Today we’d like to introduce you to Beatrice Moore.
Hi Beatrice, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a native of San Antonio, Texas, I always wanted to be a teacher but I never dreamed my love of teaching would take me in the direction and into the life I now have. I graduated from Prairie View A&M University with a degree in Mathematics and went on to get my lifetime teaching certification in Secondary Mathematics, Spanish and Speech. Math was not my first choice but I was influenced by Dr. AD Stewart, my mathematics Professor at PVAMU to pursue math and I did. He was the first African American to receive a PhD in Mathematics from The University of Texas, Austin. I was also greatly influenced by another professor, Dr. Evelyn Thornton. Dr. Thornton was the first African-American to earn a doctorate in mathematics from the University of Houston. So, as you see, I had some really wonderful mathematicians who shaped my math mind! They were brilliant mathematicians and also extraordinary teachers. They laid a solid foundation on which my career was built. I have been a teacher, district-level math supervisor, and mathematics coach.
I started my own consulting business 16 years ago with a focus on mathematics content, pedagogy and equity. I have had the opportunity to work with teachers in Bermuda, the US Virgin Islands, Canada, Puerto Rico, all but three states in the USA, Along the way, I have served on the Board of Directors of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. I had the opportunity to work with the College Board and through that position, I expanded my area of focus beyond mathematics and worked extensively in the are of equity to develop programs for underrepresented and minority students to participate in upper-level math courses and increase the numbers who went to college. Those experiences led me to become an author of Algebra textbooks and middle school textbooks for McGraw-Hill Publishing, My love of teaching and learning led me to write fiction novels, a faith-based novel and a cookbook! I have been extremely active in many volunteer organizations- it is my honor to give back because so many poured into me! I fulfilled my grandmother’s dream- she always wanted to be a teacher, so I know she reveled in seeing my successes.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I consider my journey to have been a series of unanticipated, unscripted, wonderful events! I always wanted to teach- noting else ever crossed my mind. I was always looking for ways to better meet my students’ needs and sought out grants and got them. I met great mentors along the way and I had enough respect of their life’s work to listen and learn from them. I never turned down opportunities to participant in many organizations and activities to volunteer my time-it was like getting free training! I have had more job titles and positions than I can count, but I never interviewed for them- I was approached and offered the jobs, That was the smooth part. The rough part was that I was a woman of color in mathematics in leadership. That was hard for some to stomach and easy for others to criticize. I was also married with three children and had a career. It was physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausting and quite a balancing act, but I believe I was built for the task! One of the most challenging areas of my work had been with equity. Changing beliefs and expectations is not easy-I even sought out training for Life Coaching and got certified as a was to better understand how to effectively coach teachers into change. Early in my career, I was met with lots of resistance because of my age. So, I now make myself available to other young women to help them navigate through the same waters I have crossed.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Although I am an educator, I consider myself a creative. I view mathematics as a language and teach it from that perspective. I have also taken my love for storytelling and woven that into my presentations and work with systems. I am best know for the work I do with equity and advocacy. Since I am an ordained minister, that perspective is not lost when I develop and conduct trainings. My primary work is now in continuing to create professional learning opportunities for teachers via live and virtual presentations. I also co-founded a women’s retreat entitled “Living Your Dream.” I want to help women fast track their dreams and create a healthy balance between that living the dream and existing in the reality of daily life. I work with SegWay International Ministries Secret Place Book Club to support emerging authors, honor educators and address healthy life choices. With my new cookbook, my co-author and I are donating part of the proceeds from book sales back to PVAMU and also supporting the Houston Food Bank. I am very much interested in helping people to start herb and vegetable gardens to fight food insecurity. I also host a weekly prayer line for marriages and a general prayer line. As you see, I am diverse! I am most proud that I have been able to honor those who poured into me by pouring into others!
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
Be true to who I am. I have had great influencers. But I never tried to be them. I just wanted to honor them and take every lesson they taught me and use them to make the best version of myself. I learned I had to be flexible and humble enough to learn, unlearn and relearn. I am also intentional about the friends I surround myself with- I seek out those who are younger so I can absorb some of their energy and hope, older ones because I still seek wisdom, truth-tellers who will set met straight with love, and adventurers who won’t allow me to stagnate.
Pricing:
- Pinch-Dash-Done, A Gateway to Flavorful Recipes Cookbook, $45 hardback
- I am a Woman of GRIT- Faith based Novel $20
Contact Info:
- Email: luchinconsulting@gmail.com
- Facebook: Luchin Consulting
- Twitter: @BeaLuchin
- Youtube: pinchdashdone
Image Credits
Ken Jones Photographer Tanya Rawlins, The Photo Firm
