Prior to embarking upon her professional path, Victoria F. Beard earned a Bachelor of Arts in speech and theater from the Houston Baptist University in 1980. She subsequently began her career as an actor with Management and Industrial Training Films in 1981. While active in this position, she graduated from the University of Houston with a Master of Arts in theater in 1982. Deciding to become a theater teacher to inspire and create future patrons of the arts, Ms. Beard applied her knowledge from her stellar education to create a superb career in acting and teaching the arts.
From 1982 to 1983, Ms. Beard served as an acting teacher at Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston. Since 1982, she has dedicated her time to public school teaching, working as an English, speech and drama teacher at the Paul Revere Middle School from 1982 to 1984, and a speech and drama teacher at Landrum Middle School from 1984 to 1985. From 1985 to 2005, Ms. Beard taught English, speech and drama at Northbrook High School before accepting a post at Spring Woods High School, where she has excelled as the director of forensics and the fine arts chair in the years since.
A memorable educator at each school at which she has taught, Ms. Beard was recognized as the Teacher of the Year by Northbrook High School in 2001. She was further presented with the Jim Moore Memorial Award from Spring Woods High School in 2011 and 2012, the Diamond Key Award from the National Forensic League in 2011, and the Stars of the Classroom Award from the Houston Texans and First Community Credit Union in 2012. Ms. Beard attributes her success to hard work, a competitive spirit and determination.
Moreover, Ms. Beard holds membership with the Texas Speech and Communication Association, the Texas Forensic Association, and the National Speech and Debate Association. She is also a weekly volunteer at Houston’s First Baptist Church. Although she anticipates her retirement in the next several years, Ms. Beard hopes she can continue to be involved in speech and debate in a more limited capacity.
