SAMAcon 2026 Speakers
Allan Nguyen
Bio:
Allan Nguyen is an AMI 6–12 Trainer working with First Children in South Africa. He has spent the last two decades supporting Montessori communities across multiple continents, with a focus on cosmic education, the development of the human personality, and the unfolding powers of the second plane child. His work brings together Montessori theory, storytelling, music, and the arts.
Allan’s approach highlights the developing individual as an active contributor to the human community and the world. He is committed to expanding access to Montessori training and supporting educators in diverse settings as they prepare the conditions for meaningful growth.
Keynote – Flourishing Humanity: The Child’s creative task in an Evolving Cosmos:
Music and Movement with the second plane child:
Pru Ramsey
Bio:
Pru is an English-speaking South African. She graduated with a B.A, UED from the University of KwaZulu-Natal after which she taught high school Geography and English for ten years. In 1980, she obtained an Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) Diploma in Preprimary Education in California, where she was trained by Dr Lena Wikramaratne. Dr Wikramaratne, in turn, had worked with and been trained by Dr Maria Montessori in Sri Lanka during World War II.
After her Montessori training, Pru returned to South Africa to work in the Montessori preschool class at the Sandton Hospital before starting the Grade 0 Montessori class at The Ridge School. After her two sons were born, she was appointed Principal of the Montessori Country School located to the north of Johannesburg.
Pru was a founding member of the Montessori Society of Southern Africa formed in 1981 and was the chairman of the Society from 1994 to 1997. In 2015 she was invited to become an Honorary Life Member of the South African Montessori Association.
In the mid-90s, Pru moved into adult education, working with preschool teachers on the West and East Rand of Johannesburg. From 1999 to 2016, she served as Head of the NQF Early Childhood Development Montessori training at the Sustainability Institute and Learning for Sustainability in Stellenbosch. Pru qualified as an ETDP SETA assessor in 2004, and as a moderator in 2005. From 2017 to 2024, she was the lead facilitator in the Early Childhood Development NQF Level 5 course at the Indaba Institute.
During 2021, Pru introduced the Community Rooted Education (CoRE) pilot programme in Kayamandi and co-facilitated the CoRE programme in Klapmutz in 2022. She then mentored the CoRE programme facilitators under the guidance of the AMI ESF CoRE developers until mid-2025. She now lives in Greyton where she enjoys assisting local ECD centres.
Teaser: Flourishing the Montessori Way: A Personal Journey
To look at how my training turned my life around completely…..to focus on the fundamental principle of service that Dr Montessori and my trainer Dr Lena Wickramaratne taught and practiced.
No doubt your Montessori training changed your life. Let’s think about how it changed you and your life choices and most importantly how it is continuing to affect and guide the lens through which you see life – how is it influencing your spiritual life, the people you meet and the legacy you leave?
Kym Van Straaten
Bio:
Kym van Straaten is an experienced Montessori educator and Head of School at The Bay Academy in Hout Bay, Cape Town. With over 25 years in Montessori education, she has guided children from toddler through elementary and founded Randburg Montessori in Johannesburg, which she led for 18 years. Kym holds AMI 3–6 and 6–12 diplomas, a BA in Early Years Education, and a Diploma in Human Resources.
As a long standing member of the South African Montessori Association, she is passionate about empowering educators and fostering independence, creativity, and confidence in every child through authentic Montessori practice.
Art as a Foundation for Skill Development in the Montessori Classroom.
Story of the Cranes alongside Jacky Price.
Sharon Caldwell
Bio:
Teaser: The Role of History in the Montessori Curriculum.
History is at the core of the Montessori curriculum for 6 – 12. So much so that ii is safe to say that History IS the Montessori curriculum for peace. Find out how and why history has more relevance in our classrooms today than ever. What can children learn from the past that will prepare them for an unknown future?
The Timelines and other Materials for Igniting an Interest in History in the Montessori Prepared Environment.
Autumn Engelke
Bio:
Autumn Engelke is a Montessori mom of 3, and a qualified speech and language therapist with over 20 years of experience. She specialises in literacy and language and currently works as an in-house therapist at Blue Moon Montessori in Cape Town.
Teaser – Phonological Awareness in the Preschool and Early Primary Child:
Phonological awareness is the foundation of strong literacy skills. Understanding the scaffolding of phonological awareness can help parents and educators support children in becoming confident readers. As we all know, a confident reader will flourish as an independent learner, which is the ethos of Montessori learning. For those who struggle with these early language skills, early intervention is the key to helping them bridge the gap to reading fluency.
