For 14 years, Beardsley was the science department chair at the city's Bellingham High School and Squalicum High School, stepping down recently to pursue National Board Professional Teacher Certification in Adolescent/Young Adult Science Education.
In 1979, when she began teaching chemistry at Bellingham High School, there were only three classes and now the program requires two teachers to fulfill the needs and requirements of the students. Beardsley organized successful Earth Day events from 1990-1993 and obtained funding from the Georgia Pacific Corporation from 1993-1996 to finance Bellingham High School students' summer research at Western Washington University's Institute for Watershed Studies, a research and academic support facility affiliated with the university's Huxley College of Environmental Studies.
In 1998, Squalicum High School opened and Beardsley joined the faculty. Beardsley organized the Carl Sagan Memorial Lectures for students and the community, and sponsored a science buddy program that pairs high school students with elementary school students.
Beardsley received her B.A. in chemistry from Wellesley College in Wellesley, Mass., and her Master of Education from Western Washington University in Bellingham.
The American Chemical Society's High School Chemistry Teaching Award recognizes educators who challenge and inspire their students, provide high quality instruction and participate in extracurricular activities that stimulate young people's interest in chemistry.