FELIPE SEGOVIA PARENTS

CARMEN OLMO DE SEGOVIA

Former President of SEK Education Group

Biographic data, from the heart

María del Carmen Isabel Olmo Mancebo, born in Merindad de Sotoscueva (Burgos) on 4 December 1912.

She married Felipe Segovia Martínez on 23 December 1935 at the Parish of Santa Bárbara, Plaza de las Salesas, Madrid.

In 1935, alongside Felipe Segova, they purchased the school named Estanislao de Kostka and, with 50 students, they began to lay the foundations for the SEK Education Group at Calle Atocha 45.

“What happened during the war?” In the words of Felipe Segovia (interviewed by his granddaughter Nieves Segovia in April 1998): ‘I was drafted. I was sent as part of the culture militia to Ventas where they were organising a school

I thought that when I got back the school would have been closed and I found there were many more students! I was surprised and asked myself, what are they giving away? Although it had been commandeered by the FAI (Iberian Anarchist Federation), the school remained open. Although it was functioning under the name of Numancia School. The war finished and, since coeducation was banned, we had to find a place for 30 girls. We searched and found a venue on 94 Calle Atocha. Grandmother started working there with 30 girls, and ended up with 1,000 students. That is how the school for girls was founded in 1944.

We also started the Arturo Soria boarding school in 1947 since we didn’t have enough space in the centre of Madrid.”

And Mrs. Carmen as an educator? Her thinking was simple and deep and had deep Kantian influences. She coined the motto ‘DO YOUR DUTY’, that continues façade of SEK schools.

Doña Carmen passed away on 20 October 1979.

DON FELIPE SEGOVIA MARTÍNEZ

Former President of SEK Education Group

Biographic data, from the heart

It is difficult to write his biography, his personality was complex and very strong. Here is a brief summary of the main details:

Felipe Segovia Martínez was born in Talavera de la Reina (Toledo) on 4 February 1907.

He married Carmen Olmo Mancebo on 23 December 1935 at the Parish of Santa Bárbara, Plaza de las Salesas, Madrid.

In 1935 he purchased the school named Estanislao de Kostka and, with 50 students, began to lay the foundations for the SEK Education Group at Calle Atocha 45.

Carmen Olmo de Segovia established in 1944 the girls schools at Calle Atocha 94.

In 1947 he opened the boarding school on Calle Arturo Soria 111

In 1956, the school housed at Atocha 94 transferred to Santa Isabel 23, a building declared a historic building in 1977.

With the General Law of Education of 1970, the Baccalaureate section was opened at SEK-San Ildefonso, on Calle San Ildefonso 18.

Some of his answers in the interview with his granddaughter Nieves Segovia, in April 1998, we can glimpse some of his personality traits.

  • “In those early times, my priorities in life had to be: pay the rent, pay the teachers and then, if there was anything left, I would get a salary, if not, I’d make do. That’s always been my golden rule.
  • In those days we were in closer contact with parents and children, we were aware of all their problems and, as far as we could, we’d help them, with scholarships if their situation was difficult. I knew all the names and surnames of the students.
  • You need certain traits for management: a strong personality, seriousness and fairness, and being a bit crafty.
  • I couldn’t have chosen a profession that satisfies me more.
  • I am a perfectionist, I believe that everything can be improved on. Life is a never-ending race to perfection.
  • What should the relationship between teachers and students be like? One of respect, admiration and affection.
  • How do you see the fruit of Carmen’s and your labours? I am surprised. When I think that the school in 1935 had 50 students and 7 teachers and today we have 10000 students and 600 teachers!
  • Hallmarks of educators: Success is impossible without great vocation and professionalism. Vocation and professionalism, and in summary, work.”

Felipe Segovia Martínez was awarded the Gold Medal for Work Merit in recognition of his social work.

He passed away on 13 September 1993