Waldorf educator and school leader with extensive international experience in holistic education, programme leadership, and child-centred pedagogy.
Maria is a deeply experienced Waldorf educator and school leader who has been part of The Island Private School since September 2022, where she leads the Waldorf Primary Programme with vision, compassion, and a lifelong dedication to holistic education. Maria completed her Waldorf Class Teacher Training in Munich and holds a Master’s degree in Pedagogy from the University of Arnhem and Nijmegen in the Netherlands. Her qualifications also include a Bachelor's degree in Primary Education from PABO IJsselland and early training as a childcare worker. Over the past three decades, Maria has worked in a wide range of educational settings across Europe and the Caribbean, including as a class teacher at Waldorf schools in the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Saba in the Dutch Caribbean. She has also served as a school founder and headmaster at Freie Schule Erlbach in Germany, and held roles in vocational education, counselling, and school management. Maria’s approach to education is deeply rooted in the principles of Waldorf pedagogy — nurturing the whole child through rhythm, creativity, connection to nature, and age-appropriate learning. Her teaching is thoughtful, grounded, and tailored to the developmental needs of each student, and she is known for creating warm, trusting relationships with both children and their families.
Maria is fluent in Dutch, German, and English, and brings a truly international and intergenerational perspective to our school community.
Maria is fluent in Dutch, German, and English, and brings a truly international and intergenerational perspective to our school community.
