Meet Culbertson Teacher Beth Lake

Marple Newtown Patch is featuring great teachers in the Marple Newtown area who deserve some spotlight. Teachers give a lot to their students, schools and studies and we'd like to recognize them and say a simple, thank you, for all that they do. She started off student teaching at Culbertson until life caught up with her only to bring her back to Culbertson years later. 

Name: Beth Lake

School: 

Grade/Subject(s): Fourth Grade/All Subjects

Years in the Industry: 16 years

Teaching History: I student taught in first grade at Culbertson Elementary and sixth grade at . Following graduation from Cabrini College, I accepted the second-grade teaching position at Culbertson and taught there for 10 years. I resigned from my job and stayed home with my daughter for six years. Upon my return, I was offered the fourth-grade teaching position at Culbertson. I have enjoyed my six years in this wonderful grade.

What do you like most about your job? 

There are many things I like about my job. I enjoy interactingwith students individually as well as in groups. I get great pleasure watching the children learn, grow and progress throughout the year. Their enthusiasm and eagerness to attempt new things inspires me to challenge them in many ways. It makes my day when the students say, “Is it time to go already? This day went so fast!” I also enjoy working with my grade-level teaching partners who are collaborative and inspiring. We have a cooperative and creative staff, and a very supportive group of parents. The Culbertson family atmosphere can be seen and felt throughout the school.

Why did you become a teacher? 

My mother, a teacher for 36 years, inspired me withher enthusiasm, dedication and creativity. She loves learning and is a nurturing teacher. At a young age, she showed me what a rewarding and important job teaching could be.

What do you like best about your current school (projects, programs or activities that your school is a part of): 

We are lucky enough to have SmartBoards in the classrooms at Culbertson. We are also encouraged to use them in our teaching. I feel this interactive technology is an engaging and motivating way to instruct students. The SmartBoard peaks the students’ interests and encourages them to become more absorbed in the lessons. Introduction or review of materials are more appealing when they are in the form a cooperative SmartBoard activity, a Jeopardy game, an interactive PowerPoint presentation or a lesson in the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire format.

The children are excited by the daily utilization of technology in the classroom and are therefore motivated to work with this learning tool on their own. Some of the activities the children participate in are creating Word Art, generating graphs, inserting drawings and pictures, and producing PowerPoint presentations. Technology is a major part of our future, and I feel it is imperative students are computer and technology literate.