"Without your realisation and vision it would not have been possible to have an exclusive Pre- and Primary Montessori school in the Valley. Thank you, thank you. You have set in place a formidable teaching team and I am proud to send my kids to your school. And they are extremely happy!"
- Parent at the Primary School
- Parent at the Primary School
Primary School Teachers in Riebeek Kasteel and Paarl
Sophie Carnegie - Founder

Sophie is the Founder of Carnegie House and has been involved in the schools since 2005. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Botany, a 3 - 6 year Montessori teaching Diploma, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education (UNISA) as well as various School Management certificates. Sophie believes deeply in the true potential of every child and teacher and has committed herself to providing education environments which are rich, stimulating, kind and safe for every child and teacher. She strongly believes that education - from the earliest age - is a preparation for life and that today's child growing up in today's and tomorrow's world requires so much more than a traditional approach to education.
Bee Müller - School Principal Paarl and Senior Primary (9-12 years) teacher

Bee Muller is the Head of Primary in Paarl at Carnegie House. Bee has acquired certificates for teaching in mainstream and in Montessori environments. Bee also acquired a certificate for teaching children with special needs from UNISA. She has taught in both high and primary schools and has been teaching for 25 years. She has had 14 years of experience as Principal of a Montessori school. Bee enjoys sharing her deep understanding and application of the Montessori philosophy into South African classrooms with the children, teaching staff and parents.
Jessie Graven - School Principal Riebeek Kasteel and Senior Primary (9-12 years) teacher

Jessie obtained a BA degree from the University of Pretoria, majoring in English and German and has many years of teaching experience, teaching mainly English at various institutions. At Carnegie House, Jessie re- discovered her love for Mathematics and thoroughly enjoys teaching the language of Maths as well!
Jessie loves teaching in an environment where each child’s potential can be developed and optimized. At Carnegie House this is of the utmost importance and learners are provided with every opportunity to grow and to learn independence and responsibility for their own choices. The core values of the school are sound and values that Jessie supports completely. Jessie is aware of the huge responsibility she has as a teacher and prays that she is inspiring children to become successful global citizens, following their dreams and making a difference while they are doing so. It is such a privilege to be able to share information with receptive young minds, and at the same time learn so much from them.
The wonderful, inspiring interaction with children and colleagues makes this profession so worthwhile and fulfilling. Being a part of the Carnegie House family has been a learning curve and a source of great joy to her.
Jessie loves teaching in an environment where each child’s potential can be developed and optimized. At Carnegie House this is of the utmost importance and learners are provided with every opportunity to grow and to learn independence and responsibility for their own choices. The core values of the school are sound and values that Jessie supports completely. Jessie is aware of the huge responsibility she has as a teacher and prays that she is inspiring children to become successful global citizens, following their dreams and making a difference while they are doing so. It is such a privilege to be able to share information with receptive young minds, and at the same time learn so much from them.
The wonderful, inspiring interaction with children and colleagues makes this profession so worthwhile and fulfilling. Being a part of the Carnegie House family has been a learning curve and a source of great joy to her.
Rozanne Henry- Junior Primary (6-9 years) teacher

Rozanne trained as a mainstream primary school teacher and taught for a number of years. Rozanne has also received training to work with special needs children . Raising a child’s self esteem and making them feel safe and held is something she came to feel very passionate about. For her this is key to any kind of learning. Rozanne came to witness how much a child thrives on gentle, nurturing presence from an adult. She believes wholeheartedly in educating not only the mind of a child but expanding their abilities for other life skills too …abilities such as emotional resilience, creative expression, love for nature, kindness and the skill to return to a place of
peacefulness. Rozanne also believes that these qualities help our children take up their place in society as healthy, conscious individuals who then interact in meaningful ways with others. Mindfulness is therefore something she deeply values as part of educating our children.
peacefulness. Rozanne also believes that these qualities help our children take up their place in society as healthy, conscious individuals who then interact in meaningful ways with others. Mindfulness is therefore something she deeply values as part of educating our children.
Carika Strydom - Junior Primary (6-9 years) teacher

Carika joined the foundation phase at Carnegie House, at the beginning of the second term in 2017. Before that, she taught at 4 other schools over a period of 6 years, including a school for special needs in education. Carika graduated in 2014 from UNISA, with her Bachelor of Education in Foundation Phase. Whilst studying through correspondence, Carika had a wonderful opportunity to start gaining practical experience at a school. It was then that she realised that she had indeed found her special calling. “Montessori is definitely the most inspiring approach to education that I have ever came across. My goal is to go far beyond teaching children and there is nothing more inspiring to me than to see the face of a child who has mastered a new skill.”
Ronel Van Heerden - Junior Primary (6-9) years teacher and Afrikaans 1st additional language

Ronel holds a diploma in Junior Primary teaching as well as an Honours Degree in Education Psychology (Learner Support). Ronel is responsible for Afrikaans First Additional Language in the Senior Primary class in Paarl as well as support to children with special educational needs. Ronel is a passionate and talented artist and enjoys sharing her passion with the children. She always appreciates the childrens' honesty and finds it very rewarding to put extra effort in explaining concepts which are not clear to a child, and then seeing them grasp it.
Lynelle Radyn - Junior Primary (6-9 years ) assistant
Greta McMahon - Art

Greta has worked for Carnegie House since 2013. She holds a BA(FA) Honours degree in Fine Art as well as a Diploma in Theatre Technology. Greta has been practicing as a professional artist for 17 years, worked as a set designer at the National theatre of Namibia and taught art at the Cape College in Cape Town. Greta enjoys sharing her variety of creative skills and developing and nurturing each students own unique creative abilities and awareness.
Johan Theunissen - Sports, technology an STEAM

Johan has been involved at Carnegie House since 2014. Johan has completed the Sports management course through Unisa, the Learn to Swim course and he holds a Level 2 cricket coaching qualification through Cricket South Africa. Johan teaches physical education to all children and also teaches technology and STEAM classes to the Primary children. Johan loves working with the children and, while guiding them, to also learn and discover more about the modern world we live in with them. Johan is a firm believer in the saying that “teamwork makes the dream work” and therefor respect and sportsmanship are very high on his list of expectations.

Dina Isten - Aftercare Primary
Dina has worked for Carnegie House over the last 12 years. She has had many roles in the school - general assistant ,toddler and preschool assistant as well as aftercare assistant. Dina loves her job as it allows her to work with children who she believes are the most precious commodity on this earth.
Dina has worked for Carnegie House over the last 12 years. She has had many roles in the school - general assistant ,toddler and preschool assistant as well as aftercare assistant. Dina loves her job as it allows her to work with children who she believes are the most precious commodity on this earth.