MARGARET R. BENEKE
1312 Connecticut Street Lawrence, KS 66044  815-719-5774  maggiebeneke@ku.edu
EDUCATION & LICENSURE
University of Kansas Department of Special Education, Lawrence, KS
Doctoral Student in Early Childhood Special Education
Tufts University Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Development, Medford, MA
Master of Arts in Teaching with Early Childhood Licensure, May 2007
International Winter Institute – Atelierista Study Tour, Reggio Emilia, Italy, February 2006
 International conference for educators to study the role of the studio artist in pre-primary schools of Reggio
Emilia.
Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL
Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, December 2004
Majors: English Literature (Poetry) & Studio Art (Painting)
Ghana Arts & Culture – School for International Training, Spring 2003
 Study Abroad and Independent Study - researched Ghanaian HIV/AIDS community education and organized
large market mural with Junior Secondary students in Brong-Ahafo region.
IWU London Program, Fall 2002
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Co-Investigator
Parent Perspectives on Diversity
Medford, MA
 Transcribe, code, and analyze data.
 Write summaries of interviews.
 Plan for presentations and writing projects based on the study findings.
 Completed CITI training for IRB in June 2012.
Summer 2012-present
Research Assistant
Tufts Adoption & Development Project
Medford, MA
Fall 2006 - Spring 2007
 Interviewed families, coded data and explored issues related to identity and ethnicity in trans-racial, international adoptions.
UNIVERSITY TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Adjunct Faculty Member
Lesley University
Cambridge, MA
 EEDUC 5131 Developmental Learning
 Taught developmental theory course for graduate students earning initial licensure.
Summer 2012
University Guest Lecturer
Tufts University, Department of Child Development
Medford, MA
2009-2012
Regular presentations and discussions for undergraduate and graduate courses, including Personal-Social Development,
Curriculum for Young Children, and Student Teaching.
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University Teaching Assistant
Tufts University, Department of Child Development
Medford, MA
 CD 001 Intro to Child Development with Dr. Maryanne Wolf
 CD 161 Personal & Social Development with Dr. Kathleen Camara
 Led discussion sections for 12 undergraduate students; graded essay exams and papers.
2005-2006
CLASSROOM LEAD TEACHING EXPERIENCE
First & Second Grade Head Teacher
Eliot-Pearson Children’s School at Tufts University
Medford, MA
September 2010-present
 Facilitate planning and executing an inclusive, anti-bias educational program for a mixed-age group of six-, seven-, and
eight-year-olds in a laboratory-demonstration school.
 Lead and supervise a large teaching team, including graduate teaching assistants, student teachers, field workers,
instructional aides, and volunteers.
 Conduct weekly team meetings and individual supervision meetings
 Conduct a home visit with every child’s family prior to the start of school
 Participate in our school-wide inquiry project focused on Anti-Bias Education
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Work with Child Development students and faculty who are conducting research at our site
Design and plan ongoing classroom studies that involve differentiated, cross-disciplinary, long term investigations,
including: Abilities & Challenges, Pat Mora & Study of Our Families, Mapping Our Community, History of Our School
Communicate regularly with families via classroom website, weekly online photo journal, classroom participation in
curriculum, classroom celebrations, and documentation of work.
Assist the Special Needs Coordinator to prepare IEPs and progress reports on children with disabilities and attend
scheduled progress and annual review meetings for children with IEPs.
Tufts Professional Development Work: School Reform Initiative Critical Friends Group Facilitator Training, Developmental
Technologies Scratch Programming Training, Anti-Bias Retreat with Louise Derman-Sparks
Tufts Affiliations: Facilitator of Active Citizens Parent-Teacher Learning Group, Participant in Early Childhood Education
Consortium, Making Learning Visible Renegades, National Association for the Education of Young Children
Second Grade Head Teacher
Heath School
Brookline, MA
September 2007-June 2010
 Facilitated planning and executing an educational program and physical environment which are developmentally sound,
multi-culturally relevant, arts-integrated, and sensitive to the range of individual differences reflected in the student and
family populations.
