Tucson Federation of Teachers

May 10, 2008 For Imediate Release

Alan C. Little

520-292-8204

At the annual Tucson Federation of Teachers awards dinner Barb Kaufman Beamer was named as the recipient of the Gorby-Elfbrandt teacher of the year.

She was raised in Detroit by two public school teachers, educated in public school and went on to graduate from the University of Michigan with a bachelors degree and earned her teachers certificate from Wayne State University. In 1976 she graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a Masters in Fine Arts.

Barb began her teaching career in the Detroit Public schools where she taught art to inner city youth. After working in an inner city elementary school she was transferred to a new school in an area where wealthy Jews had settled in the 1930's, 40's, and 50's. In the 1960's the area was integrated with upper class blacks. She had a variety of students including the child of Michigan Senator Carl Levin, and the child of the Motown singer, Marvin Gaye.

In 1976 Barb and her husband Dan moved to Tucson, Az. After a few years substitute teaching and working as an aide in the Amphi School District, Barb was hired to teach art and sponsor the Yearbook at Pueblo High School. No one knew at the time that she would spend the next 25 years working with some of the most talented students one could imagine.

In 1995 Barb and her husband Dan were awarded Fulbright teacher exchanges and lived with their two children in Hertford, England. Barb taught art at the Finchley School in North London. She learned a great deal about working at an all boys Catholic school...little of which she would ever use back in the states as examples of proper teaching.

Over the years Barb helped Pueblo students win dozens of scholarships to different universities, community colleges, and art schools. Several of her former students have murals on the walls inside as well as outside various local establishments.

Upon Barb's retirement she has spent time substitute teaching at Pueblo and other TUSD schools. In 2006 Barb was hired as an adjunct professor by the University of Arizona College of Education as a Supervisor for the student teachers in the art curriculum. She has gone above and beyond the call of her job qualifications offering the student teachers additional classroom tutoring in proven teaching methods for art teachers on Sunday afternoons at her home since the U of A Art Education curriculum offers no specific methods courses.

Barb Beamer has spent nearly forty years helping students and teachers alike.

In her spare time Barb enjoys painting,( she has art work displayed in the Tucson Community Center as well as the Ventana Canyon resort), traveling, and cooking as well as gardening.

The Tucson Federation of Teachers is proud to award the Gorby/Elfbrandt Educator of the year award to Barbara Beamer.

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Web links: for historical reference:

http://www.educationtucson.org/new.html

http://www.oyez.org/cases/1960-1969/1965/1965_656/

http://www.answers.com/topic/elfbrandt-v-russell?cat=biz-fin

Barbara and Vern Elfbrandt, junior-high teachers in Tucson, Arizona, refused in 1960 to sign "loyalty" oaths.