Waldorf Schools have no principal or hierarchical structure of the organisation. This approach is based on Rudolf Steiner’s threefold order of thinking, feeling, and willing with the aim to foster social well-being and a sense of shared responsibility. So, how is our school managed? Each faculty and various formal bodies have areas of responsibility, tasks and mandates. One of these bodies is the Board of Directors, the members of which are elected at the Annual General Meeting.
The nominees for the Board of Directors were given the opportunity to formally introduce themselves to our school community ahead of the AGM. Read on to meet some of our nominees and find out more about their motivations for joining the board.
Parent Nominees
Keagan Botha
Keagan is an avid, outdoorsy dad of two, currently in training for the Otter Race, a grueling adventure that entails running, climbing, and swimming his way through rugged terrain. Peta Chennells
While Peta’s happiest place is around the dinner table with her family, she brings a vast variety of experience and expertise to our CWS table. As a new parent at school, Peta has a background in schooling and co-founded an education group that grew from a small preschool of 100 children into three world-class campuses serving over 1,000 learners.
Her strengths lie in the business and operational aspects of education, including governance, leadership development, financial sustainability, and growth strategy. She also served as Chair of the Governing Body at Valley Pre-Primary, a Montessori-inspired nonprofit preschool, for three years.
Peta’s professional background encompasses strategic marketing, brand positioning, change management, and building values-based educational organisations that balance vision with operational implementation. Her focus at CWS will be Marketing, and her vision and goals are as follows:
- To support the school’s long-term sustainability while preserving its educational vision.
- Enhance the way in which the school communicates its unique offering and help position Constantia Waldorf as a leader in the broader education landscape.
- Support strengthening leadership and governance structures to ensure stability and resilience.
- Introduce technologies to improve operational efficiency.
- Build alumni engagement to showcase the success of Waldorf graduates.
- Explore ways to meet evolving family needs, such as vocational pathways and a 12-year matric option to reduce attrition in Class 9.
Peta would like to see the organisation strengthen enrolment (most especially in High School), deepen community engagement, promote learner demographic diversity, and ensure the school remains rooted in Waldorf principles.
She is passionate about child-centered education and feels deeply aligned with the Waldorf philosophy and believes in open, transparent dialogue and fostering a healthy partnership between parents, staff, and governance, always prioritising the well-being of the children.
Graeme Cooper
This father of two (in Classes 1 and 3), and naturally a “shy guy,” takes a while to open up to people on a personal level, but when he does, he doesn’t stop! Graeme’s family has been part of the Constantia Waldorf School community for six years, and his connection to Waldorf education began even earlier. While dating his wife during her Eurythmy studies, he attended many Waldorf lectures at the Centre for Creative Education and other institutes, gaining deep exposure to the ethos of Waldorf education.
Coming from a traditional boys’ school background that never resonated with him, he values the holistic, human-centred approach of Steiner education.
Professionally, Graeme is a qualified toolmaker and now serves as Managing Director of WD Hearn Machine Tools, a leading supplier to the engineering sector across South Africa. He also sits on the board of an NPC that owns a majority share in a BBBEE company, giving him valuable insight into nonprofit governance and board dynamics.
While his involvement at the school has mostly been through parent duties, he is now motivated to contribute meaningfully to the Board of Directors.
He brings an objective, fair, solutions-oriented perspective and a steady hand in decision-making. His leadership style is rooted in transparency, clear communication, and practical action.
He sees the Board’s role as bridging ideals with real, tangible improvements, e.g. creating welcoming, well-kept classrooms, ensuring safe play spaces, and developing facilities that align with both modern standards and Waldorf values. He values collaboration, clear systems, and empowering capable people to make confident decisions.
Graeme is committed to fostering an environment where teachers, staff, children, and parents feel supported and heard, and where change is embraced with care, integrity, and vision.
Damian Crook
Damian sees the school not just as a place of learning but as a living organism consisting of children, teachers, parents, staff, and the wider community all being part thereof.