Emma Medell
Bio:
Emma Medell has worked in Montessori Education her whole adult life, with 35 years of experience in the field. In 1987, Emma attended the Maria Montessori Training Organization, in Hampstead, London on a full-time two year training course, earning an AMI Casa Dei Bambini Diploma to work with children aged 3 to 6+ years. On her return to South Africa, Emma worked as a Directress and Principal, putting into practice all that she had learned in her training.
In 1998 Emma also attended Assistants to Infancy (Birth to 3) training over two summers in London at the MMTO again, earning her AMI Assistants to Infancy Diploma to work with children from Birth to 3years of age.
The next project was to start up a small infant Community under the umbrella of Rainbow Montessori School. This then morphed into the beginnings of Chameleons Montessori School, which she co-ran with her sister and partner, Claire. During its 20-year span, starting up from their family home and moving onto the Nitida Wine Farm, the school offered a Nido, an Infant Community, a Pre-school and Primary School. It was a gracious, Montessori Community that provided a safe space for many a child’s day to day life and learning as well as raising Montessori aware parents and Montessori staff.
This experience laid the foundation for the work that Emma now does as a Facilitator for Community Rooted Education. In 2022, Emma underwent the yearlong ESF AMI CoRE Facilitators training, along with her cohorts, with whom she now works. She has been involved in facilitating CoRE since 2023 in the Kraaifontein, Eerste Rivier & Mbekweni communities and currently (very happily) in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch. Emma continues to love her work of ultimately empowering children, through empowering the ECD teachers to see the child, themselves and their environments with new eyes.
During 2024 Emma had the amazing opportunity to be a National Examiner for the AMI Casa Dei Bambini 3 to 6 Diploma Course at Indaba. She continues to grow and learn in her much-loved role as CoRE Facilitator.
A Sensorial Exploration Through all Areas
Teaser: Trusting relationships: the foundation for flourishing in a toddler environment.
Together, in an interactive workshop, we will unpack how trust is built in the toddler community and why secure relationships are essential for a child’s flourishing. Participants will engage in collaborative brainstorming and leave with practical, meaningful strategies for nurturing secure attachments with the children in their care.
Presented by Emma Medell & Claire Goffe-Wood.
Claire Goffe-Wood
Bio:
Claire Goffe-Wood: I worked in a toddler environment for over 20 years at Chameleons Montessori School in Durbanville, Cape Town. During this time I gained much experience in working with young children and have become a passionate advocate for the young child under three and the importance of the unique developmental needs of this stage of human development. In 2014 I attended the AMI Birth to three Certificate course at the Indaba Montessori Institute in Stellenbosch and in 2018 I completed my AMI Birth to three Diploma. In 2022 I joined Indaba’s Community Rooted Education (CoRE) Programme as a Facilitator-in-Training in the Klapmuts community. I found the programme to be impactful and meaningful and have worked as a CoRE facilitator in the Kraaifontein, Eerste Rivier, Heidedal and Kayamandi communities since 2023.
Trusting relationships: the foundation for flourishing in a toddler environment.
Claire Howie
Bio:
I am Claire Howie. I own and manage a small school in Wellington and I am currently training to become an AMI trainer for the 0-3 age group. I believe deeply in the creative powers that all young children possess and which work together to build the future adult. I am passionate about giving children environments specified to their needs, which will encourage wholistic and positive development of the child. I do believe that children become adults who are the legacy of their home, school and social environments. I am happy and honoured to be able to work to enact change, big or small, to the benefit of our children.
Creating an Inclusive Environment for all Toddlers to flourish.
Supporting autonomous construction.
Origami crane mobile for young babies.
Presented by Claire Howie & Joelene Draper
Joelene Draper
Bio:
Joelene Draper has over 15 years of experience in Montessori education, working across the 0–3 and 3–6 age groups. She holds an AMI Assistance to Infancy Diploma and has completed Montessori 3–6 training. Joelene lectures at the Montessori Early Learning Foundation (MELF), is a CoRE Facilitator with the Indaba Institute, and works with the PEACE programme.
She is deeply committed to inclusive education, early intervention, and supporting children with additional needs. Joelene is also the owner of Moonrise Montessori in Paarl.
Teaser: Practical Life Across the Age Groups: 0-3, 3-6 and 6-12
Practical Life is often described as the foundation of Montessori education – yet its depth, continuity, and evolving purpose across the age spans is sometimes overlooked. In this 60-minute collaborative session, three Montessori practitioners explore Practical Life from birth to twelve years, using baking as a living thread across the planes of development.
From the earliest experiences of participation and relationship in the 0–3 environment, through the refinement and mastery of skills in the 3–6 classroom, to purposeful, socially relevant work in the 6–12 years, this talk highlights how Practical Life matures alongside the child.
Through theory, practical examples, and shared reflection, participants will gain a renewed appreciation for Practical Life as preparation not only for academic work, but for independence, collaboration, and real life.
