English teacher Maureen Becker radiates care and kindness. Her schedule this year includes classes with both sophomores and seniors as an English 2 Honors and World Literature teacher. 

Becker grew up in Southern Illinois, just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri where she was an avid Cardinal’s fan. She said that her high school experience was very different from what she sees at Naz. “I attended Alton Senior High School, which was different from Naz in just about every way conceivable.” 

Interestingly, Becker graduated early from high school in the middle of her senior year and from there attended the University of Illinois at Chicago where she had a formative experience as a tutor at the University Writing Center. 

At first, Becker didn’t declare a major, but her work as a tutor helped her realize that she really enjoyed working with people and helping them to improve their writing skills. She said that since then, becoming a teacher, specifically an English teacher, just seemed like a good fit for her. 

While Becker is new to Nazareth, she is certainly not new to the teaching profession. She has extensive experience teaching with 19 years of tenure at Chicago Public Schools. 

It is not only through her education and her work experiences that Becker helps others and offers her time and empathy, it just seems like it is in her nature to do so. Her teaching and mentorship does not end at the classroom; she’s got lots to share at home, too with three children of her own.

Becker’s love of literature extends past the school day; she not only enjoys teaching books, but she loves reading for pleasure, too. When it comes to her favorite genre to read, she said that she enjoys historical fiction, and on the flip side, her favorites to teach are poetry and drama. 

In her first few weeks of getting acclimated with her schedule, students and colleagues and just learning to navigate the building, Becker is optimistic and positive about her new role. “Everybody’s really welcoming, kind, and attentive,” she said.

A fun fact about Becker is that in the 1980s, she appeared on the PBS television show, Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, and although she never pursued a career in acting, it was still a memorable experience in her life. 

We welcome Maureen Becker to Nazareth and see the parallels between her nature and that of Fred Rogers: both are kind and patient teachers who make the world a better place.