Please help us give a warm welcome to Gail Pruitt Hall, who is joining us this year as Head of School!
Get to Know… Gail!:
Hometown — Harlan, KY
How did you learn about Montessori? — through readings done for an Early Childhood Education major at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University
Where did you take your training? — Atlanta, Washington, DC, and Houston, TX, when Judi and Silvana trained there
Any other degrees, schooling, or training of note? — Undergrad is Early Childhood, and M.Ed. is in Curriculum and Instruction
What do you love about Montessori? — connecting the child to Nature, freedoms (of movement, of speech) for the child, following the child. . .
3 things you can’t live without — air, trees, water
Most favorite trip you’ve taken OR dream vacation — week in Paris with my husband
Favorite local treat (could be food or activity, or…?) — farmer’s market
One rule you live by — While we yet live, let us live!
Favorite quote — Maria Montessori — “Some say I have invented a method of Education; I say I have simply given some little children a chance to live.”
We have known Gail for several years, through collaborative work in national Montessori associations and socially, from various Montessori conventions. For the past 21 years, Gail has served as Head of School at Northwoods Montessori, an AMI affiliated school in the Atlanta, Georgia, area. Under her leadership, Northwoods grew to serve infants through elementary students while garnering a reputation for excellence. Gail is also a lovely human being; warm and empathetic. Earlier this year, she mentioned a desire to move to the West Coast with her husband, who is from the Bay Area. We quickly began discussing options for employment at Bergamo and agreed that she would be an excellent fit for our community.
Gail has an AMI Montessori credential at all three levels (Infant/Toddler, Primary, and Elementary), and over 40 years of experience working in Montessori schools. We are confident that Gail is the person we need to lead our school into the future.
In Gail’s words… “It is a dream for me to join you this year at Bergamo Montessori School. I have heard of the vibrancy and of the quality of your school community, and am excited to join Montessori colleagues with whom I’ve worked in professional development. Your support, commitment, and contributions are the reason Bergamo is such an attractive and healthy place to be. Thank you.”