Supporting autonomous construction.
Origami crane mobile for young babies.
Shamiemah Jassiem
Bio:
Shamiemah Jassiem is an experienced Montessori educator, trainer, and assessor who began her journey as a university student working in a Montessori school in 2000. She has over seven years’ experience in school leadership and has presented at conferences and facilitated workshops across South Africa and Ghana.
Shamiemah holds a Master’s degree in Social Science with distinction, with research focusing on Montessori and Religion, and has been involved in full-time Montessori teacher training since 2010. She is passionate about accessible quality education and empowering women in ECD.
Story Telling Expression – The Power of Storytelling:
Presented by Joelene Draper, Shamiemah Jassiem & Sinead Feely
Sinéad Feely
Bio:
Sinéad Feely is a Montessori and primary educator with over a decade of teaching experience in Ireland, Canada, and South Africa. She holds a B.A. and B.A. Honours in Montessori Education and a Bachelor of Education Honours. Currently Head Directress for the 6–12 age group at Shereens Primary and Pre-Primary, Sinéad specialises in literacy development and positive psychology, creating engaging learning environments that support confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning.
Story Telling Expression – The Power of Storytelling
Marietjie Van Zijl
Bio:
Marietjie van Zijl is a qualified remedial teacher, 6-9 Montessori directress, and founder of Boss Your Brain Dyslexia Solutions. She has spent over 40 years investigating the nature of, and solution to, dyslexia. As a Gr.2 teacher at Eikestad Primary in the early 1980s, she noticed patterns in the mistakes of certain children. While giving them after-school support, she began discovering a solution to dyslexia – though unaware of it at the time. Since 2010 Marietjie has been teaching her dyslexia solution from her home-office in Stellenbosch – updating it as she learns – and branched out to adults in 2017.
Teaser: Helping Children (and Adults) with Dyslexia to Flourish.
What exactly is dyslexia? How does dyslexia feel? And how can I help dyslexics to flourish? Marietjie shares her 40+ years of insight on these questions and gives tips you can start applying immediately – and they have nothing to do with C-Pens!
Hawa Tayob
Bio:
Hawa Tayob brings over a decade of teaching experience in Montessori toddler, pre-primary, and primary environments, both locally and internationally (U.S.A. and the Netherlands). Beyond the classroom, she worked as a literacy coordinator in the NGO sector, where she gained valuable experience in materials development and teacher training. Her expertise has led to a wide range of contributions: serving on the South African audit team on Inclusive Education for the National Department of Education, lecturing on Montessori education at the Protea Teacher Training College in Bellville and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, and conducting workshops for women in rural and township communities across South Africa. She has also presented at numerous conferences, both nationally and internationally. Hawa holds two Master’s degrees—one in Educational Psychology (University of Stellenbosch) and another in Early Childhood Education (University of South Africa)—as well as an Honours in Psychometry (University of Cape Town) and a TEFL Diploma. She earned her Montessori 0–6 Diploma at the AERCO Montessori Centre in the USA and is a registered Assessor and Moderator.
In 1989, upon returning to Cape Town, Hawa recognised that Montessori schools were largely confi ned to affluent areas. Determined to make Montessori education accessible to all children, she established the Montessori Early Learning Foundation (MELF). As Founding Director of MELF Teacher Training, she has dedicated her career to expanding access to quality Montessori education, with a special focus on serving disadvantaged communities.
How Montessori principles are interpreted and implemented across diverse school contexts within the South African Montessori landscape:
Presented by Hawa Tayob & Kate Rooseboom
Kate Rooseboom
Bio:
Kate Rooseboom is a lecturer at the Montessori Early Learning Foundation (MELF), where she combines her background in psychology, research, and teaching to support the next generation of Montessori educators. She completed her Montessori Pre-Primary (3–6) Diploma and National Diploma in ECD Level 5 through MELF in 2016/17, after spending two years at home with her two young children—an experience that inspired her to pursue a career in Montessori education. Kate holds an M.A. in Research Psychology (University of the Witwatersrand), a B.Soc.Sci. Honours in Psychology, and a B.A. in Psychology and English (University of Pretoria). She is also a registered Assessor and has over ten years of experience working as a market and social researcher.
Her interest in literacy development—particularly in supporting second-language English speakers within the Montessori environment—has become a strong focus of her teaching and research. She has over three years of classroom experience as a Montessori pre-primary teacher and is currently completing a Master’s degree in Curriculum Studies at the University of Cape Town. Kate brings both academic depth and practical classroom experience to her role as lecturer, with a particular passion for literacy and curriculum development.