 Mentored 3 graduate student teachers, 4 undergraduate practicum students, and 2 shared special education aides.
 Worked with a variety of specialists to best support students’ individual needs, including: Speech & Language, Behavior
Specialist, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Learning Center Specialist, Math Specialist, Literacy Specialist, and
METCO coordinator.
 Designed and planned ongoing investigations anchored by author studies that involved small-group work, independent
research, and whole-class instruction. These investigations integrated social studies, science, and literacy skills, and
including studies of writing style, genre, and non-fiction topics: Alphabet Books, Kevin Henkes, Steve Jenkins & Animal
Research, Ghana &West African Trickster Tales, Artist Biography Study, Allen Say & Study of Japan.
 Designed and planned lessons while working flexibly with the following curricula: Think Math, Fountas and Pinnell
Guided Reading, Lucy Calkins Writing Workshop, Stephanie Harvey Comprehension Toolkit, Patricia Cunningham
Making Words, Words their Way, and Handwriting Without Tears.
 Completed 3 years of supervision & evaluation to become professionally licensed in the state of Massachusetts and
recommended for tenure in the Public Schools of Brookline
Brookline Professional Development Courses: DMI: Making Meaning of Operations, Responsive Classroom I & II, Early
Education Institute, Critical Friends Groups, Making Learning Visible at Heath, Stephanie Harvey – Reading Non-Fiction,
Mentoring and Professional Learning for 2 nd/3rd Year Teachers, A Differentiation Framework: Making Think Math! Lessons
More Accessible
Brookline Affiliations: Equity Team, Heath Green Committee, Heath School Committee Member, Massachusetts Teachers
Association, Brookline Educators Union
Kindergarten Head Teacher
Eliot-Pearson Children’s School – Summer Program
Medford, MA
July 2007
Facilitated planning and executing an educational program and physical environment which were developmentally sound,
multi-culturally relevant, and sensitive to the range of individual differences reflected in the student and family populations
Community Arts Teacher & Organizer
Bridging Connections: Arts in Action Community Arts
Medford, MA
Winter-Spring, 2006-2007
 Co-designed arts outreach program for local Medford children ages five to nine years old.
 Coordinated a visual identity project pilot study, sponsored by Eliot Pearson Department of Child Development, Tisch
Civic Engagement Fund, and a grant from the Evelyn G. Pitcher Fund.
STUDENT TEACHING EXPERIENCE
First Grade Student Teacher
Newman Elementary School
Needham, MA
January–May, 2007
 Collaborated with first- and second-grade teaching team to design and implement inclusive curriculum for 42 children.
 Planned and implemented large- and small-group instruction in all curriculum areas, including literacy block, math block,
writer’s workshop, phonics, TERC Investigations and science activities.
 Differentiated instruction for weekly reading and math small groups.
 Developed Andy Goldsworthy artist’s biography curriculum to integrate art, literacy, math, science, and social studies.
Preschool Student Teacher
The Advent School
Boston, MA
Fall 2006
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Collaborated with teachers in an independent, Reggio Emilia-inspired classroom to design and implement curriculum
based on the needs and interests of 15 four-year-olds.
Preschool Teaching Assistant
Eliot-Pearson Children’s School – Tufts University
Medford, MA
2005-2006
 Collaborated with teaching team to design and implement developmentally appropriate, inclusive curriculum for 12 two- &
three-year-olds.
PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS
LeeKeenan, D., O’Brien, M, & Beneke, M. (2012), Practicing inclusion in a lab school. University of New Hampshire
Professional Development Workshop – Child Study & Development Center. Durham, NH.
Beneke, M., Bucco, C., Given, H., LeeKeenan, D., Park, C., & Robinson, D. (2012), Anti-bias curriculum: A whole school
does the work. Lesley University - Innovations in Early Childhood Education and Care Workshop. Cambridge, MA.
