Mrs. Jill Beil has been teaching in the Visual Arts Department at Moravian Academy for twenty-five years. In addition to teaching, Mrs. Beil also directs community service in the Middle School and assists with Ski Club. 

Let's get to know Mrs. Beil.

Why did you choose education/teaching as your profession? 

I excelled in art in elementary school classes. After winning a few art show ribbons at the annual art show, I felt like I should be an artist. I also liked being in a school community and thought a career in a school setting would be perfect for me.

Why middle school? 

I have only ever taught art at the middle level. When I was first teaching as a substitute teacher, I returned to the school district I had just graduated from four years earlier. When I was in the high school faculty lunchroom, I had a hard time finding a welcome spot at the many individual tables. In the middle school faculty lunchroom, they had one long table and all the teachers there made me feel welcome from the first day. I have been happy in the middle ever since.

What aspect of your curriculum/program do you enjoy teaching the most and why? 

I enjoy sharing about art history and demonstrating medium techniques to students, and I especially love when the class is producing art. There is a special creative energy in the classroom that is positive and students are often even disappointed when it is time to clean up. 

What is your favorite moment/event at Moravian Academy during the school year? 

I like the events where we all get together as a whole school…Red & Gold games, Lovefeast gatherings, Vespers. It’s encouraging to see future, former and current middlers working together. I have to smile when I think about all the students who have walked into the art room over the past 25 years.

What do you hope to provide to students in your classes and what do you hope they take away?

I hope to give students a way to express their ideas through the visual arts. Even if they are not as successful as they would like to be in art class, I hope they take away an understanding of basic art and design ideas so that they can live a vibrant life and appreciate all the energy it takes to be a creative person.

What Moravian Academy tradition do you enjoy most?

I have been making clay tiles for the MS final chapel for over 12 years. While it takes a long time to complete a tile for each eighth grader, it is extremely gratifying to take some time each winter to think about each student as I work on his/her tile. The MS faculty helps glaze these tiles and they are given out at the final chapel each June.

What is a classroom activity unique to you?

For many years the sixth graders have made a sarcophagi clay slab box as a sculpture project. It ties together their history lessons on Egyptian culture with a successful clay-building lesson in art class. I keep thinking I will do another kind of lesson but students annually always ask if they can make them when they are in sixth grade.

What’s the biggest lesson you have learned from your students?

Students continually teach me things each day. I am always trying to live up to being the teacher my students need that day. I don’t always succeed but I keep trying to achieve being a better teacher day by day.

What's something we don’t know about you?

I have lived in the same zip code my whole life but enjoy traveling to other places over school vacations. 

What do you like to do in your free time?

I enjoy working in the garden, scrapbooking and swimming.