Welcome to the American College of Education (ACE) Alumni Spotlight, where we highlight our alumni and share how choosing smarter education leads to meaningful outcomes.
Taylor Beckley earned an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership in 2025, and this milestone represented more than earning a degree; it reflected an unwavering commitment to do everything in her power to advocate for students of all economic backgrounds. While she originally pursued a career as an educator to have time with her children, Beckley realized that the choice was more about helping students living in low-income communities – a reality she knew all too well growing up.
Receiving a full tuition scholarship to ACE from the Indiana Association of Public Education Foundations (INAPEF) was the ticket to accomplish her dreams. We were delighted to hear more about her impactful story.
ACE: Tell us about your career journey and what led you to working in education.
Taylor Beckley (TB): For most of my colleagues, the reason they got into education was because they had an amazing teacher who inspired them. That’s not my story, though.
I was pregnant at 19 years old, and at the time, I was going to college for television communications with aspirations of becoming a news anchor. After finding out I was having a baby, I decided to go into education because it would be more of a “family job.” I wanted to have the most time possible with my child.
After getting into the classroom, I realized that education was my calling. Not only did I love what I was doing, but I felt like I was good at it. I also loved having the opportunity to create equitable learning experiences for students who grew up in low-income communities like I did.
Since starting my career in education, I’ve always dreamed of getting a master’s degree and making a bigger difference in my community. I worked for a school corporation that offered a partnership with ACE, and I decided to apply!
ACE: You were selected to receive a full tuition scholarship toward an ACE program in partnership with INAPEF. What did the scholarship mean to you as you were considering your educational options?
TB: I couldn’t have gone back to school without a scholarship. Receiving it truly changed my life. With my busy schedule and commitments, I was able to go back to school without the additional worry of how I was going to pay for it.
ACE: As a busy educator and coach, how did the flexible course delivery support your success?
TB: Having the flexible course delivery was essential to participating in a master’s program. With ACE, I was able to complete my assignments on my own time. Sometimes that was during an event at school, at the football field during a game or in bed after the kids had gone to sleep. Having asynchronous courses helped me fit everything into my busy schedule and still succeed.
ACE: You’ve recently obtained your principal license and a leadership position. How did your ACE program equip you for these opportunities?
TB: Everything I learned through ACE has been beneficial in my leadership and growth. Obtaining my licensure was significantly more accessible because of the experiences and coursework from ACE.
Additionally, I have obtained a leadership position that is a direct result of graduating from ACE. The coursework and mentorship helped me with interviews and gave me the opportunity to be in a leadership position.
ACE: What advice would you give to an aspiring principal?
TB: I would say that if you’ve been considering going back to school, do it! Getting my master’s degree through ACE helped me to really know that this is what I want to do. It has been the best decision I have made for myself and opened doors I didn’t expect.
In addition, I would say to trust yourself and build on your teaching experiences. Everyone comes with a wealth of knowledge based on their own unique journeys.
Being an American College of Education (ACE) alum has its perks. When you return as an alum for another program, you receive discounted tuition with the Alumni Continuing Education Grant. Alumni can also refer a friend to an ACE program and get exclusive rewards.
