Meet our team of Experts
At Nieu Sol Education, we're a team of passionate educators, curriculum specialists and creative thinkers committed to supporting teachers and inspiring learners across South Africa.
Chené Engelbrecht
Grade 1 Curriculum Specialist
Chenè Engelbrecht is a qualified Foundation Phase educator with a Bachelor of Education (BEd) in Foundation Phase Teaching and a Bachelor of Education Honours degree in Leadership and Management. With eight years of experience specialising in Grade 1, she is passionate about laying strong foundations in literacy, numeracy and the social-emotional development of young learners.
Her expertise lies in early literacy, phonics instruction, reading development and creating engaging classroom experiences that inspire confidence and a lifelong love for learning. Chenè believes that every child deserves to feel capable, valued and successful, and that meaningful teacher-learner relationships, structured learning environments and strong partnerships with parents are key to achieving lasting educational success.
As the Grade 1 Curriculum Specialist at Nieu Sol Education, Chenè is responsible for developing and maintaining the Grade 1 curriculum resources in both English and Afrikaans. She is committed to ensuring that every resource is practical, engaging and fully aligned with the latest Department of Basic Education curriculum requirements, empowering teachers with quality resources that make a meaningful difference in South African classrooms.
Marlize Grobler
Grade 2 and Mathematics Specialist
Marlize Grobler is an accomplished educator with 35 years of teaching experience and currently serves as Head of Department: Mathematics. She is also the founder and concept developer of Moving Kids: Maths 4 Minors, an innovative mathematics programme designed for children aged 3 to 9 years, and has spent the past 16 years developing practical, hands-on learning experiences that build strong mathematical foundations from an early age.
Her expertise spans Foundation Phase Mathematics, Coding and Robotics, STEM education and early childhood curriculum development. Marlize is passionate about creating learning opportunities where children explore concepts through purposeful, structured play while developing the confidence to communicate their thinking, solve problems independently and take ownership of their learning.
Marlize believes that meaningful learning happens when children are active participants in the classroom. Her philosophy centres on guiding learners to discover solutions for themselves, fostering resilience and nurturing the mindset that “I can.”
As the Grade 2 Curriculum Specialist at Nieu Sol Education, Marlize is responsible for developing and maintaining the Grade 2 curriculum resources in both English and Afrikaans. Her wealth of experience ensures that every resource is practical, engaging and aligned with the latest Department of Basic Education curriculum requirements, equipping teachers with effective classroom tools that support meaningful learning and long-term learner success.
Amanda Bezuidenhout
Grade 3 Curriculum Specialist
Amanda Bezuidenhout is an experienced Foundation Phase educator with 38 years of teaching experience, specialising in Grades 1 to 3. Throughout her career, she has remained passionate about helping learners build strong academic foundations while developing the confidence to embrace new challenges and reach their full potential.
Amanda has served as a Grade 3 Teacher, Departmental Head, and Subject Advisor (Foundation Phase), and has also contributed to the North-West University (NWU) Mentorship Programme, where she supported and guided fellow educators in their professional development. Her extensive experience has given her a deep understanding of curriculum implementation, classroom practice and teacher support.
Her primary area of expertise is Foundation Phase Mathematics, where she is committed to making learning meaningful, engaging and accessible for every learner. Amanda believes that successful teaching in the Foundation Phase is built on nurturing relationships, a supportive classroom environment, active and play-based learning, differentiated instruction, ongoing assessment and strong partnerships between schools and parents.
Amanda is passionate about creating practical, engaging resources that make teaching easier and learning more enjoyable. She believes that every learner is capable of success when encouraged, praised and supported to persevere through challenges, developing the confidence to say, “I can do this.”
As the Grade 3 Curriculum Specialist at Nieu Sol Education, Amanda is responsible for developing and maintaining the Grade 3 curriculum resources in both English and Afrikaans. Her wealth of experience ensures that every resource is practical, curriculum-aligned and designed to support teachers in delivering meaningful, engaging learning experiences for Foundation Phase learners.
Willie Trytsman
Curriculum Specialist and Educational Strategist
Willie Trytsman is an education leader, curriculum developer and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in school leadership, curriculum design and educational innovation. Throughout his career, he has managed multiple award-winning pre-schools and served as the Principal of a well-known private school in Montana, where he focused on educational excellence, teacher development and learner success.
His passion for education extends beyond the classroom. Willie has developed Life Skills and Language Development programmes for both pre-schools and primary schools and has contributed to higher education by developing curriculum content for Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and Bachelor of Education (Foundation Phase) programmes for private higher education institutions across South Africa.
As a recognised contributor to the education sector, Willie is also a contributing author to two educational publications published by Van Schaik Publishers:
- Resource Development: A Practical Guide for Teachers
- Teaching in the Foundation Phase: Contemporary Strategies, Curriculum Development and Assessments
Recognising the strong reputation and potential of Nieu Sol, Willie acquired the business with a clear vision of transforming it into a comprehensive educational hub where Foundation Phase teachers can access trusted, curriculum-aligned resources, professional expertise and practical classroom solutions—all in one place. Working alongside a team of experienced curriculum specialists, he is committed to expanding Nieu Sol Education into a platform that supports teachers, empowers schools and ultimately improves learning outcomes for children across South Africa.
Willie’s long-term vision is to establish Nieu Sol Education as South Africa’s trusted destination for Foundation Phase education—bringing together curriculum resources, teacher support, professional development, educational technology and innovative classroom solutions on a single platform. By fostering collaboration between experienced educators and embracing continuous innovation, he aims to create an educational ecosystem that equips teachers with everything they need to inspire confident teaching and meaningful learning.
