Janice A. Beyer, a well-known educator in the city of Brockton, died on October 18, 2015 at the age of 83 after a lengthy illness.
Janice grew up in Plainville, CT and moved to Boston where she received her undergraduate degree at Boston University. She and her late husband Bill married and moved to Brockton where she received a Master’s degree in education and CADs degree at Bridgewater State University. In the early 1960’s Janice started the kindergarten at Gethsemane Lutheran Church and later became a third grade teacher at the John F. Kennedy School for 31 years.
Throughout her career, Janice was an active member of the Brockton Education Association (BEA). She served three terms as vice president of the association and took part in a $50 million dollar campaign to improve wages and benefits for members. She represented the BEA at many National Education Association conferences, served as a delegate at more than 20 annual meetings for the Massachusetts Teachers’ Association, and served on the board of directors for the Plymouth County Education Association (PCEA) for many years. In 2000, she received the PCEA’s highest award, the Loretta Quinlan Award. Janice also worked for 10 years as a teacher in the Massachusetts Migrant Education Program each summer. After her retirement, Janice served on the Brockton School Committee for 10 years, representing Ward 3. While on the School Committee, she participated in the search and selection process for two City of Brockton school superintendents.
In 1984, while president of The Little Red Schoolhouse, Janice founded the first city-wide Spelling Bee for Brockton after a WBET telephone interview during Education Week. The Brockton Spelling Bee has grown significantly and is still running today. Janice was also an active member of the Brockton Boys & Girls Club, Save Our Sports Committee, and the Brockton Rotary Club.
Janice is survived by her children, Bill Beyer of Reston, VA and Laurel (Beyer) Sibert of Bridgewater, MA, and brother, Dr. Robert D. Furber of Manhattan Beach, CA. She was also the loving grandmother of four grandchildren, Bucky and Penny Beyer of Sydney, Australia and Trey and Cam Sibert of Bridgewater, MA.
Visiting hours will be held at Conley Funeral Home, 138 Belmont Street in Brockton on Sunday, November 1, 2015 from 1-4 p.m., followed by a short celebration and prayer service.