He believes a Board member must be visible, accountable, and open to dialogue, and that community health begins with being in relationship. For him, the role of a Director is one of stewardship, not control. Circular management and deep listening resonate with how he works: collaboratively, reflectively, and grounded in shared purpose.
“Not just ‘the Gardener,’” he says, however, at CWS, he co-initiated, with other parents, a borehole and an irrigation system across the school, transforming our grounds. “We’ve ensured greater care of the grounds, organised staff, built play areas, and generally made the school a better place, all while saving money!”
Damian and his family have been part of the Constantia Waldorf community for five years. He accepted this nomination because he cares deeply about the school’s integrity and future. “Waldorf education speaks to the whole human being, head, heart, and hands,” he writes, and believes our governance should reflect the same. He is committed to fostering a culture of openness, humility, and service, where decisions are transparent and aligned with the values we teach our children.
His varied career spans the arts and business. Most recently, he manufactured ladieswear for chain stores and was engaged by the British government to track and document ground-breaking changes they piloted in a dozen new UK schools. He has also assisted a nonprofit, connecting orphans with mentors as they transition out on their own.
Damian’s portfolio interests include: Community, Ethical Governance, Marketing, Pedagogy, Facilities, HR, and Finance, as well as supporting initiatives that root Waldorf values in modern contexts.
Jo Fuller
Interested in contributing to the Facilities Portfolio, Jo operates very much at ground level. Quite literally, she has taught our children gardening, been involved in the Outdoor Classroom, and planted many areas of our school. Having been involved in the school for 16 years, she has extensive knowledge of the community and a deep understanding of the Constantia Waldorf School ethos.
As a Class Representative for many years, (she has twins in Class 1, and her two older girls attended CWS and are now at university), she has also volunteered in NPO’s such as the Solstice Foundation, Santa Shoebox Project and Soil for Life, where she ran the organisation and taught food growing. Currently, she runs Sillery Farm, a certified biodynamic garden and place of learning where they grow food and flowers.
This pragmatic, lifelong student, who strives to learn something new every day, also holds an MA Hons (Economics and Social Anthropology), a B.Com, and is a Chartered Accountant CA(SA). Jo feels she can contribute to building community and creating beauty within the school, which feels like a natural extension of the work she already does.
Jo values truth, integrity, beauty, and taking responsibility. She believes she can bring balance and level-headedness to a changing landscape, helping move the school into the future while remaining true to its core values. It is her hope to build on and develop Constantia Waldorf’s current strengths, to help hold the bigger picture, and to lead by example with a clear understanding of the community’s needs and the impact of decisions made at Board level.
Florian Lorenzen
One of Florian’s greatest passions is traveling to lesser-known places. He says, “It opens my eyes to different ways of life and reminds me that ‘normal’ is often just a matter of perspective.”
The Lorenzen family has been part of the CWS community for two years, with children in Kindergarten, Class 2, and Class 4. Prior to moving to Cape Town, they were part of a Waldorf community in Northern Germany, where his eldest daughter began her journey at the age of one. “Over the last nine years,” Flo says, “I’ve come to deeply appreciate Waldorf education, especially its focus on holistic development, creativity, and nurturing each child’s individuality.”
Florian holds a degree in Business Administration and Engineering. After starting in sales, he found his passion in entrepreneurship. He and his wife now run a property management company, where he works closely with both people and systems.
His interest in the Facilities Portfolio is a natural fit. Over the past six months, he has helped address structural issues that impact how we work and established active subcommittees: Gardening, Maintenance, Health & Safety, and Site Development.
He believes in showing up for the spaces we value. “CWS is not only where my children learn, it’s a community that helps shape the next generation. I want to contribute my time and experience to support this shared vision.”
As a Director nominee, Florian supports practical governance that respects the College’s pedagogical autonomy. He values integrity, transparency, collaborative leadership, and trust. If elected, he would continue to build on existing structural work, ensuring our facilities reflect the school’s ethos. “Transparency and communication are key to a strong school culture,” he says, advocating a strategic, sustainable approach to long-term planning.
