Jack Beckman

Background

About Jack Beckman

If Charlotte Mason (1842-1923) was right, then education is indeed a life as I have spent nearly 50 years under the regulus and patterns of teaching and learning - initially as an Early Childhood educator in the classroom, then as an educational leader, and finally as Professor of Elementary Education at Covenant College. Each of these contexts has allowed me the privilege of working with students, teachers, and parents on a variety of levels involving instructional pedagogy, curriculum development, and teacher professional learning. My work at Covenant College was both challenging and fulfilling. Over the past twenty-one years I moved to the other side of the teacher's desk in my work with preservice elementary teachers. From freshman year Christian Mind through senior Fall Block and clinical practice, I witnessed the progression of growth in their identity from students to full instructional practitioners ready for the classroom. It is thrilling to hear stories of how God uses their gifts and talents in His kingdom work. These dedicated teachers are God’s "faithful presence" in a world filled with the diverse needs of today’s children. As I have come to grips with a “brave new world” of virtual and hybrid learning, many new and exciting skills and tools allowed me to successfully pivot in my instructional practices. One thing I learned was attending to my students’ social and emotional needs opens an essential doorway to their learning. Often, telling a simple story connected students in ways mere content and methods could not. I also taught in our M.Ed graduate program during the summer. For three weeks, cohorts of teachers and administrators came to the campus to complete a specialty either in Curriculum and Instruction or Educational Leadership. As I contemplate my retirement from Covenant College after Spring 2025 (!), I am seeing that there are a number of intriguing possibilities coming my way. The Blue Open Door, Charlotte Mason Institute's aspiring and active teacher and educational leader training model I designed is up and running and I will help lead that initiative. We are collaborating with the University of Cumbria in hope of creating a Master of Arts in Charlotte Mason Studies with The Blue Open Door as a key component. Moreover, my work in writing and research will unfold in several projects I will now have time and space to explore and develop. I also will be doing storytelling in our local library and schools. Oh, and Barbara tells me we will be traveling and hanging out with grandchildren.