In one respect, our staff is the life-blood of the programme. The expertise and energy each brings to the classroom exhibits the quality we would hope to inspire in all our learners. In addition to the permanent staff introduced below, the Centre for Creative Education is continually built up by the dedication of part-time lecturers, who become involved when modules of their expertise are offered during course cycles.

Peter van Alphen

Peter van Alphen co-founded the Centre for Creative Education in 1993, after being a Waldorf teacher for 16 years. He was director of the Centre of the first 7 years of its existence. Peter runs a Waldorf teacher-training programme in Kenya for teachers from Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya.

Peter spearheaded the development of Waldorf Education in black communities in the Western Cape. For five years he was Chairperson of the Federation of Waldorf Schools in Southern Africa, and was often asked to act as a consultant and mediator in its schools.

Peter originally trained as a church musician at the University of Pretoria, majoring in Organ, Choral Conducting and Gregorian Chant. In his late thirties he completed a four-year diploma in Eurythmy, which he uses in his training programmes as part of the personal development of the participants. In 2008 he completed a Masters in Music.

An educator of adults, Peter has many years experience in lay counselling. He started by becoming a Life-Line telephone counsellor, and attended various counselling workshops. He also received informal training from a clinical psychologist in Cape Town, and has trained adults in counselling techniques for over seven years.

Beulah Tertiens-Reeler

Beulah Tertiens-Reeler completed her B.A. H.D.E at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) - then later a post graduate Bachelor's Degree in Education. She worked for eight years at a Senior Secondary school in Mitchell's Plain, teaching English to first and second-language English speakers, from Grades 8 - 12.

Following her work with children, Beulah then worked with adults at the Catholic Institute of Education (CIE), for three years as a Developmental Practitioner, doing in-service training and developmental work for teachers, principals and governing bodies on a project called Whole School Development and Renewal. In 1999, she spent six weeks in Ohio - USA on a Fulbright Scholarship, doing Outcome-based education (OBE) with founder William Spady and others. Beulah completed Waldorf teacher training at the Centre for Creative Education, then taught a full cycle of classes 1 – 7 at Michael Oak Waldorf School from 2000 – 2006. She began lecturing and holding additional responsibilities at the Center for Creative Education in 2007.

Professionally, Beulah enjoys:

• Teaching creatively
• Bringing and working with diversity in the classroom
• Working with humour in the classroom
• Using drama in schools
• Developing the school as a hub (of activity); using sport and extra-mural activities to build community

On a more personal level Beulah involves herself in:

• Reading inspiring work, poetry and cookery books.
• Handwork such as sewing and embroidery (has worked on a Michael Oak Waldorf School bursary raffle quilt every year since 1998!)
• Creative expression through art, mosaic work and other creative projects.

Howard Dobson

Howard Dobson has worked in the field of education throughout his adult life, and has nurtured a variety of imaginative and intellectual interests along the way. Born in England, first educated at Archbishop Holgate's Grammer School in York, he eventually received qualifications in Earth and Environmental Studies (University of London), state Teaching Diploma (University of Durham), and Waldorf Teacher Training (Wynstones School, Gloucester).

Howard has been on the ground, in the classroom for many years, first in state and private schools for seven years, then in Waldorf high schools for 25 years (and still counting!). Schools and non-profit organisations, such as the Federation of Waldorf Schools in Southern Africa, continue to seek his expertise as an outreach facilitator in Waldorf methodology. Howard has been in this current capacity as Teacher Trainer since 1999.

Howard's professional interests include

• Spiritual Science and its holistic insight into the human being and the environment
• Creative Teaching
• Sustainable and Holistic living
• Biodynamic Agriculture and the nature of water
• Geological Sciences

On a personal note, Howard thoroughly enjoys outdoor activities, gardening and self-sufficient food production, folk music, and real ale.

Catherine van Alphen

Δ On sabbatical in 2008 Δ

Catherine van Alphen was born into an artistic family and grew up with a passion for painting, drawing and clay modelling, especially the subtlety of water-colours. After a Diploma in Primary Education from University of Cape Town, she took a Class One at Michael Oak Waldorf School at the tender age of 21 years! She also had a wonderfully inspirational year at Emerson College in the U.K. Later she married and had three children, now all grown up.

Catherine taught at Michael Oak for 11 years, taking two classes through the system during which time she became very involved in creating school festivals using drama and music. She later moved to the Centre for Creative Education and began training primary school teachers in educational methodology and the arts for the past 12 years. She graduated with an M Phil from University of Cape Town in 2005.