Aldersgate Day School Director Sarah Beck has retired. June 1 was her final day in charge. Shortly, she will move with her husband, Al Beck, to her native state, South Carolina. She leaves behind a legacy of more than 25 years of service to Aldersgate, not only to the day school, but to the parish as well.
An excerpt taken from a letter to the parish by Fran Hicks, Chair, Board of Weekday Education, says, "Far too often a calling or vocation is offered not with trumpets and fanfare but in a whisper so quiet it takes good ears and strong faith to hear. Such was the case with Sarah Beck, director of our day school, and the Aldersgate community has been truly blessed that she heard and responded to those whispers."
Hicks said that Sarah joined the church in July, 1979, after she moved to the area with her husband and two sons from Massachusetts. She became a member of the Parents Committee, now known as the Board of Weekday Education, in September, 1979, and her children began attending the day school.
"If you ask Sarah, she will readily admit that she was a "very reluctant preschool teacher." That changed in early 1980, when the day school director asked if Sarah would substitute for a teacher who had called in sick. Sarah said 'no' initially, but changed her mind when the director said all the children, including her son, would have to go home. "Sarah had taught high school for several years and thought she had little interest or talent for teaching young children. Soon however, Sarah realized how enjoyable and rewarding teaching two-year-olds could be," Hicks said.
Beck joined the staff on a part-time basis in September, 1980, and a year later, became a full-time teacher. In 1983, she became the school's administrative assistant and was appointed director in 1985.
Hicks said that Beck worked tirelessly to expand the day school, ensuring that the facility became a licensed preschool. During Beck's tenure, she added two-day classes, another five-day class for four-year-olds and a second staff person in each class room. She also started before-school care and expanded after-school to five days instead of one.
"One of her passions was the love and care for the playground which is open to the community. She wrote the curriculum for, and directed the Bible Study Camp for preschoolers and raised $29,676.82 [to date] for the Fulfilling the Dream Campaign. By Sarah Beck's estimates, more than 3,000 children have attended Aldersgate during her 25 years.
"She has seen dozens of former Aldersgate students graduate from high school, college and law school, and also get married; she has counseled countless numbers of parents," Hicks said.
BECK TOOK HER JOB so seriously that even when she saw former and current students on vacation or other places, she made the time to talk to them. She considered that she was always on duty.
"I will miss the kids and the staff; I have been very involved with the families. Some of them I've known for years, many have had multiple children who've come here, you form relationships," Beck said.
While they had always planned that this would be Beck's last year of work, they didn't decide until recently to make the move to South Carolina. She will be near her family, as well as her husband's sister. Her oldest son, David, is working in Columbus, Ohio, as an attorney, while her younger son, Roger, works for a NASA affiliated company in California.
Rev. Dr. Dennis Perry said that he knows that this is the beginning of a new chapter for Sarah and Al and is happy for them.
"We're glad that we've had them for as long as we have. Sarah and Al have both had a huge impact on the church. They have a love of children and a love of young families," Perry said.
That love of young families led the Becks to start a parenting class for parents of young children. "Twenty years later, that group is still together," Perry said. "Sarah and Al shared their skills and created an environment where parents could ask questions."
Perry said that the impact Sarah had on the school was huge. "She loves the children and anything that benefits the children," Perry said. Yet, while she was kind and patient, Perry said that she had an iron backbone, and would not compromise when it came to issues of what was best for the children.
"Their integrity and voice of reason will be missed," Perry said.
THE TEACHERS AND STAFF who worked with Beck will miss her as well.
"She definitely is the easiest boss to work for," said Sarah Lynn Mertins, one of the preschool teachers. "She had so much faith in us and knew that we would do the right thing. She really made it a wonderful experience."
"I have had both a personal as well as professional relationship with Sarah for many years and from both points of view, the impact that she has had on this community is far reaching. She will be sorely missed," said Kathe Shriver, administrative assistant.
Jan Sproul, who is an active church member, said, "Sarah Beck is a person who lives what she believes. She believes in family, and in the absolute precious value of each and every child. She is a strong child and family advocate. Every action she has taken as director of Aldersgate Day School has been on behalf of the children. Her actions even more than her words, set the standard that the children come first, that theirs is the voice that needs to be heard.
"The Mount Vernon community and the 3,000 children who have attended the school during her tenure are stronger because of her."
"We will miss her as a mother figure, friend, grandmother and counselor, she wore many hats. She is a wonderful person and will be missed by the whole community," Mertins said.
Beck feels confident that her successor, Patty Spitnale, will do a great job. Her advice to Spitnale? "Take one day at a time."