Amanda Moppett-Beatch
Support Teacher
Amanda Moppett-Beatch is a born and raised Calgarian, although you will never find her on the slopes or in skates. Beach volleyball is her sport of choice! After playing five years of university volleyball, she graduated from the University of Calgary with her Bachelor of Kinesiology degree, majoring in pedagogy (physical education specialist). She has been coaching volleyball ever since at the club, private and post-secondary levels.
Being a ‘shorter’ volleyball player, Amanda had to work exceptionally hard to prove herself, and a huge milestone in her career was making the Canadian National B team and competing in two World University Games in Korea and Turkey. Amanda always wanted to be a teacher, however. So after playing professionally in France and competing around the world with the Team Canada Beach Volleyball team, she decided to go back to the U of C for her education degree, specializing in early elementary. (Well, having four surgeries on her knee and shoulder helped make this decision for her!)
It was here that Amanda learned about inquiry-based learning and the importance of involving and engaging the students in their learning. She graduated from that program, being inspired by the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy, as well as meaningful and purposeful learning. Amanda’s favourite teaching quote is, “Children flourish when learning is rooted in play, wonder, the arts and nature.”
In her first year of teaching, Amanda was a nominee for the Alberta School Boards Association Edwin Parr award for outstanding teaching. She gained valuable knowledge teaching grades one and two at a single-gender school that did extensive PD training on how girls and boys learn differently, the importance of movement and physical activity in schools, how to foster the love of learning, and how to accommodate many different learning styles.
Amanda took a few moments away from teaching to raise two wonderful children, volunteering and helping run their preschools, driving them to their sports and activities, and even homeschooling for a while. She enjoys reading, history, and family genealogy. She loves plants, nature and art that uses natural and recycled items. While substitute teaching, she also began volunteering with the Calgary Immigrant Support Society and started teaching English to a newly arrived Syrian refugee mother of six. Amanda continues to support this family six years later and is always rounding up donations for them and their extended families.
Amanda is beyond thrilled to be a part of the Tanbridge teaching team and is so grateful to be joining such a close-knit teaching community. Everything she has felt passionate about so far in her teaching career is embodied here at Tanbridge: athletics, leadership, positive education and holistic personal development.
Amanda has found her happy place teaching kindergarten students, where her own love of learning can be seen in her warm, welcoming, plant-filled classroom. She couldn’t be happier to be a part of the kindergarten teaching team.
