Grace Bekaert This is Me

Education

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1. 1. PSEA Interactive --- PSEA Alphabetical Staff Listing

   www.psea.org/staff_alpha.cfm - [Cached]

   Published on: 9/12/2007   Last Visited: 9/12/2007

2. 2. PresMessage08-05

   www.nea-nm.org/President/PresM - [Cached]

   Published on: 2/1/2007   Last Visited: 2/24/2007

   Next, is Grace Bekaert and actually, it's a family affair with husband Jerry and son Joey. In the mid 80's, not only was Grace a leader in Farmington, the NW Region and on the NEA-NM Board from the NW Region, our sons were born days apart. I remember her positive, forceful, in-the-know manner in which she represented her members and how Jerry served as AR in his building and ardent supporter at home. But all of a sudden they were gone to Pennsylvania where getting involved in your local and getting elected as an RA delegate is quite an accomplishment. I've kept tabs with the Bekaerts' at the RA-Grace the delegate, Jerry and Joey running in the 5-mile NEA PAC runs year after year. Now, I am so proud of Grace as she starts her second two-year term as Secretary-Treasurer of the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
   
   Finally, the biggest surprise and the most endearing for me is Theresa Trujillo-my former math student. I can still see her coming in to my room everyday for math at Booker T. Washington Elementary. The last time I saw her she was a junior at New Mexico State University. Then, much to my surprise, near the NEA Flea Market (non-profit booths) my wife Lucille and I run into her. She's teaching at Phoenix Elementary School and has caught the NEA bug. She'll be her local's editor. When I mentioned this to her state president he had nothing but praise for this up and coming leader whom I taught to multiply fractions.
   
   Four former New Mexicans doing well across the country as NEA activists and as public school employees.

3. 3. PSEA Interactive --- Biography of Grace Bekaert

   www.psea.org/article.cfm?SID=4 - [Cached]

   Published on: 8/11/2007   Last Visited: 8/11/2007

   Biography of Grace Bekaert
   ...
   Grace Bekaert began her first term as treasurer on September 1, 2003. She served on the PSEA Board of Directors as president of Southeastern Region from 1999 to 2003. She was appointed to the Property Committee, Personnel Committee and was liaison to the Leadership Development Committee. She also served on PSEA's Strategic Planning Committee, Charter School Task Force and the ESEA Task Force.
   
   As Treasurer, Bekaert chairs the PSEA Budget Committee. As such she was instrumental in delivering the Dues Study Recommendations to the PSEA House of Delegates that provided for changes to our Fiscal Policy securing stability, reliability, adequacy, fairness within our dues structure. Bekaert also chaired the Binding Arbitration Task Force which provided recommendations and safeguards for any future legislation. She has given testimony on Binding Arbitration, Chapter 49-2 (Certification) and Charter Schools to PA House and Senate committees.
   
   Bekaert received her bachelor of science and her master of education degrees in special education from Bloomsburg University. She taught in the Itinerant Learning Support Program for Intermediate Unit #9, Smethport, PA. While teaching the Gifted Support Program in New Mexico, Grace earned an endorsement in gifted education from the University of New Mexico. Prior to her term as Treasurer, she was a middle school gifted support teacher in the Coatesville Area School District for 17 years. Bekaert was instrumental in developing and coordinating the Middle School Knowledge Bowl Competition in Chester County.
   
   As a member of the Coatesville Area Teachers' Association, Bekaert served as a building representative, negotiations representative, Executive Committee member, newsletter editor and local president. She served on the school district's Strategic Planning Committee and represented the association on the Liaison Committee. While teaching in New Mexico, Bekaert served as building representative, local president, cluster president and on the NEA-NM board of directors.
   
   Bekaert resides in Coatesville with her husband, Jerry, a middle school computer skills teacher.