I have retired from retirement to serve as the Director of Professional Development, Substitutes and Corrections (6/1/25)
Welcome to Washburn Tech Professional Development Site. This site has been designed to guide Washburn Tech Staff for upcoming Professional Development opportunities and an archive of past training material.
The following is a brief description of each link listed belw (Items with struck-through text are still available but pertain to my previous role at Washburn Tech and do not apply to my current position.) Additionally, some items from my last role may align well with my current responsibilities.
A.I - tools and strategies on using A.I.
Professional Development Schedule - outlines the upcoming professional development agenda.
Breakout Sessions - provides a detailed explanation of upcoming breakout sessions and serves as an archive of past breakout sessions.
Evaluation - provides information about the evaluation process, including a download link to various forms.
Handbook - the copy of the staff handbook.
Handbook - onboarding "Welcome to Washburn Tech"
Handouts - material that was handed out during professional development.
Lunch & Learn - provides a calendar of events for the current year and archives topics from the past.
OLD Newsletter - monthly newsletters are archived here.
NEW Newsletters (as of 6/1/25)
New Staff - provides presentations and material to assist new hires.
Online Opportunities - links to various one-hour activities and semester courses can be found here.
Presentations: This is a quick link to past presentations during staff development days. This includes old and new material.
ReadySub - directions on how to use our online subprogram.
Resources - is a list of items that can be checked out of the Director of Instruction office.
Teaching Slam - is an activity we attempt to do from time to time that allows instructors to share what they are doing in their programs.
Generation Why - provides some resources in material and activities I used to work with today's students.
Fish! Philosophy - is a book that I have used to address school culture. This link gives you some insight into what I've done over the years with many activities and strategies.
Social Media - provides links to various Washburn Tech social media sites.
Strategies - links with directions on various strategies introduced to the instructors over the years.
Tips - used to provide tips to issues and questions asked at Washburn Tech.
Tools - information, links, videos on instructional tools that have been presented to the staff.
Videos - a quick asset to videos used at Staff Development Days.
Below is the TinyURL for this page that has been shared with staff.
My ABB Consultant Site - I have provided training for other school districts along with offering free presentations on Lincoln and JFL Assassination. CLICK HERE TO VISIT
Mr. Beam started serving as the Director for Instruction March 22, 2018. He was moved to Interim Assist Dean of Instruction on Jan. 2022. His educational career began in 1982 as a secondary teacher at Washington H.S. in Washington, Ks. During his career his taught middle school & high school social studies, community college social sciences, community college online social sciences and served as an adjunct in the educational leadership program at Washburn University. He's been an athletic director, high school principal, curriculum and staff development director, instructional coach and interim superintendent. In total, he has 40+ years in education.
Educational Background
Undergrad at Emporia State BSE in Social Science.
Masters at Washburn University in K - 12 Leadership.
District Leadership License at Emporia State
Professional Service Includes
District Steering Chair for QPA/NCA (1992 -1997), Technology Committee (1994 - 2018), Student Improvement Team (1999 - 2018), Professional Development Council (1992 - 1997, 2009-2015), Community Internet Trainer (1994 - 1997), District Grant Writing Team (1993 - 2009) Team member developing online staff development (1998 - 2018) and District Technology Trainer (1996 - 2018), Kal Tech Mentor (2001 - 2009), Member of the FCCLA State Board (2000 – 2004), President of FCCLA State Board (2003 - 2004),State Administrator Mentor Program (2012 – 2014), KASSP Board Member (2011- 2015), United School Administrator Board Member (2011- 2015)
Presentations/Trainings Offered
National School Board Association (1997), National North Central Accreditation (2000), Effective School Conference (1994 & 1996), Secondary Educators (1994), Kansas Administrators (USA) (1995), Kansas School Board Association (1996), ASCD Regional Conference (1996), Kansas North Central Accreditation (1994, 1996 - 1999), and Kansas Association of Teachers of English (1995). Technology Training for other school districts (1999 - Present), Kal Tech Workshops (2000-2015), Fish! Philosophy Training for school districts and business (2000-2015), Kansas Business Education Association (2005-2008) Washburn C-Tel (2019), Kansas Council for Workforce Education (2021), New Technical Instructor Training (2020, 21, 22)