Hello from Mr. Beyer!

Hello, I'm Mr. Beyer, and I'm glad you took a moment to learn about me!

I was born in northern Illinois (near Chicago) and went to Winona State University for a computer science degree, but did not graduate. I still didn't know what I wanted to do with my life! I moved to Austin, Texas and got a job in software development. I did that for a little over 9 years and decided that it wasn't for me. 

I was still lost, unsure what to do with the rest of my life. I had volunteered at Austin Zoo in the past, and the zoo director asked if I'd be willing to work as an educator. I'd talk to school children as they went through the zoo, teaching them about the animals and telling their stories to them.

That sounded horrifying, I told her. I don't know how to talk to kids! 

Boy, was I wrong. I LOVED it. I was there because I loved those animals, but within one week I discovered that I really enjoyed all of my interactions with the school students. It felt like a calling; like a purpose. 

Shortly after that, my wife got a job at Kutztown University, so we moved from Texas to Pennsylvania. I went back to college to become a teacher, graduated with honors in 2005, and got a job at Salisbury Middle School in February of 2006.

I've tought Reading, Language Arts, and Science here. I also taught a learner-centered classroom for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders called Project Wonder, all at SMS. 

Now I'll be teaching the 6th grade Learning Lab, which is a core class focused on two things:

1. Executive function skills -- the stuff we assume all adults can do, and what students can start developing now. Thinks like planning, prioritizing, and managing emotions. We'll develop these skills through learning about them, reflecting on them, and doing the second thing, which is:

2. Project-based learning -- projects that are related to the other core classes that students will plan, develop, and present to their classmates.

I can be reached at dbeyer@salisburysd.org or by calling 610-791-0830, extension 3014.