Jacqueline Beals

Jacqueline Beals is a teacher at Tiftarea Academy in Chula, Georgia. She has been teaching Spanish for twenty years. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Mercer University, and she earned her master’s degree from Vanderbilt University. She also studied Spanish Linguistics through New Mexico State University. Currently, she is the only foreign language teacher at her school. Throughout the year, her students can be seen participating in many real-world lessons, such as mapping out a family tree, planning a vacation, ordering food, conversing with a doctor about one’s health, and giving directions, to name a few. Through her interdisciplinary approach, students learn about cultural influences in art and music, practice basic math, learn about environmental impacts in the United States and Spanish-speaking countries, delve into the history of Spain and Latin America, as well as learn to read and write more thoroughly. Mrs. Beals also uses language to help broaden one’s understanding of their own culture as well as the cultures being studied. Students participate in Hispanic Heritage Month, Día de los Muertos, Las Posadas, and Día de los Reyes Magos, among other special traditions. Mrs. Beals was named Star Teacher in 2020, and she received the GISA Master Teacher award in 2019. Mrs. Beals is also a very active member of her church in Tifton, Georgia, where she serves as the bilingual Director of Religious Education.