staff profiles
Georgina Hood - Nursery School Educator
Founder and Principal Paint Pots Montessori Nursery Schools
and Creative Classes.
Montessori Schools Association - London Chair
Montessorian of the Year 2005
What do three Montessori nursery schools in Kensington and Chelsea, highly acclaimed creative classes and six oversubscribed, but much loved, primary schools in Kenya have in common?
They are the brainchildren of Georgina Hood, a Montessori-educated, British Actors Association Member, mother of four children, who was recently elected Montessorian of the Year 2005.
“I always loved playing teacher. My first memories are of setting up a school for my sister and teaching her sums,” she says. Nevertheless, in the early 1980’s, Georgina was drawn to the theatre as a means of expressing her musical and creative talents. True to form, she preferred performances aimed at or involving children, “ I love their energy. When I had to decide between acting and teaching, I chose to teach.”
Convinced that Maria Montessori’s method developed over 100 years ago in Italy still offered the best education to young children, Georgina entered St. Nicholas Montessori Centre in 1985.
Creating the Paint Pots Montessori Nursery Schools
After several years of teaching, Georgina opened Paint Pots Montessori Nursery School in 1988. “Taking the lead from the child and inspiring their creativity is my passion. If Maria Montessori were alive today, I would say, please visit our schools and see how we develop creativity within your program,” she says.
Today, she has three Paint Pots Montessori Nursery Schools, all of which regularly receive glowing OFSTED reports for the quality teaching and positive, child led atmosphere. Press coverage in Tatler, Gracia, The Hill and Families West confirm the school’s excellent reputation.
Creative Classes and Audio Tapes
In September 2005, Georgina moved Paint Pots Creative Classes to the airy, lovely location of St. Mary’s - The Boltons. The weekly step by step program can begin as early as 6 months in Baby Moves and Music progressing to Music and Fun, Toddler Art and then moving on to the Arts, Crafts, Music and Drama classes for 3-5 year olds and after school clubs for 5-8 year olds.
Elle Macpherson describes what brings her back every year, “I have loved bringing both my boys to the Paint Pots Creative Classes. A very special time in our week. We always travel with our Paint Pots’ CD of our favorite songs.”
Georgina’s Baby Moves and Music classes are among the most popular in London. Singing and playing the guitar, Georgina encourages children to tap into their creativity and connect with one another through music. Move and Groove with Paint Pots includes 30 interactive songs and is available through the Paint Pots office on 08456 43 44 41.
Reaching out in Kenya
While vacationing in Kenya, Georgina visited a local primary school. Moved by the teachers’ dedication and the children’s desire to learn despite the decrepit environment, she co-founded The Kipungani Schools Trust with her husband, John Seagrim, to make a difference. In five years, the Trust has helped re-build six schools. Fundraising efforts continue with plans to send scholarship students on to secondary education, re-build additional schools and add on Montessori Nursery Schools to existing primary schools.
Reaching out to mainstream education
Georgina is a part of a team that is bringing Maria Montessori’s methods and materials into a challenged mainstream classroom for the first time. She says, “Maria Montessori developed her methods for poor, underperforming children in Italy and they worked. I know that the same can happen in the UK.“
Montessorian of the Year 2005
After 20 years experience as a Montessorian, Georgina is now one of its leading spokeswomen in the United Kingdom. She was elected Montessorian of the Year in 2005.
Philip Bujak, Chief Executive of the Montessori Schools Association paid her tribute saying, “Georgina Hood’s unwavering energy and enthusiasm for Maria Montessori’s principals as well as her role as a unifier within the Montessori world made her an obvious recipient of this award this year.”
To interview Georgina for a profile or early education article, please contact her by telephone or e-mail.