Jim Beam

James (Jim) Beam is a passionate educator dedicated to shaping young minds in mathematics and engineering. Serving as the Mathematics Department Chair and Engineering Teacher at Garrison Forest School in Owings Mills, MD, Jim brings over 25 years of invaluable teaching experience to his role.

Jim earned his undergraduate degrees in Mathematics and Philosophy from John Carroll University, followed by a Masters Degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Further enriching his expertise, he pursued a Masters in Business Administration from Villanova University.

Starting his teaching career in 1996 at Oakland Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, PA, Jim has since made impactful contributions to various educational institutions before finding his home at GFS.

Jim's dedication to advancing STEM education is evident through his involvement in prestigious programs such as the Baltimore Excellence in STEM Teaching Project (BEST) at Towson University. Here, he externed with the Astrophysics Division at NASA Goddard, contributing to the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission and integrating this firsthand experience into his classroom teachings.

Notably, Jim played a pivotal role in shaping the current Geometry curriculum for Baltimore County Public schools, collaborating with Towson University faculty to develop an innovative approach based on the Van Hiele model for instruction.

Currently, Jim serves as a coach teacher with the E4USA community, actively supporting fellow educators in embracing project-based learning and mentoring students. His dedication extends beyond the classroom as he empowers teachers at his school to foster student growth in inquiry-based exploration, even without expertise in the field under investigation.