Toby Megaw
Toby is a long-standing and deeply committed alumnus and member of the CWS community. Married to Paula Megaw, the school’s music teacher, and parent in Class 7 and Class 5, he brings a rich blend of personal, professional, and pedagogical experience to the Board.
A sculptor by profession and trained Waldorf teacher, he previously taught drama at CWS and held a public relations and fundraising coordinator position. Toby’s father was also a Waldorf educator, which speaks to his understanding of the philosophy and values of Waldorf education, which are deeply rooted. Over the past four years, including the last as Chairperson, he has served on the Board with clarity, dedication, and a deep commitment to the school’s future.
His passion lies in the Pedagogy portfolio, however, the Community portfolio also lies close to his heart. His prior role makes him uniquely positioned to provide continuity for the Board that is going to see some big changes in membership this year. He writes, “The only way to tackle challenges is with clear-sighted honesty and courage for the truth, gathering the facts and then collectively considering, with sensitivity and caring, what course of action to take.”
Toby believes firmly in Waldorf’s core mission: to educate the whole child and highlight each student’s unique potential, developing confident, socially capable, and skilled young people. He remains aligned with the Board’s overarching goals: to deepen Waldorf education, strengthen governance and administration, and foster a strong school community.
He is also an enthusiastic supporter of the new parent energy, invigorating the school, from the Marketing Committee’s strategic work to the daily improvements on campus… and in case you’re wondering, he once studied law for two years before realising it wasn’t for him.
Rachel Puodzius
Rachel has been part of the CWS community since 2015, with two children currently in Class 8 and Class 6. She offers over two decades of experience as a strategic business advisor and transformation leader, with plenty of expertise in finance, governance, and organisational development.
She has also served as a Class Representative for three years and is currently in her third year on the Board of Directors (2022–2025). Her background in financial management and strategy enables her to bring systems-level thinking, operational rigour, and a collaborative, values-driven leadership style to the BoD.
She is committed to a vision of CWS grounded in Waldorf principles, educating the whole child through an integrated approach to intellectual, artistic, and practical learning. She advocates strongly for a clear strategic framework that supports pedagogical excellence, transparency in decision-making, and long-term sustainability, and would welcome the opportunity to continue the work she started, serving comfortably in any of the portfolios with Pedagogy, Finance, or Community as her top 3 choices.
With a passion and particular focus on the High School, she sees potential for CWS to become leaders in maths and language, introduce a focused music program, and offer much-needed teacher training and development opportunities.
She believes effective governance requires legal compliance, financial oversight, and above all, collective stewardship of the school’s long-term vision. Bringing both personal integrity and professional discipline to her role, she values deep listening, strategic clarity, and the courage to hold complexity with humility.
Rachel trained and volunteered as a trauma counsellor at a SAPS trauma unit, which has shaped her approach to leadership: present, principled, and profoundly aware of how quickly circumstances can change. She believes that meaningful transformation doesn’t come all at once, but emerges through steady, everyday actions aligned with a shared purpose.
Daniela Daines
A Class 3 parent, Daniela has been part of the Constantia Waldorf community since the parent and toddler group. She feels called to contribute meaningfully to the marketing, community, and pedagogical portfolios. With close ties to experienced Waldorf educators (who inspired her choice of Waldorf education even before becoming a parent), Daniela values the school’s holistic approach to intellectual, emotional, and spiritual development, rooted in rhythm and connection to nature. For her, Waldorf is not just pedagogy; it’s a way of life.
