More than 60 years teaching, and still passionate
12/22/2015

Many of us choose to retire at 65 and spend time doing what we love, but Beverlie Beck has been doing what she loves for 61½ years, and doesn’t plan on quitting. Beck serves as a second grade teacher in the South Bend Community School Corporation at the Hamilton Traditional School.

Beck’s interest in a teaching career started when she was in middle school.

“Believe it or not, when I was in school, female teachers could not continue after they were married,” said Beck. “I knew I wanted to be a mom, so I almost decided to become a nurse.”

Thankfully, for the thousands of students Beck has taught, the rules changed, allowing female teachers to continue their careers after marrying. However, obstacles continued throughout her career.

“I once had a superintendent who wouldn’t let women teach unless their children were at least two years old,” said Beck. “It was during a teacher shortage, and I was substitute teaching as a result of this rule. I wrote a letter to a school board member, and I got my fulltime job back the next morning.”

She also became a certified driver’s ed teacher when she was told women shouldn’t be teaching driver’s ed.

Not only has Beck led the way for women in the profession, she has been a lifelong member of NEA since her first day of teaching. She has encouraged her peers and provided mentorship to new NEA and ISTA members. She cites active membership in the local teachers union as a way new teachers can feel supported when entering the classroom.

Beck acknowledges there are a lot of challenges for new teachers, and they aren’t staying as a result.

“We’re gonna have a huge teacher shortage,” said Beck. “The young teachers are getting out as soon as they can go. The evaluations are too much. You just want to teach.”

While Beck sees young teachers leaving the profession, she considers her ability to keep teaching her greatest achievement. She has had students become doctors and lawyers, but she is most satisfied when she had inspired a student to become a teacher.

“I’m awfully proud of those, especially when they say it was because of me,” said Beck. “I love that!”

Beck has achieved much outside of school as well. She has raised a wonderful family of kids and grandchildren. She also served on the South Bend City Council.

But, teaching remains the love of her life.

“I got to do what I loved,” said Beck. “I’ll keep doing it as long as I feel I have something to offer the children.”