Congratulations to Georgina Georgelos, M.Ed., an ArizonaLEND Family Alumna, for winning 2026 Arizona Mother of the Year! What an incredible achievement for someone so deserving. Georgina, a retired classroom teacher with over 32 years of experience, now homeschools her son Mateo, who has multiple disabilities. She brings the same creativity, flexibility, and child-centered philosophy to their home that shaped her decades in the classroom.
When asked what it means to her to receive this honor, “It was one of those moments where everything pauses and you reflect on the journey that brought you there.” Georgina continued,
“But this recognition is not just about me. I see it as recognition for all mothers who are raising children with multiple and diverse disabilities. So many of us work quietly every day, advocating, adapting, and loving our children fiercely. I feel honored to represent those mothers and the strength of the families who walk this path.”
Georgina describes her parenting philosophy as centering on the “whole child approach” and “meeting the child halfway.” Inspired by Montessori principles, she prepares materials each evening while staying ready to adapt when Mateo changes direction. “I love following Mateo’s lead, making learning meaningful, and finding innovative ways to help him grow,” she shared. Her decades of experience prepared her well for adapting lesson plans and collaborating with Mateo to create the best learning experiences for him.
Her experience as an ArizonaLEND trainee (2020-2021) deepened both her advocacy and her understanding of systems-level support. “The ArizonaLEND program gave me something incredibly powerful: confidence in my own leadership,” Georgina reflected. “It helped me recognize that my lived experience as a parent is valuable and that I have a voice that can make a difference.” Through the program she realized the importance of building a strong, collaborative network and team of interdisciplinary healthcare providers to support her son’s healthcare needs, what she calls “Mateo’s Amazing Team.” Georgina understands that there is still advocacy work to be done to support families, “What many families still need is easier access to that kind of coordinated support. No parent should feel isolated while navigating complex systems. When teams work together, families can focus more energy on helping their children thrive.”
Georgina’s advocacy extends well beyond her own family. In 2009, she founded Matthew’s International “Give it Back” Organization, and in 2014 she established a scholarship in Special Education at the University of Arizona. She is intentional about passing along what she learns: “Whenever I learn something new that helps Mateo, I make it a point to share that knowledge with other families in the communities I serve.”
This spring, Georgina will travel to Virginia to accept her national honor—a deeply personal destination, as it is where her Greek heritage first took root in 1898 when her Grandfather Harry and Uncle Constantino arrived from Greece. She describes the moment as “a full-circle blessing.” Her journey — as a mother, educator, and advocate — is a powerful reflection of ArizonaLEND's mission to develop leaders who uplift children with disabilities and their families.
See Georgina Georgelos bio and information about the award here: https://www.americanmothers.org/honor-mom/2026-mothers-of-the-year
ID: Georgina Georgelos and her son sharing a playful moment. She is wearing a black lace dress and has her hair styled in loose waves, while the boy, dressed in a plaid blazer over a white t-shirt, looks at her with a slightly puzzled expression. Both have their lips puckered, as if playfully mimicking each other.
