A beloved teacher at Gibbons is retiring at the end of the year.

Mrs. Nancy Beale was the world language department chair from 2015-2021 and has been teaching at Gibbons for 23 years, with 45 years of teaching experience in total. She has taught everything from Spanish I to AP Spanish Literature throughout her time as a teacher.

It is safe to say that she has made a significant impact on our school.

Beale has always been interested in teaching, long before getting a degree.

“I was in second grade and my brother was in kindergarten, and he wanted to learn the alphabet so I started teaching him. Every time he got something right, I was so excited, it was so rewarding,” said Mrs. Beale.

As a current Spanish II Honors and AP Spanish Literature teacher, Beale teaches a variety of grades.

She has been known to warmly welcome freshmen into the school, and make them feel more comfortable in the classroom as well as around the school.

Charlotte Bouchard, was a freshman in Beale’s Spanish class last year, and has had many great experiences with her.

“As a freshman I definitely was super scared to walk into a class that was mainly sophomores, trying to fit in. So it’s already scary being with upperclassmen, but I think Mrs. Beale always put some extra attention into the freshmen,” Bouchard said. “She would just make sure we were understood and she actually got to know us, it wasn’t just about the content for her.”

The transition from middle school to high school is stressful and difficult to work through, and having help from an educator can make all the difference. 

Being a freshman in a higher level Spanish class can lead students to worry, but having Mrs. Beale as a teacher is comforting to know that you’re cared for.

Beale has not only welcomed new students to the school, but new educators as well.

Ms. Kathryn Mundell, a new Spanish III honors teacher this year, has had a great opening experience at Gibbons because of Beale’s generosity and kindness.

“I actually met Nancy about 10 years ago when I was considering coming to work at Gibbons. We enjoyed a delightful chat over coffee for an hour or so back in 2015,” Mundell said. “Once I was hired to join Gibbons last summer, Nancy reached out to me right away to say how excited she was to find out that I would be joining Gibbons. She and I have shared a classroom this year and I’m grateful for her energy and enthusiasm. I really appreciated how she was so excited for me to join Gibbons and shared this openly with me and her students.” 

Beale’s kind and energetic personality has really encouraged students and educators alike, to become the best version of themselves in the Spanish department.

Spanish II Honors students can confidently say that Beale has made their years all the more enjoyable, and has always been there for them. They are beyond grateful to have been students in her class, knowing she has left a lasting impression on them that they will never forget.

Everyone who has had Beale as a teacher knows that she is very organized, and grades as quickly as possible. Beale is known for grading tests and quizzes the same day they are taken, which is almost unheard of from teachers.

Not only does Beale work incredibly hard, but she also has taught her students more than just Spanish, but countless life lessons (and songs) as well.

Beale has left a lifetime’s worth of impact on our school, especially the Spanish department, and her legacy will carry on.

“I feel like (Mrs. Beale) has definitely nailed everything we’ve learned this year in my head and I’ll never forget it. She’s shown me how important it is to laugh and make learning fun,” said Molly McCurdy. 

Beale deserves this retirement more than anyone at this school, and everyone at Gibbons is thankful for her sacrifices and the effort she has put into all of her classes. 

“The most important thing is to spend much more time with my grandkids,” said Beale. 

Thank you for everything you have done Beale, we hope you have a wonderful retirement, although you will be deeply missed walking in the language hallway, we will always remember what you did for us. 

Beale has made a lasting presence in our school, and although her classroom may no longer be filled, her influence will continue to affect every student.