Marika Beck - she/her

Ms. Beck

English Teacher

mbeck@sierraacademy.net

Marika relocated from Portland, OR to join the SAEL community in the 2017-2018 school year filled with inspiration, energy, and optimism. She loves being a part of the SAEL Crew and values the opportunity of teaching and learning within the expeditionary model which truly synthesizes her passions for education, artistic expression, nature connection, self discovery, and service. She believes that when immersed in nature, community, meaningful experience, and thoughtful dialogue, students start learning and unfolding more authentically because their own expanding sense of self is perfectly matched by the endless possibilities our earth and humanity provide. As a dedicated and mindful educator, she focuses on equity and inclusion, and strives to guide and support students in aiming high, pursuing their goals, realizing their potential, and developing a strong sense of identity.

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Marika entered the world with a spirit of adventure and has always been eager to explore new ideas and places. After graduating high school, she traveled broadly for a few years before deciding to return to school for a new and expansive journey. Marika graduated magna cum laude from Humboldt State University in 2004, receiving her Bachelors of Arts degree in English Language Arts with minors in Native American Studies and ESL. She earned her Secondary Teaching Credential from Saint Mary’s College of California in 2005. After teaching in the Bay Area for a couple of years, Marika moved to the Pacific Northwest to seek out new opportunities for personal and professional growth. She returned to “The Golden State” with her family in 2017 and loves the process of putting down roots in this very red dirt.

Over the last fifteen years, Marika has taught students of all ages, in a variety of settings, and within diverse program models. She excelled in her previous middle and high school teaching positions and while taking a leave of absence from secondary education to be home with her own three children, she continued to develop teaching and leadership skills by founding an early childhood program and serving as a youth scout leader with the Baden Powell Service Association. 

Here at SAEL, Marika has expanded her repertoire as an educator and actively contributes to the growth and quality of our program. She has brought in diverse texts, organized our first SAEL library, collaborates to create innovative learning expeditions, facilitates dynamic fieldwork, leads Poetry Out Loud, and has taught a variety of electives, intensives, and clubs such as Child Development, Drama, Fiber Arts, and Equity. One of her proudest achievements within the last few years was being selected to participate in a professional development program for women leaders in education, located in Nairobi, Kenya. The remarkable program, Ustahimilivu Dadas, is led in partnership by renowned teaching coach Elena Aguilar, and the founder of Kenya Big Picture Learning, Carol Owala in an effort to support and develop female leadership globally. The program promotes and creates equity for marginalized students, opportunities for female empowerment, and global partnerships to revolutionize and decolonize education. Since her return, Marika continues to collaborate with her global colleagues to support the work of Kenya Big Picture Learning, and further her own learning about equity and empowerment to inform her work at SAEL

In addition to teaching and learning, some of Marika’s favorites are: family, strong coffee, glowing campfires, big trees, bright colors, silver jewelry, hearty laughter, live music, country roads, and books. Lots of books.