Primary School teachers

"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

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 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.

Angie Borain - Junior Primary (6-9 years) teacher

Angie has been working at Carnegie House since 2014, in Junior Primary and in the Senior Primary class. She completed her primary training through NAMC, the North American Montessori Centre, as well as being preschool trained through the College of Modern Montessori.
The concept of respecting others, and modelling for others is extremely important to her. "Be the change you want to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi

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.

Eloise Dreyer - Junior Primary (6-9 years ) assistant

Eloise enjoys teaching the younger learners for the endless possibilities of creativity. They are are so honest in their actions and their way of thinking has not yet been taken over by all the things in our society.

Eloise is passionate about the holistic development of a child, that being physically and academically. It is her passion to make learners aware of the importance of physical activity and how it can greatly affect their academical achievements.

Marillyn Piek - Senior Primary assistant

Marillyn completed her ECD studies in 2015. Marillyn has completed courses in the diagnosis of dyslexia and teaching children with ADHD. She also holds a First aid level 2 certificate. Marillyn believes that every child is unique and that if you let each child show and teach you what they love and what they are good at they will become so much more than what we expect. Albert Einstein once said “Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live it’s whole life believing it is stupid.” She feels that it is her duty as an educator to encourage each child individually by his or her own skill.

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.

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.

Charlene Williams
Charlene helps in Aftercare in the Paarl Primary and is also responsible for housekeeping in Paarl. She is kind and gentle and extremely hardworking. Charlene believes that all children should be treated equally and with respect as they are the future of South Africa.