February 21, 2018
“She pushed her teachers to take part in every opportunity available to them in order to make them better. She knew that if the teachers had more learning experiences, the students would benefit as well. It was always about the children.” These words were written of the late Dolores Beckham ’05Ed.D., a 38-year veteran educator with the New York City Department of Education, who was honored posthumously when 80th Street at 34th Avenue in Jackson Heights, NY, was renamed Dr. Dolores Beckham Way at a ceremony on September 28. Michael Sampson, Ph.D., Dean, offered remarks on behalf of St. John’s University and The School of Education.
Dr. Beckham studied Educational Administration and Supervision at St. John’s University and was principal of Joseph Pulitzer Intermediate School 145, a large multicultural school in Queens. She also spent 10 years as an adjunct professor of TESOL in the School of Education’s Department of Education Specialties.
“Dolores was an integral part of the TESOL graduate team, a dynamic and caring principal, and an advocate of the best education for all immigrants and all students,” John N. Spiridakis, Ph.D., TESOL Program Coordinator, said. “She served as the leader of our TESOL Bilingual Education consortium of schools. As a talented and excellent principal, her school served as a key exemplary field experience site for St. John’s students.”
Dr. Beckham received a Fulbright Award in 2008 and traveled around the world for conferences on leadership and education. “She put in tireless hours planning and organizing to create an environment where her kids would learn, her families would thrive, and her staff would work collaboratively on behalf of the students they served,” read the program at the street renaming ceremony.