Teaser – How Montessori principles are interpreted and implemented across diverse school contexts within the South African Montessori landscape:
Peter-John Urban
Bio:
Peter-John is a Montessori guide who holds the value of telling a story as one of fundamentals of learning. Based on his studies and experience in theatre and dance, he incorporates story telling into presentations across the age groups of his students. He has delivered parent workshops both demonstrating the power of storytelling and providing tools for parents to incorporate this tradition in their homes.
Story Telling Expression:
Shaun Dunn
Bio:
Shaun Dunn is an educator originally from Durban and now based in the Western Cape. After nearly eight years in secondary education, his professional journey expanded through almost a year spent in Tanzania, where he learned from traditional medicine practices and indigenous ways of understanding health, nature, and community.
His work later included focused learning in African Earth Jurisprudence, which deepened his engagement with African knowledge systems and human–nature relationships. He has also worked alongside indigenous communities in southern Africa in education-related contexts.
These experiences have shaped how Shaun understands learning, care, and connection to the natural world. He is particularly interested in how African indigenous knowledge can inform everyday learning and leadership spaces.
Shaun currently teaches an undergraduate Diploma in Sustainable Development at Stellenbosch University and enjoys spending time in nature through hiking and exploring a dormant photography hobby.
Flourishing in tolerance and understanding, with ourselves, each other and nature.
Yumna Hoosain
Bio:
I have been dedicated to Montessori education for 23 years, teaching children aged 0–12 and training Montessori educators across Europe and parts of Africa. I run a Montessori training centre in South Africa, directly affiliated with Waterpark Montessori (now European Montessori College). I am passionate about bringing Montessori to less affluent communities, empowering women to make a difference in the lives of children who need it most.
My vision is to expand access to quality Montessori education, nurturing both educators and children so that every lesson becomes a fold in a child’s growth, and every child carries hope for the future.
Flourishing Begins with the Adult: How Each Fold of a Lesson, Shapes the Child’s Becoming.
Dr Dorian Haarhof
Bio:
Once upon an ever after life: The Meaning of Stories in Montessori.
Helen Van Der Merwe
Bio:
Maximising the Potential of the 5-6 Year Old Child’s Mathematical Mind.
The Bells – Key to the World of Music.
Penny Taiton
Bio:
Penny is passionate about working in areas of society where she can make a difference, bring about positive change and realise improved standards. A major driver in her work has always been to find innovative solutions to the inequalities and injustices that exist in society. This starts with leadership that is capable of navigating this complex and ever-evolving world, making leadership development a key focus area where she brings impact.
With over four decades of experience in a wide range of organisations, including corporate, political parties, government and SOEs, extensive expertise in systems design, facilitation, leadership development, tools and methods for political campaigning, as well as experience in leading the implementation of cutting-edge methodologies employed in public sector reform, Penny is committed to unlocking the full potential of leaders and organisations. Through her company, evolve, she provides transformative, personalised and innovative leadership development solutions to both political parties and business. Her passion is to stimulate a journey of continuous growth that will contribute to confident, curious, committed leaders and lead to a more just society.
Penny’s expertise includes an extensive understanding of the processes and practices of governance, organisational development, legislation, performance tracking and management initiatives. In her role as Executive Director of Policy and Governance for the Democratic Alliance in South Africa, Penny was instrumental in designing and implementing systems to monitor and evaluate the performance of governments, as well as conceptualising and rolling out development programmes for leaders in the organisation, and in particular in government.
Penny has worked on key strategic projects for two Premiers in the Western Cape Government in South Africa. The most recent of these saw her lead the progress and delivery of War Room teams using Harvard University’s Problem Driven Iterative Adaptive (PDIA) methodology to address complex transversal problems in government. This followed a role in the Delivery Support Unit of the Western Cape Government, managing two of the then Premier’s Game Changers (priority projects), both working to transform education using Michael Barber’s Deliverology methodology to deliver results.
A recent role as Project Lead, Governance in the Democratic Alliance included a diverse range of projects to build capacity and systems in the organization. During this project, Penny was also central in the design of systems and processes for post-election coalition negotiations, preparing Mayors to govern in their new term and rolling out an innovative online development programme for governments which incorporates both technical and leadership skills.
Now running her consultancy, evolve, Penny designs and facilitates workshops for a variety of organisations, including government, NPO and business entities. Her understanding of how government functions, and her ability to connect stakeholders across different sectors is instrumental in supporting change and progress in complex situations. Penny regularly delivers seminars for the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung’s International Academy for Leadership, with a focus on technical aspects of governing, as well as leadership development. The two most recent seminars delivered to global participants include Building Coalitions and Strategic Partnerships and Empowering Women in Politics.
Heads of School Leadership and Management Day Speaker.