Raised in Maryland, Amanda Beard moved to the Midwest to attend college. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Pittsburg State University in Kansas. Mrs. Beard came to TJ in 2006, following a year teaching Pre-Kindergarten through Greenbush at a Kansas elementary school. Mrs. Beard has taught in the Kindergarten classroom at TJ for more than ten years. She is married and has two children who are current TJ students. Mrs. Beard is also the Upper School cheerleading coach.