Following our first quarter board meeting, we took a special moment to celebrate Sam Potter, who is stepping down from the Numeric Board after 13 years of dedicated service. As our longest-serving member, Sam leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of dedication, boasting our highest attendance record for a non-executive director in Numeric’s history, despite serving his entire tenure from abroad.

Sam’s journey with Numeric began at our very inception. Representing the Potter Foundation, Sam and his family were the initiating funders who believed in Andrew Einhorn’s vision to tackle the mathematics education crisis in South Africa. It was their early, steadfast trust that provided the first grant to launch Numeric.

Reflecting on those early years, Andrew credits the program’s longevity to the insightful support of David and Elaine Potter. When early results didn’t immediately meet expectations, they didn’t pull back; instead, they challenged Andrew to iterate and explore. Fourteen years later, that commitment to evidence-based decision-making remains at the core of Numeric’s DNA.

In the boardroom, Sam’s greatest strength has been his ability to cut through the noise. While a passionate supporter of our work at every level, he never shied away from uncomfortable conversations, holding leadership to the highest standards and never hesitating to ask the tough questions. Even in times of crisis, Sam remained a calm, reassuring voice of perspective. 

To honour a decade of unwavering support, we are proud to announce the initiation of the annual Potter Teaching Excellence Award. Launching at the end of 2026, this award will be voted on by Numeric coaches to recognise teaching excellence among their peers.

We thank Sam and the Potter family for their immense faith in our mission. You have been instrumental in shaping the Numeric of today.