Professional Background
• 15 years in the business sector across Europe and the Middle East, focused on:
– People and organisational change
– Corporate identity and brand creation
– Finance and property investment portfolios
• Managed complex projects across 32 countries, requiring cross-cultural collaboration and stakeholder engagement
• Skilled in strategic planning, high-level operations, contract negotiation, and conflict resolution
• Experienced in governance, risk management, and aligning commercial outcomes with long-term, values-based objectives
Current Work
• A decade as a health scientist, certified nutritional therapist and corporate health consultant (IFM – US, BANT – UK), specialising in:
– Complex health concerns and root-cause analysis
– Personalised, evidence-based care grounded in genetics, epigenetics, and nutrigenomics
– Behaviour change and sustainable lifestyle interventions
• Co-founder of a freediving school; certified yoga instructor and breathwork practitioner, guiding others to reconnect with their breath, body, and nature
Daniela sees the Board’s role as providing clear, transparent, and community-driven leadership that embraces action and accountability. She is committed to meaningful progress, with reverence for the school’s pedagogy, ensuring the richness of the teaching is upheld by strong governance and a proactive, inclusive strategy.
Walking the Camino de Santiago taught her that how we move through each day, our pace and habits, is a choice. By choosing consciously, we create the conditions for a life of meaning and purpose.
Edited 11th June 2025
Laurian Sachs
Laurian and her family have been part of the CWS community for six years, beginning in Parent and Toddler. As an alumnus, daughter of a Waldorf teacher, and with a father who served on the Board, she holds a lived understanding of Waldorf values, pedagogy, and community.
Professionally, Laurian works in marketing, communications, and business development in the tech sector and serves on the national team of SFC-SA, a non-profit advocating for the protection of childhood from the harms of social media and smart devices.
She is an active parent at CWS, as a Class Rep and a member of the Technology Committee. She brings energy, strategic thinking, and experience in communications, systems, and community-building.
Inspired by the school’s current rejuvenation, Laurian sees the Board as an active presence that strengthens all aspects of school life. Her approach is rooted in integrity, empathy, transparency, and action, with Waldorf pedagogy at its heart.
Her priorities include:
- Co-developing a clear, accountable strategic structure.
- Restoring reverence and pride in the school.
- Improving administrative transparency and efficiency.
- Proactively supporting teachers and empowering staff, addressing facility and faculty needs.
- Fostering a vibrant, connected community.
Laurian values respectful dialogue, listening, and shared values when navigating conflict. She upholds equality in decision-making in an environment of circular and collaborative governance, balanced by expert advice. She envisions a thriving, Waldorf school ecosystem, one that includes a healthy EdTech solution for the High School, which supports digital literacy and wellbeing.
This well-traveled, dynamic mom (45 countries) survived extremes: from a lightning strike, to a snakebite, and a broken back, experiences that have instilled resilience and optimism.
Justin Spreckley
This Cape Town-based entrepreneur, with a career spanning over three decades in civil engineering, large infrastructure, marine services, property, and business consultancy, shows a keen interest in the BoD Facilities and Finance & HR portfolios, offering structural efficiency to the school.
Justin holds an Executive MBA (UCT, Cum Laude), a National Diploma in Civil Engineering (CPUT), as well as SACPCMP accreditation. He has served as Group Managing Director of Civils 2000 and TT Innovations, and founded several successful ventures, including SmartCOG (a business consultancy), ROA Investments, and El Capitan Marine. Additionally, he has held various NED and Chairman roles, with the Southern African Society for Trenchless Technology (SASTT) and Bardale Village, bringing strong governance, strategic, and operational experience.
He once sailed across the Atlantic, “a challenge,” he says, “that reinforced my respect for nature, systems thinking, and quiet resilience. Being of service to the Board is a stewardship, balancing vision, accountability, and the long view. I bring a calm, systems-based approach to decision-making and value respectful disagreement as part of robust, team-based problem-solving.”
His two eldest daughters (26 and 23) attended CWS from Kindergarten through to Class 13, and his two younger children (Class 5 and 3) are continuing that journey.
Justin writes, “My daughters’ groundedness and independence are testament to the richness of the education they received, and I am motivated by a desire to contribute meaningfully to a school system that has given so much to my children. My leadership values, authenticity, clarity, and collaboration align naturally with these principles, and I see the BoD as a bridge that connects the school’s ideals to its practical realities: a place for building trust and shared responsibility.”
