School approach puts child in charge

The Overfield School was founded by Julia Hobart 50 years ago.

Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@aol.com.

A bright yellow door greets visitors to The Overfield School.

On the other side is the heart of the school for children 18 months to kindergarten located in a Hobart Brothers Co. steel house surrounded by wooded and natural areas west of Ridge Avenue and a short distance from Main Street.

On a recent morning the children were engaged in an array of activity from time on the playground’s climbing tree to working on individual portfolios and a group interacting with artist-in-residence Migiwa Orimo, thanks to the Ohio Arts Council.

The relative quiet and orderly pace of the morning was disrupted briefly by the arrival of a special guest, a young pig brought by the father of a student. As the children talked excitedly, the guest ran briefly among them before being corralled in a plastic bucket to regain its composure.

The activity brought smiles to the face of Jeni Beck, Overfield’s school communications lead. She and three others run the school founded by Troy resident Julia Hobart more than 50 years ago in a room in the historic Overfield Tavern downtown.

The school moved to the former Hobart home in fall 1989. It continues to follow the Reggio Emilia philosophy introduced by Julia Hobart. The philosophy supports self-discovery and creativity through a child-centered curriculum.

“It is all about letting the children figure out their path to learning. Amazingly, they figure it out. They learn to be confident and independent thinkers,” Beck said.

The school with 112 children includes a toddler building and a main building with areas for 3- and 4-year-olds, 4- and 5-year-olds (prekindergarten), half-day and all-day kindergarten and an all-day class for children 3-5. The school also offers before and after school care.

“We try to accommodate today’s world,” said Beck, whose son attended Overfield for three years.

Each class has two teachers and the school employs a naturalist. She facilitates exploration of areas around the school such as the 84-acre Hobart Urban Natural Preserve next to the school and the school’s organic garden.

The school is operated by a leadership team whose members in addition to Beck are Jennifer Lightcap, pedagogista in charge of curriculum Elizabeth Perry, ateliersta coordinating artist; and Erin Johnston, business lead.

The school is multicultural, Beck said, with a financial aid program and students from across Miami County and beyond including Kettering and West Carrollton.

For more information on The Overfield School, go online to www.overfield.org or call 937-339-5111.

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