Abess Park Elementary
Kindergarten Team
My name is Jean Beckham and I love teaching Kindergarten at Abess Park. Each day I love watching my Kindergarteners learn and discover new things as they become readers and writers. I have been teaching for 16 years in Duval County. I taught 3rd grade, 1st grade, and Kindergarten at Andrew Robinson Elementary School before coming to Abess Park in 2004.
I attended school in Duval County 1st through 12th grade and graduated from Terry Parker High School, F.C.C.J. and the University of North Florida. In 2002 I received the honor of becoming a National Board Certified Teacher.
I married my high school sweetheart 39 years ago and we raised our 3 children right here in Jacksonville. My husband and I enjoy traveling together. I enjoy watching my husband play the drums in his 60's band at various venues around town. I love reading all kinds of books, shopping on the weekends, and cheering for the Jaguars.
I am the proud grandparent of 8 grandchildren from 2 to 16 years old. I love spending time with my family and I especially enjoy having fun with all of my grandchildren.
Contact Ms Beckham at: beckhamb@duvalschools.org
Hi, my name is Madeline Ciupak and I've had the honor of teaching kindergarten at Abess Park since day one of the inaugural year. Prior to teaching at "The Park," I taught Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten at R.L. Brown Elementary and Holiday Hill. Early Childhood Education is my passion, although in my 28 year career I've taught grades up to and including fifth grade. Three years ago I received my National Board Certification in Early Childhood Education. This opened up many opportunities for me to explore best practices in education while meeting other professionals in the county.
A native of New York I've lived for the past 29 years at the beach. Friends have told me that I've yet to acquire a southern drawl. I have two grown children who have moved out of the house that I share with my husband Chip and Basset Hound Brutus. However, the light of my life is my two year old grandson Carson. In my spare time I enjoy reading, exercising, traveling and spending time at the beach.
It has been my pleasure spending time with the families at the park and watching my kinder-gardeners blossom.
Contact Ms Ciupak at: ciupakm@duvalschools.org
My name is Susan Craig. I have been a teacher at Abess Park since September 1997. I just love Abess Park! I have been teaching for 30 plus years, mostly kindergarteners. I have taught in many places....Jacksonville, Orange Park, Shalimar, Florida, Knoxville, Tennessee, and Clarence, Pennsylvania. I feel very fortunate to have lived in so many places and learned about other people and their heritages.
I have two wonderful daughters. Amy is a nurse at Orange Park Hospital. She works in the nursery and delivery room. Amy and her husband Wes have three busy boys, Zachary, Bradley, and Nicholas and a little diva dog named Jasmine! Jennifer is an editor for AAIA in Washington, D.C. Jennifer and Eddie have two weiner dogs, Katie Margaret and Albert who I hear about everyday when Jennifer calls me on her way home from work. Oh, the joys of being a grandmother!!!!
In my spare [?] time, I enjoy football...go FSU and TENNESSEE! I also enjoy gardening, reading, and stitchery. Cooking is a joy for me as well.
Contact ms Craig at: craigs@duvalschools.org
My name is Kathy Lane and I have been teaching for a little over 28 years. I started my teaching career in Plant City, Florida after graduating from the University of South Florida. I moved to Orlando and taught 3rd grade for several years and even taught 6th grade for one year. (YIKES!) After moving to Macon, Georgia in 1986 I found my home in kindergarten at Union Elementary School. I moved to Jacksonville in 1989 and have been teaching kindergarten since then. I taught at RV Daniels, Susie Tolbert and now I am lucky enough to be at the BEST school in the world, Abess Park. I started working here when the school opened eleven years ago.
I have two children, Brian and Kyle who are both married now. Brian teaches Physics at Jacksonville University and Kyle works with computers everyday.
On the weekends when I am not doing school work I enjoy cheering on my favorite teams, the GATORS and JAGUARS. I love to watch football and basketball. I play the piano for my church on Sunday's and try to get a nap every Sunday afternoon to get ready for the busy school week. I love to travel and I especially enjoy going on cruises. My favorite cruises have been to Alaska and Hawaii.
Contact Ms. Lane at: lanek1@duvalschools.org
Hello, My name is Cheryl Morgen and I teach kindergarten here at the park. I just began my 24th year as a teacher and I love what I do. I have only taught in two different schools in Duval County and feel blessed to be here at Abess. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, I journeyed to Florida for an interview and began my career as a kindergarten teacher at Whitehouse Elementary. There I taught kindergarten for ten years and 1st grade for three. In 1997, I transferred to Abess when it first opened and have been teaching kindergarten ever since. Looking back as a college graduate, it was hard to leave home and move to a place where I didn't know anyone, but once I was here, I quickly made friends and settled in. Now I consider myself a Floridian after living here for 23 years. During my teaching career, I fell in love, got married and had 1 child. His name is Ryan. He is currently in the 5th grade. Our family enjoys swimming in our pool, going to movies, going out to eat....I don't like to cook much, and cheering on our home team of The Green Bay Packers. Of course we cheer for the Jaguars too! We travel back to Wisconsin often to visit family and enjoy some holiday snow. In my spare time I like to shop, watch my favorite TV shows, and play Wii. I'm thankful for all the wonderful families and students I have had the opportunity to meet. We have the best families here at the park!
Contact Ms. Morgen at: morgenc@duvalschools.org
My name is Cynthia Nehrbass and I was blessed the day I joined the Abess Park Kindergarten Team in August of 2003. Prior to coming to Abess, I taught Exceptional Student Education at Justina Road Elementary for 8 years.
I began my teaching career in Miami, Florida, teaching mentally handicapped adults at Hope Center. After 2 years, I decided to work for Dade County Public Schools. As an Exceptional Student educator, I had the wonderful experiences of teaching many different types of students during my career in Miami.
I have been married to my husband, Gary, since 1982, and because of his work, we moved to Jacksonville in 1985. I was heartbroken to leave my family and my hometown, but I took on the adventure with the intention of moving back within 5 years. Well, as you can see, that never happened! When we moved to Jacksonville, I was pregnant with my first son, and I taught at Normandy Elementary for 2 years. As my oldest son turned 2, I decided to be a stay at home mom. I had another son 1 year later. During my time at home with the boys, I worked part-time at Parkwood Baptist Pre-school and Resurrection Parish School. Then, in 1996, I went back to work full time teaching at Justina Road Elementary. After those 8 years at Justina, I decided it was time for a career change. I had always dreamed of teaching Kindergarten, and my dreams came true at Abess Park Elementary. I love seeing “my babies” come to me full of excitement and wonder. It is so fulfilling to see them start to read, write and to show their independence. My goal is to make learning fun and to have all of my students become life long learners.
Contact Ms. Nehrbass at: nehrbassc@duvalschools.org