LeeKeenan, D., Beneke, M., Iassogna, J., & Kirschner, S. (2011), Practicing inclusion: doing justice. National Association
for the Education of Young Children Conference. Orlando, FL.
Beneke, M. & Waddell, J. (2011), Abilities & challenges: what are we working on? Anti-Bias Forum for Tufts Students &
Families. Medford, MA.
Beardsley, L., Cohen, S., & Beneke, M. (2011), Race to nowhere panel discussion. Race to Nowhere Screening – Tufts
University. Medford, MA.
New, R., & Beneke, M. (2008). Negotiating diversity in early childhood education: Rethinking notions of expertise. In S
Feeney, A. Galper, & C. Seefeldt (Eds). Issues in Early Childhood Education, third edition, pp.303-323. Ohio:
Merrill/Prentice Hall.
Eisenberg, M. & Beneke, M. (2007). Children’s learning and creativity in 3-D art activities. CACD
Professional Development Workshop - Tufts University Outreach. Concord, MA.
Beneke, M. (2007) Examples from classroom teaching. In J. Helm, S. Beneke, & K. Steinheimer’s
Windows on Learning: Documenting Young Children’s Work,2nd ed. Teacher’s College Press: NY.
Beneke, M. & Baker, M. (2007). Visual arts curriculum & visual arts assessment. In R. New & M.
Cochran (Eds.) Early Childhood Education [4 Volumes]: An International Encyclopedia.
Greenwood Publishing: CT.
Baker, M., Barton, L. Beneke, M. & Rowley, J. (2006). Power and engagement with preschoolers.
EECERA Poster Presentation: Democracy & Culture in Early Childhood. Reyjavik, Iceland.
Beneke, S. & Beneke, M. (2005) Art smart: the power of art in classrooms. Professional Development
Workshop - Illinois State Board of Education. Illinois STARnet Regions I & III.
HONORS
Brookline Education Foundation Grant Recipient 2008-2010
 Grants for Making Learning Visible at Heath, Responsive Classroom at Heath, Equity Team Anti-Bias Work, and Lucy
Calkins Writing Workshop
2007 Tufts Presidential Award for Citizenship & Public Service
 One of seven graduate students at Tufts to receive this university-wide award for outstanding achievement in community
service and community leadership.
 Recognized for contributing outside the Child Development requirements to organize and create arts and other resources
for student teachers.
 Spearheaded renewal of the recycle center and promoted the use of recycled good for teaching and learning.
2007 Tufts Alumni Award, Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Development
 Recognized in the Child Development department for best exemplifying service, leadership, and the spirit of Eliot-Pearson
and Tufts (Dept. Award).
Tisch College Civic Engagement Fund Recipient 2006-2007
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
Recycle Center and Art Coordinator
Eliot-Pearson Curriculum Laboratory
Medford, MA
Fall 2006 - Spring 2007
 Collected materials, held workshops, created exhibits and displayed panels with an aim to engage users of the Curriculum
Lab in the potential uses of recycled materials for art curriculum in classrooms.
After-School Arts Club Leader
Columbus Elementary School
Medford, MA
 Designed and implemented after-school arts activities for 15 five- to seven-year-olds.
Art Instructor
Spring 2006
Lee’s Childcare
Broadview, IL
January-August 2005
 Designed and implemented an art curriculum in a low-income early childcare center for 60 two-, three-, and four-year-old
children with a focus on exploring new materials, culminating in a Chicago art gallery exhibit of students’ work.
Documentation Consultant
Imagine Art Studio
Clarendon Hills, IL
January-August 2005
 Documented learning to help connect IES classes and professional development workshops with the community.
Art Therapy Intern
PEACH Club – James Ward School, Chinatown
Chicago, IL
Spring 2003
 Supported art therapist in third-grade classroom and mentored 12 students in after-school art therapy program.
References Available Upon Request