Texts, Takes, and Teaching: Mr. Beers Spotlight

Brian Clark '25

At the end of last school year, many staff members left the Masterman community leading to several vacancies. As a result, the start of this year saw numerous additions to the Masterman family; Mr. Beers has filled a number of the vacant positions and is now teaching two classes of AP Literature, an Introduction to Film elective, and seventh-grade literature. In addition, he is serving as an advisor to an eighth-grade section and as a sponsor to the high school Chess Club. Before his arrival, Mr. Beers formerly taught at Mastery Thomas Charter in South Philadelphia, and will now share his twelfth year teaching with Masterman!

Already a daunting task, teaching at a prestigious school like Masterman was made even more difficult due to the recent departure of Principal Payne and numerous scheduling changes implemented in the 2024-25 school year. Nonetheless, Mr. Beers’ first impressions of the school have been nothing but positive. Reflecting on it, he stated how welcomed he immediately felt by both teachers and students alike and that the vast majority of people with whom he’s interacted have not only been kind and understanding, but incredibly helpful. For this critical assistance, he expressed his genuine appreciation. He has found himself most impressed by the wisdom and intellect of every student in the building and his classrooms, saying that he has felt extremely blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of such an inclusive and supportive community.

While on the topic of community, Mr. Beers credits his high school community for his affinity for wanting to teach himself. Specifically, he stated that having amazing teachers fostered his love for academia and that mid-way through his experience, he noticed how much he not only enjoyed the act of learning but also enjoyed presenting what he learned. Subsequently, creating PowerPoint presentations became an immediate joy, and after spending so much time emulating his teachers, the avenue of that career was a natural drift for him. Such a thing is hard to argue against! In every class, his excitement fuels the room, and students can genuinely see how much he enjoys discussing both literature and film. In witnessing his passion, we asked him to share his favorite genres, themes, and people behind his favorite stories:

What book genre is your favorite and why? What’s your favorite book and why?

“I couldn’t pick a singular book if I wanted to, but some of my favorite authors are Phillip Roth and Toni Morrison. Though the edge probably goes to Roth. I love his ability to paint such vivid pictures of certain personalities, and the complicated experience that is humanity. I genuinely do love political philosophy and philosophical fiction, so when it grabs my attention it’s an immediate love.”

What is your favorite movie and why?

“Same thing, there’s so many good ones, I couldn’t just pick one. Personally, I really respect [Stanley] Kubrick as a director and find his meticulous attention to detail fascinating. I think such attention encourages endless rewatches. The range of emotion and feelings that are conveyed by him are astonishing!”

What themes and archetypes do you enjoy most in both film and writing?

“I’d say the more universal the better. Any good story has a lesson that can be tied to the human condition and experience. My personal favorite has to be when the sin of the father is inherited by the child. It’s one of the oldest struggles and conflicts in both stories and real life. One movie that employs this well is “The Place Beyond The Pines,” which talks about wrestling with one of the most human universal tensions of who you are, and whether where you come from dictates your future. It really encapsulates the major concepts of fate, destiny, and determinism, but wraps them up in relatability through a familial meaning.”

What hobbies do you enjoy outside of school in your free time?

“I definitely like running. I typically run five miles every other day. It’s a great healthy habit. In the past, though I’ve cooled down on it, I was really interested in photography and even took photography classes. I also love all things music, whether it be going to shows or buying records. In regards to genre, I really just love all kinds. The artist that I’m most currently interested in is Mk.gee. I’d describe his music as very experimental. If I had to describe it to someone, [I’d say] Mk.gee has an industrial aspect; specifically, he uses unconventional sounds to create a rough, yet melodic atmosphere.”

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