National Presenters

Camilla Antonie

Camilla Antonie frequently facilitates online courses for TSSA, conducting workshops on various thinking skill strategies, particularly Visible Thinking Routines and Growth Mindset. As an experienced English teacher, she regularly integrates Visible Thinking Routines and a Growth Mindset approach into her classroom practices. Camilla currently teaches English at St Stithians Boys’ College.

Traci Willis

Traci Willis is Director and Founder of Triple-I-Consulting, which is an educational consultancy that focuses on inspiring, innovating and supporting schools in their transformation of approaches to teaching and learning. Traci, who has her IEMA Masters Degree in Leadership and Change (Cum Laude), is also the Director for Tournament of Minds (South Africa) an international problem-solving event, founded in Australia, and active across 13 different branches globally. Traci spent just over 10 years living and working across international schools in Hong Kong and Asia Pacific. She was also appointed as an International Baccalaureate Global Trainer, Programme Leader and School Team Visitor for Asia Pacifica, Africa, Europe and the Middle East, Authorising and Evaluating IB World Schools. She was the key lead in bringing the IB PYP to South Africa, and led 8 schools in achieving simultaneous IB World School Authorisation - which is a world first.

Traci's focus is to address and relook at approaches to teaching and learning, that ensure the learning engagements and conversations taking place are relevant, challenging and engaging for students who are experiencing the exponential changes taking place in the world of today and influencing the world of tomorrow.

Anrieke Olivier

Anrieke Olivier views her role as a calling to prepare a generation that is ready for the real world. She holds an Honours Degree in Early Childhood Development and Foundation Phase Education and has completed postgraduate studies in Barriers to Learning and Learning Difficulties. She specialised in learning difficulties during her postgraduate studies due to her passion for identifying and solving problems. She believes in early intervention, and she has seen many success stories in her teaching career.

Her early career focused on developing assessment instruments and conducting teacher training workshops across South Africa. Since joining Mountain Cambridge School in 2011 as a Grade 2 educator, she has completed numerous specialised certifications and played a key role in obtaining accreditation and establishing MCS as a Thinking School with the University of Exeter in the UK. She recently hosted teachers from a Lithuanian school to build international network and to learn from best practices globally.

Anrieke teaches Foundation Phase Mathematics and she now serves as Headmaster of the Primary School. She recently co-authored two children’s books with her Pre-Primary and Foundation Phase teachers to encourage critical thinking.

Sabrina Stammers

Sabrina is a dedicated teacher at SACS Junior School, where she teaches Grade 7 English and serves as Head of Academics for the Intermediate and Senior Phases. As a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Portfolio, Sabrina works to ensure that every boy, parent, and staff member feels a strong sense of belonging and connection to SACS, making it their second 'home.' Alongside these roles, she cares for her two daughters and provides guidance as Head of Hostel to 24 boys from Monday to Friday. Sabrina has been selected as an Action Researcher for the International Boys' School Coalition (IBSC) and looks forward to presenting her findings at the 2025 IBSC Annual Conference in Boston.

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Tarryn McLaren

Tarryn serves as the Head of the Junior School at Kingsmead College, where she has been a part of the community since 2014. Over the years, she has managed various portfolios, including Cognitive Education, Student Affairs, Academic Support, and Earth Sciences, along with other leadership roles. Tarryn plays a key role in driving the school’s holistic and strategic vision. Kingsmead College values individuality, fostering enthusiastic and confident students who ask big questions, express their opinions, and are eager to explore ideas. With a BPrim Ed and BEd Hons focused on inclusive education, Tarryn’s passion for cognitive education has led her to emphasize the explicit teaching of thinking skills, enhancing both academic performance and holistic growth with her students. She is dedicated to sharing practical ideas with fellow teachers to help students become increasingly effective and independent learners.

Sally James

Sally James is Deputy Head at SACS Junior School in Newlands, Cape Town. Sally holds a Diploma in Specific Learning Difficulties from UCL, having specialised in educating individuals with learning difficulties. Sally is also a qualified occupational therapist and has been a TSSA trainer for twelve years, focusing on Thinking Maps®. She teaches Thinking Skills to Grades 1, 2, and 3, helping students understand how their brains process information to become successful learners. Sally played a key role in securing accreditation for SACS Junior School as a Thinking School through the University of Exeter, making SACS the first public school to achieve this status. At SACS, Thinking Maps®, Habits of Mind, and Bloom's Taxonomy are integral to classroom practices.

Kerri-Lyn East

Kerri-Lyn East serves as the Deputy Head of Academics at Herschel Girls' School in Claremont, Cape Town. She has been instrumental in helping Herschel transition to the IEB assessment curriculum and examination system. Throughout her career, Kerri-Lyn has contributed to the Thinking drive teams at both Kingsmead and Roedean, where she has witnessed firsthand the positive impact of explicitly teaching cognitive skills and strategies on students’ academic growth.

Kerri-Lyn is passionate about creating learning experiences that empower students, especially girls, with real-life problem-solving skills. She believes that fostering creativity, critical thinking, and adaptability is essential to preparing them for the workforce and helping to close the gender gap. Currently, she is working on further integrating these skills into the existing curriculum—a project that is still evolving.