About Beth

Honors ..Beth's Teaching Experience .. Beth's Music ....Beth's Educational Music

Beth's Bio

Beth, an Overland Park, KS native, is a 25-year veteran teacher in the public schools. She has taught high school chemistry and physical science in rural Missouri and middle level earth science in a Kansas City suburb. In 1999, she produced her first CD of educational "rock" music, Beth's Rock Collection, Songs of Science For Our Times. In January, 2005, she released another, Beth's Rock Collection--Songs For the Heart and Mind. She has promoted her CDs and the idea of using music in the classroom for the purpose of engaging students at The National Science Teachers Association National Conventions in Boston, Orlando, Las Vegas, San Diego, Phoenix, St. Louis and Kansas City. In between lesson plans, she finds time to perform in some Kansas City clubs and coffeehouses. In 2000, she was honored in Los Angeles as one of America's most creative teachers with the Disney American Teacher Award. In 2006-8 she was selected for the Missouri STARR Teacher Program, an extensive Master Teacher development program, sharing professional development with teachers across the state of Missouri. During that time, Beth read and studied under the leadership of Pat Wolfe (www.patwolfe.com) a pioneer in the field of translating brain research into current best practice in the classroom.

Beth's daily dose of professional inspiration and satisfaction comes from her students in the classroom. She currently resides in a Kansas City suburb with husband, manager, admirer and "roadie", Eric, and son and former student, Mizzou Tiger and future doctor & golf pro, Sheldon.

Disney American Teacher Awards

In 2000, Beth was one of 33 teachers nationwide to receive the Disney American Teacher Award. It is an award to honor creative approaches to teaching. The Academy Award-style gala was held at the historic Shrine Auditorium and aired on Lifetime TV in December of 2000. Honored in her category were Jim Shultz from Helena, MT, and Judy Gulledge from Norfolk, VA, two EXTRAORDINARY middle school science teachers.
Oprah was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the same ceremony. Halle Berry presented Oprah's award. Beth is pictured here with two Disney 2000 Honorees, Ron Clark and Jeff Wright, a USA TODAY All-USA Award winner, as well as Harvard graduate. Jeff is now a principal in Chicago. Ron Clark was the overall winner of the Disney American Teacher Award in 2000 and was named Phenomenal Man by Oprah. Ron has written several bestselling books to help teachers and has speaking engagements all over the country. In August 2007, he opened the groundbreaking Ron Clark Academy, a leadership school based on travel for gifted underprivileged students.

Beth on the red carpet with favorite Aunt Wanda looking on. Pictured at right with Beth are son, Sheldon, husband, Eric Vernon, and supportive parents-in-law Walt and Barbara. Mentor, inspiration and former Disney Honoree, Jim Word smiling in the background.

In addition to the awards program and cash award, the honorees received an extensive professional development program in collaborative school cultures from the Center for Collaborative Education in Boston.

Beth's Teaching Experience

Beth has been teaching science in public school at the middle and high school level since 1985. She credits her students (and colleagues) for inspiring and encouraging her creative gifts.

Beth's Music

	Beth has been playing clubs/restaurants and coffeehouses around the Kansas City area since 1995. She plays a mix of covers and her own songs (not science). Although, the plate tectonics song is played most nights. Shown here at Thirteenth Street Bar and Grill in Kansas City with gifted guitar player, Andy Oxman, whom she has nicknamed, "Kansas City's Best Kept Secret". Andy is the owner/operator of SoundWorks Teaching and Recording Studio in Blue Springs, MO.

Playing on the Country Club Plaza and Downtown Kansas City

	Beth played at The Taven and the Top Deck every Tuesday night for almost a year with Andy Oxman.

Beth's husband, Eric, is her manager, "roadie", sound guy and number one fan.

At Fedora's on The Country Club Plaza

Downtown @ John's Deck

At a local bookstore & coffee shop with Andy

Beth's Educational Music

Born out of a desire to play "hip", modern music in her science class, in 1999 she produced "Beth's Rock Collection Volume I--Songs of Science For Our Times". A local popular morning radio D.J. named her "The 'Jewel' of Science." This CD was and is being distributed by Educational Innovations and Teacher's Discovery, as well as local Barnes & Noble and Border's stores and the local science museum. Beth and the new CD were featured in news stories on ABC and FOX, as well as several newspaper articles. Beth has presented and promoted the CD at various National Science Teacher Association Conventions (Boston, Orlando, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Diego, Kansas City, St. Louis) presenting to inquisitive teachers from across the country with a workshop entitled, "I Can't Get this Song Out of My Head! Using Music To Get Science Stuck In Students' Minds."

In 2005, she produced "Beth's Rock Collection Volume II --Songs For the Heart and Mind". After a brief conversation with Dr. Robert Marzano and others about the nonacademic issues in school that affect education, Beth decided to share her songs that were inspired by the students and events of her school.