Peter Beddow

Learning that the Impossible Is Possible

“I taught at Five Acres School in Altadena, CA, a residential school for children with serious behavior problems, the majority of whom were wards-of-the-court of the state of California for five years. I loved the kids and most had never had any positive school experiences in their lives. It was wonderful to partner with them to change their negative behaviors and the rewards of doing so were so huge.”

“My advisor at Cal State asked me to apply to Vanderbilt. I had thought I would stay in California to go to school. During the recruitment weekend at Vanderbilt, I learned about all the opportunities for research, for involvement in local public schools, and the professors who work in more fields related to Special Education, such as neuroscience.”

“Steve Elliott is my advisor, his real expertise is in measurement and he’s turned a light on for me with it. He co-created the social skills rating system and it is definitely a component that links with working with kids with behavioral problems.”

“The main theme that runs through everything I’m doing here is being asked to do things and learn things that seem impossible at the time; the teaching is one or two steps ahead of my understanding. I think I can speak for my cohort that a lot is expected of us but we’re amazed at where we are versus a year ago when we started.”

Beddow is a regular contributor to the student-run blog focusing on education issues, Peabloggy.

Peter Beddow

• Ph.D. Special Education, Ed Psych, 2009
• Undergraduate Institution: Middlebury College
• Hometown: Shelburne, VT
• Favorite Thing to Do in Nashville: Spending time at church and participating in the drama program there.