Community… professional development… opportunity… a network that supports, elevates and encourages bilingual educators to thrive in building a career that brings out the highest levels of achievement and success in every individual. Sound like a dream? Join the BEAM organization to become a member of a community that is this and so much more.
In one of the first episodes of the BEAM DFW podcast, Dr. Liz Garza-Garcia, President, BEAM spoke with lifelong members Dr. Luis Rosado, Professor & Director Center for Bilingual Education, University of Texas at Arlington, Dr. Patsy Robles-Goodwin, Professor & Director for Bilingual Education Programs, Texas Wesleyan University, and Dr. Patsy Sosa-Sanchez, Assistant Professor, University of North Texas at Dallas regarding their journey to discovering and staying with the BEAM organization for over 20 years.
Dr. Robles-Goodwin noted that BEAM did not exist when she started teaching but heard about the organization in the 1990s after becoming a school administrator. At the time, she was drawn to the organization because it was comprised of many districts. In fact, this is one of the unique aspects of BEAM that is attractive to members.
“As a school administrator it was an opportunity to join with others that were like me, in my position and to involve my teachers in an organization that was from Dallas/Fort Worth,” said Dr. Robles-Goodwin.
Dr. Rosado joined in 1998 after becoming a member of the Texas Woman’s University faculty. As a bilingual faculty member and student at TWU, participation in BEAM events and activities was expected as a part of the professional development process.
Dr. Sosa-Sanchez became a member “through the BESO organization [when she was a student at TWU] which is the beginning of a great journey in becoming a qualified bilingual teacher. The opportunities that BEAM offers BESO members are really just amazing because of the professional development opportunities that we have.”
And why do they stay after over 20 years of service? Dr. Rosado shared his view on why he continues to work with the organization. “The BEAM association basically keeps me alive because this is a very active association, and the youth of the new leaders make me feel engaged. This is something that I want to keep on doing it.” He also noted that it was wonderful to see BESO students getting advanced degrees and becoming the leaders of today.
BEAM (Bilingual/ESL Education Association of the Metroplex) has nearly 900 educators from 40+ districts across the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. And during the pandemic, the organization has experienced growth outside of the Dallas/Fort Worth areas. The conversation opened with a discussion of how each member found BEAM.
For more information about BEAM DFW, visit beamdfw.org.
