My name is Mary Pat Beckum.  My husband (Robert) and I moved to Columbus in June 2011 when he became the senior pastor at St. Luke United Methodist Church in uptown Columbus.  We love our church family and living in Columbus! 
 
Robert and I have been married for 42 years.  We have one son, Jonathan, who graduated from Georgia Southwestern State University and Asbury Theological Seminary and is now serving as a pastor in Montezuma, Georgia.  Jonathan married a wonderful young lady named LeeAnn - we love our daughter-in-law!  We have a nine-year-old golden retriever named Duke who is extremely wild and crazy! Jonathan and LeeAnn have a black lab named Georgia (I guess she is our "grand-dog").

I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but I grew up in Dublin, Georgia.  I went to Georgia Southern College and received my degree in Elementary Education.  I earned my Master's degree in Early Childhood Education at Georgia Southern also.  I went to Valdosta State University for my Ed.Sp. degree in Early Childhood Education.  I received my Ed.Sp. in Educational Leadership from the University of Georgia.  

I have been an educator for 36 years.  I've taught kindergarten through 7th grade for 27 of those years.  I was an administrator for the other nine years.  I began teaching first grade at Britt David in 2011, and I am thrilled to be teaching first grade at BDMA again this year!

I don't have a lot of "spare time," but when I do I enjoy reading, cooking, playing the piano, and watching movies.


My Educational Philosophy and Beliefs:

• I believe that teaching is my calling.  I also believe that I have the most important job in the world (next to parenting).  I believe that I can make a difference in the lives of my students and their families.

• I believe that every child is a person of worth and value, and he/she deserves to be treated with respect and dignity.  (That goes for all adults also!)  I want all my students to have a positive self-concept.

• I believe that every child can learn, but we don't all learn on the same day or in the same way.  It is my responsibility to teach all my students the knowledge and skills they need in first grade to be ready for success in 2nd grade and beyond - to help each one of them achieve to their highest potential.  My standards are high for myself and my students.

• I believe that parents and teachers must work together for each child's success in school.  I want my parents to know that I love and care for their child, that they are welcome in the classroom at any time, and that I am available anytime they need to ask a question or share a concern about their child.  At the same time, I trust that my parents will make their child's education a high priority and do what they can to support and encourage their child at home.