Outstanding Beginning Teacher – Branden Beeler

Branden Beeler (Alpha Eta–Westminster ’17) was recently named as an outstanding beginning teacher by the Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education. Branden is a physical education teacher for Bush Elementary School in Fulton, Missouri. To celebrate his achievement, friends and collegues surprised him with a caravan of cars decked out with signs and streamersMonday afternoon.

Committed to starting his teaching career strong, Branden learned the names of each of his students during the first week of school and quickly jumped into leadership roles.

“I always say you’d never know this was his first year teaching,” principal Holly Broadway said. “He’s worked to build that relationship with all of our students.”

From Kirksville, Missouri, Brandon played catcher for the Westminster Blue Jays’ baseball team. As a junior in 2019 Branden was named First Team All-Conference after leading the SLIAC with a .403 batting average. Playing 80 games, he finished his career with a .361 batting average, eight home runs, 60 runs batted in, and 99 hits.

“My favorite Westminster memory is being part of the baseball team and being active in my fraternity,” Branden said in a Westminster College senior spotlight. “I made friends that will last a lifetime and with people I will never forget.”

Westminster College professor Barri Bumgarner, left, congratulates former student Branden Beeler, now a physical education teacher at Bush Elementary School, Monday during a surprise car caravan. The Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education has honored Beeler as an outstanding beginning teacher. Photo by Olivia Garrett / Fulton Sun.