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| Words of Wisdom |
Jason Beer first taught full time at a south-side Chicago high school where students arrived on public transportation. At his second locale, they held an annual “Drive Your Tractor to School Day.” Now, at Homestead High School, it’s a little bit city, a little bit country, and the place he calls home.
“I love public school,” he said. “I’m a big advocate of public school. And I’ve just been so grateful for my breadth of experience. I like the variety.”
Guiding juniors and seniors through English and writing courses helps Beer retain his energy as a teacher nearly two decades into his career. He especially enjoys engaging with students as they develop their writing skills, from blank screens to “crappy first drafts” to finished, thought-provoking final products.
“It’s such a fun age group to work with,” Beer said. “They’re excited about their lives, about what’s next. They’re people who care a lot. They care about their friends. They care about their families, their extracurriculars, their jobs. But even though they care a lot and they’re passionate, they’re open to change and they know they’re still growing. They change their minds and see things in new lights, and it’s refreshing to be around people like that.”
Beer understands being young and open-minded. He chose the University of Saint Francis to study nursing and play baseball, not necessarily in that order. A year into his studies, he experienced an epiphany. “I really enjoyed the classroom part of nursing,” he said. “But I quickly learned some of the hands-on elements—it was not going to be the best fit for me.”
Inspired in part by his older brother, Andrew, a college professor, he switched to English literature. “My professors were phenomenal teachers, and I knew it was the right place for me,” Beer said. Upon reaching graduation, he taught as a substitute in Fort Wayne for a year before joining the Teach for America program.
After a short period of training in Los Angeles, Beer was assigned to Chicago Public Schools. He spent three years there—until after he and his wife, Cassie, had their first child, Avram. Avram was born with global disabilities and requires the kind of attention extended families can often help provide. Jason and Cassie’s families were back in Fort Wayne.
So, they returned to Fort Wayne, settled in and had two more children, Augie and Rosie. Cassie Beer is the Women’s Fund Director at the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne and a musician. In fact, her former band, Rosalind & the Way, was the first to record with Saint Francis’ Marble Lounge Records.
Jason taught in Columbia City—where those tractors made a yearly parking lot appearance—before landing at Homestead. He has been at Homestead for 10 years and was one of three finalists for Indiana Teacher of the Year in 2022.
Beer fondly remembers his professors and mentors at Saint Francis: Dr. Steve Sullivan inspired him to see teaching as a vocation and form of service; Dr. Ken Bugajski impacted his love of literature; and Dr. Andrew Prall influenced his love of writing. Beer has written a novel and contributes to Fort Wayne Magazine and other publications. He demonstrates to his students the sometimes painful path to prose.
“I like to show my students my writing process, not because it’s the best way or the right way but to show I’m also in the struggle,” Beer said. “If you don’t write for a long time, you forget how difficult it is to start a piece, to get information, that you must keep editing and editing. We talk a lot about crappy first drafts. Get it down first; you really don’t even know what it is until Draft #3.”
Beer created Homestead courses in travel writing and novel/screen writing. He used a grant to travel to the UK this past summer. “Travel writing is a combination of storytelling and research. So, I get to work with students on research and writing, being informative and integrating quotes and evidence, but also trying to tell a good story. It’s a fun blend.”
Beer sees himself in his students and tries to help them discover their purpose.
“I was a decent student, but I hadn’t found my place in high school or even the first few years of college,” he said. “I’m always thinking about the students who, if they’re not disengaged, don’t completely see the point of school. I try, hopefully, to create opportunities for them to see something new.
“Even though we might never see each other again after commencement, I hope I play a small but meaningful part in their lives—and that’s a very rewarding and cool thing about this job.”
This story and more can be found in the latest Saint Francis magazine.
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