accordance with API 650 and BS 2654 standards.
• Designed lifting trunnions and bases for heavy lifting operations, including FEA lifting studies.
• Reviewed and approved engineering drawings and performed structural calculations for support brackets.

Mechanical Engineer – Site Technical Office (STO) Kusile at Alstom S&E Africa (2015-01 – 2016-01)

• Provided technical engineering support during construction and installation of piping and mechanical equipment.
• Liaised with the client, construction teams and engineering disciplines to resolve technical queries and design issues.
• Managed design changes, prepared Design Change Notices (DCNs) and updated P&IDs.
• Prepared hydrostatic test packs, Initial Service Testing (IST) documentation and construction concessions.
• Investigated and resolved Technical Queries (TQs) and issued Field Service Instructions (FSIs).
• Raised material requisitions and provided technical support to procurement activities.

Mechanical Engineer in Training – Product package Engineering at Alstom S&E Africa (2014-01 – 2014-12)

• Managed the engineering and procurement of mechanical equipment packages, including pumps, tanks, pressure heaters, cranes, valves and piping systems.
• Coordinated supplier kick-off, progress and technical clarification meetings.
• Ensured equipment compliance with client specifications, contracts, international codes and local regulations.
• Reviewed manufacturing procedures and approved supplier documentation, engineering drawings, datasheets and design calculations.
• Prepared equipment specifications, evaluated technical tenders and reviewed operation, maintenance and erection manuals.

BEng in Mechanical Engineering – University of Johannesburg (2013)

PGCE in Mathematics – Akademia (2022)