Prisma is the world’s most engaging virtual school that prepares kids for the ever-changing world of the future. Our team of educators have a diverse background of experience on the cutting edge of teaching and learning, whether they’ve worked in brick and mortar schools or dynamic online environments. In our Meet the Team blog series, you’ll get to read more about the amazing educators behind Prisma.

Georgia Yiapanis joined Prisma in Fall 2024 as the first learning coach for our new middle school cohort open to European/African time zones. 

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Where are you based? 

I recently moved to rural Portugal with my partner and our two dogs, Blue and Sonny! I have always wanted to live closer to nature–after growing up in London, I moved from the city to the sea, and lived on the South Coast of the UK, where I enjoyed walking my dog in the beautiful South Downs National Park.

Tell us a little bit about your background in education prior to joining Prisma. 

From a young age, I knew I wanted to do something creative–but school never felt like the right fit for me. After studying the arts at university, I found a passion for supporting young people in schools, galleries, and art clubs, which surprisingly led me back to school to pursue teaching! 

While completing my PGCE (post-grad certification in the UK), I encountered the Reggio Emilia Approach. Rather than viewing children as empty vessels to be filled with information, this philosophy sees kids as capable individuals and curious researchers of the world who we can learn alongside. Reggio Emilia emphasises children's rights and their ability to learn through “the hundred languages,” while growing through relationships with others. This resonated so deeply with me that I saved up and travelled to the Loris Malaguzzi Centre in Italy for their International Study Week. The way they truly listened to children and spoke about children’s ideas with such high regard profoundly shaped my perspective on education, igniting my passion for child-centred, creative learning environments. If you have time to read the poem "The Hundred Languages of Children" or watch the 2014 Planetary Messages video, I promise you it’s hard not to shed a tear!

Inspired by this, I helped set up a Reggio-inspired small school in the UK, led training for educators in project-based, emergent curriculums, and later created a forest-based home education setting and a summer festival for children, connecting them with the local community. I’ve also worked with local authorities in the UK, bridging gaps for young people with diverse needs. My passion lies in truly listening to children, and honouring their ideas to foster curiosity, creativity, and collaboration.

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What is your favorite aspect of being a learning coach at Prisma?

It amazes me to think back to when my dad first brought home a computer—I couldn’t have imagined then that a machine running on code could one day help me connect with learners from all over the world as a teacher in an online community. My favourite aspect of the job is the constant opportunity I have to learn from these incredible young people. The way they use technology and their creativity to engage with the world around them in innovative ways truly inspires me. One learner has recently created a whole crew of 3D digital mascots for our cohort based on the elements and turned them into emojis. My mind was blown! Being part of a community of families, learners, and educators who are all exploring new possibilities for learning is invigorating and deeply rewarding!

‍Our founding Euro/Africa cohort currently includes learners based in 11 different countries! How does that level of diversity enrich your cohort experience? 

In our cohort, an "average" conversation can leap from one learner travelling on a boat in Europe to another visiting family overseas, with Prismarians living everywhere from Madagascar to Morocco. We’re learning French, Portuguese, Russian, and Japanese, and some worldschooling learners might even spend the afternoon in America before logging in from Asia the next morning! 

Despite the wild and wonderful variety in our home bases making our day-to-day feel dynamic, there’s something funny and kind of magical about how, once we're all on the Zoom screen, we’re together. No matter the crazy journeys or unique life experiences, we can all relate to one another, and in a way, Zoom puts us all on the same page…literally!

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You’re a big world traveller yourself! Can you tell us about some of your favorite destinations? And how do you think travel as a learning experience compares to more formal education?

Travel has taken me to incredible places: visiting the Green School in Bali; yoga training in India; hiking through Nepal, Australia and New Zealand; driving Route 66; and living with locals in Southeast Asia. Whether solo, with family, or with my partner and dogs in our self-converted van, each trip has created unique memories and pushed me out of my daily routine. 

For me, it's not just about the destinations, but my connection with nature, and the people along the way. Standing at the base of a mountain, reaching the summit to take in the ocean view, and then cooling off with a swim as you gaze out at the horizon—it's hard to describe how that feels. It's a sense of discovery, not just of new places, but of yourself and what’s possible. Compared to formal education, it’s like the difference between reading about a sunset and seeing one. Both are valuable, but travel adds a tangible depth to the human experience, connecting you with something bigger!

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If you had to choose ONE skill that you believe is most important for learners to master to be prepared for the future, what would it be and why? 

I’d say the most important skill is trusting who you are and the unique abilities you bring to the table. In a world that’s constantly changing, the one constant is you. When you are confident in your own voice, strengths, and creativity, you can navigate any situation with resilience and adaptability. It’s not about fitting into a mould, but about embracing what makes you, YOU. That self-trust fuels curiosity, innovation, and problem-solving because you're not afraid to take risks, ask questions, or offer a different perspective.

What do you like to learn about, or what is something new you learned recently? 

I’ve always been drawn to creative projects, constantly moving from one creative ‘language’ to another. Right now, I’m taking my love of working with clay to a new scale. I’m exploring how to build a house with cob and using permaculture methods to create a vegetable garden on our land. It’s exciting to think about shaping a home from the earth and nurturing the land to grow our own food!