Hi! My name is Jana Beckstead and I have been teaching for 21 years. I started my career teaching 3rd grade for 2 years and then moved on to teach 2nd grade for 5 years. Following that, I taught Kindergarten (5 years), 4th grade (5 years), and Kindergarten through 6th grade art (3 years). During the height of the pandemic, I taught Kindergarten through 6th grade virtually. This year I am teaching 7th and 8th grade reading and writing in middle school. I also have 5 children of my own and 2 grandchildren. My husband is in the military and we also have 4 sweet dogs and a bearded dragon named Mona. 

I graduated from Arizona State University with my Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies. I worked for a newspaper at that time in advertising. When my children started school, I myself went back to school and received my Post Bachelor Certification in k-8 education. I also received my Early Elementary endorsement, Structured English Immersion Endorsement, and Art Endorsement. Along with my certification, I have attended hundreds of hours of professional development in the school district that I teach in. I absolutely love teaching; it is my passion. I can't wait to share my knowledge and creative abilities with your children through the love of reading and art.