Staff Nominees
Samantha Brown
Samantha began her journey at CWS as a young kindergarten child of just four years old. As you can imagine, she carries rich and beautiful memories of her time at CWS, having witnessed many changes over the years.
Since leaving school, she completed her studies as a Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher, travelled, got married, and has three incredible children. After her brief time away, she returned, both as a teacher and a parent. Her eldest daughter is completing her Waldorf journey and preparing to write the NSC Matric exams.
Sam reflects, “It has been one of the greatest experiences to observe how the school has fostered my daughter’s love for learning, her interest in the world, and how to be a multifaceted human being.”
Sam not only pioneered the Toddler Group at CWS but also serves as Chairperson of the ECD Faculty. She is an active member of the College of Teachers and Board of Directors and contributes to the Federation of Waldorf Schools.
Her love for our CWS community is at the heart of her work. For years, Sam has spearheaded fundraising efforts and organised many of the school’s community events, from the start of the year School Campout to supporting the Class 5s Annual School Fairs, and everything in between. She was the Chairperson of the Parent Representative body and continues to serve as a Class Representative. In spite of these demands, she still finds it in herself to bring life to the legacy of the Rainbow Puppet Theatre.
Known for her extensive collection of teacups and teapots, this tea-sipping bookworm is steeped in the culture of CWS. She brings a wealth of wisdom, hard work, and dedication, and she hopes to continue serving the children and the community as a whole.
Nicholas Shaw
Nick’s relationship with Constantia Waldorf School began when he joined Class 10 in 1999. After matriculating in 2002, he lived and worked on a farm in Switzerland for five years while completing a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Agriculture. He then returned to Cape Town, where he worked in various fields before rejoining Constantia Waldorf as a substitute teacher in 2013.
The following two years (2014 and 2015) were spent living and teaching in Hong Kong, traveling, and getting married. Nick is now in his 10th year of full-time teaching in the High School (Life Sciences, Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Craft) and considers himself lucky to live in one of the staff cottages with his wife and six-year-old son.
Nick has been active in many areas of the school, including as a member of the College of Teachers, and a three-year tenure as Chairperson of the High School. He has served on several mandates and committees, most notably the former Vision Group (now the Site Development Committee). The Vision Group led an extensive consultative process over a period of two years with all stakeholders, and conducted a thorough site analysis informed by permaculture principles. With input from qualified professionals, a comprehensive vision document was produced: a Brief for an Integrated Site Development Plan (available in the library).
Should he be elected as a Director, Nick believes he can make a positive contribution, with a particular interest in the as yet largely unrealised potential of the school’s grounds and facilities. He envisions a campus that is more beautiful, sustainable, and inviting—an example of modern, forward-thinking, regenerative design, where all members of our vibrant and diverse community can grow and flourish.
Andrea Smart
Andrea has been connected to CWS since 2014, when her older son started at the Constantia Waldorf School in Class 2. She soon became a Class Rep for her younger son’s class, then did sick leave cover in the Learner Support Faculty, and finally ended up in the Handwork Department in 2019, where she teaches all children from Class 1 to Class 8.
As well as being responsible for the Primary School timetable, she has served on the Finance Mandate as the Primary School representative for the last three years, and puts her Certificate in Bookkeeping to good use managing the Primary School budget. She has a particular interest in this aspect of School Management and strongly believes that regular and clear communication is key to a community functioning smoothly.
Her hope is that CWS will grow into a more cohesively functioning organisation involving all the different areas of the school: the staff (teaching, administration and estate), the parents, and, most importantly, the students.
She obtained her Waldorf Handwork Teacher Certification last year, but has been a qualified language teacher for almost 30 years. While she has mainly taught English in the past, she also teaches German and has been a Matric exam marker and oral moderator for German SAL for the last five years.
In her spare time, Andy spends time with her hilarious sons and needy cats, reads, bakes, and tries out all manner of crafts.
Other Nominees are:
- Jasmina Osman – Non- Teaching Staff
- Jon Stodel – Teaching Staff
