Dolores Beckham

Dr. Dolores Beckham was a 38 year veteran educator with the New York City Department of Education. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in History, Latin American Area Studies and Education from Queens College, New York. She continued her education at Teachers’ College, Columbia University where she received her Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Teaching and Bilingual Education. She studied at Bank Street School of Education in the Principals Institute where she received a Masters of Education Degree in Supervision and Administration. Finally, she received her Doctorate from St. John’s University in 2005.

Dr. Beckham has been a teacher, ‘the original teacher recruiter’, An Assistant Principal, and the Principal of The Joseph Pulitzer Middle School, IntermediateSchool 145-a large multicultural school in the heart of Jackson Heights, Queens. She took pride in that at I.S. 145, you can hear 35 languages spoken, and 45 cultures living together in harmony. Dr. Beckham was also an Adjunct Professor in the TESOL division of St. John’s University for the past ten years where she continued to work with Masters Level Educators in refining their teaching practices in order to reach and serve a myriad of students, including English Language Learners.

She furthered her learning and career by traveling and teaching around the world. She worked to make bridges and to bring connections back to the students, parents, and staff of IS 145. They all benefitted from these experiences and exchanges.

Dr. Beckham was the recipient of numerous honors and awards but, she was most thankful that she has been given the opportunity to work with Administrators, Teachers, Parents and thousands of children who had been entrusted to her care throughout the course of her career and whom she loved with all her heart.

Her legacy continues and her memory survives as a blessing in the thousands of lives she touched and impacted, but most especially in the hearts of his beloved family.

The Beckham Family would like to thank you for your love, support, prayers, positive energies and well wishes during this most difficult time. In memory of Dr. Dolores Beckham, donations can be sent to the American Cancer Society or any other cancer research organization, in the hopes that one day soon, there will be a cure.