Meet Kereida Beadle, Science Faculty

Kereida Beadle (science faculty) is a dorm parent in Centre House, which opened in fall 2004. She calls the boarding students of Norris and Centre house—who enjoyed a dodge ball tournament on campus February 13—“zealous.” In several heated matches, the boys’ house squared off against the girls, then Classes IV and I students rivaled Classes II and III. The boys, she says, win marks for their matching dodge ball jerseys, inspired by the recent Ben Stiller comedy, Dodge Ball (see photo of Centre House team, below).

As the new houses establish traditions and their place within the community, Kereida—as a first-year teacher—is likewise distinguishing herself among Milton’s outstanding science faculty.

Kereida, a native of Jamaica, graduated from Smith College in 2004 with a major in chemistry and minor in biology. She spent summers throughout college as a teaching assistant and intern with Smith’s Summer Science and Engineering Program. There, she assisted with curriculum planning and teaching genetics to high school girls. During one summer, she managed the program’s residential life program—a break from teaching that she said convinced her that teaching was her vocation. “I really missed the classroom experience. I decided not to fight it,” she says.

Kereida also became a student leader at Smith, where she served as head resident (a college-appointed position) and helped determine and enforce policy related to the college community.

Kereida says that she is excited about the School’s plan for a new science center and a little surprised by how the programming for the building is benefiting so much from faculty input. She notes that the faculty have been adamant about the need for a large science faculty room. “Everyone uses the (existing) faculty room. Coming here helps build a sense of cohesion. Many of us prep for class here; it’s essential for us as a team” she says.

Kereida teaches four sections of first-year chemistry. She says that she has benefited from great advice and support from faculty members Bob Tyler and Ned Bean as well as her mentor, Kim Samson. “They’ve been great in telling me has worked for them in approaches to homework and teaching strategies,” she says. “They’ve also given me space to figure out what works for me.”

She says that her early impression of Milton students is that they are driven. “They work hard and know where they want to go,” Kereida says. Kereida is ready to help get them there.

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