Our Staff
Monique van der HeijdenHead of School &
Seedlings Lead Directress (Toddlers)
Seedlings Lead Directress (Toddlers)
Monique holds a 3-6 years Montessori and Toddler Certification and a NQF Level 5 ECD Diploma from Montessori Centre South Africa (MCSA). She has an Honours Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from UCT and worked in paediatric nutrition in London, UK, for many years prior to studying teaching. Monique has 8 years of Montessori classroom teaching experience and 3 years experience as a student manager at the teacher training college Montessori Centre South Africa. The most important part of being a teacher for Monique is to understand children's developmental stages and personalities so that each child feels valued and learns in a natural way. Monique loves plants and values self awareness and growth.
Yandisa BanganiSeedlings Assistant
(Toddlers)
(Toddlers)
Yandie recently completed a Toddler course at Montessori Centre South Africa. She is an energetic person who loves to laugh. Yanide has a lovely 7-year-old daughter and she has a lot of love for children. Yandie gets excited about meeting different children with different personalities. She loves singing and dancing.
Elisa da SilvaWoodlands Lead Directress
(Preschool)
(Preschool)
Elisa holds a 3-6 years Montessori Certification and a NQF Level 5 ECD Diploma from Montessori Centre South Africa. She has 8+ years of experience working with children ages 1-6 years. Elisa strives to create a nurturing environment where children are encouraged to explore, learn, and grow at their own pace, fostering independence, creativity, and a love for learning.
