Andrew Beckman, who has been hired to teach middle grades science this year, is excited to experience the community that Darlington has to offer and explore new opportunities to nurture interest in the classroom.
As a new teacher, Beckman is looking forward to learning from his peers and creating an exciting and engaging classroom atmosphere for his students. He believes his passion for teaching came from growing up in a family of educators.
“My dad, grandfather, and two of my uncles were band directors, and my mom taught early elementary students,” he said. “Since my childhood, I’ve always had discussions about classes and school with my family. They've given me a lot of inspiration and ideas on ways to teach.”
Beckman holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Alabama, where he most recently served as a chemistry tutor and lab researcher. A Presidential Scholar at Alabama, Beckman tutored Spanish-speaking children in English-speaking skills while he was in college and mentored a middle school student on topics like work ethic, study habits, and academic goal setting. He also spent two summers working at the university's cross country camp.
Beckman's approach involves nurturing interest and discussing uncommon topics in order to spark a feeling of discovery in his students, which he feels is hard to come by.
“It’s my philosophy that no one has ever truly mastered a skill they disliked,” he explained. “Therefore, an educator needs to show the meaning behind why science, math, English, etc. has resonated with humanity throughout history.”
In his free time, Beckman enjoys running and listening to new music.
“I hope my students remember each class as different from the last,” he said. “By providing new experiences in the classroom each day, my students will create memories for years to come as they encounter higher levels of science throughout their years at Darlington.”
Editor’s Note: This article was written by Natalie Horah (‘19), who is serving as an intern in the Communication Office this summer.
