Featured Consultant: Megan Beurskens

What are the primary skill sets you bring as a consultant? 
Non-Charter School related- I bring in a unique clinical skill set. I have had the opportunity to work with various individuals including children, teenagers, and adults.  All of the individuals that I have had the opportunity to work with vary in demographics, skills sets, and socio-economic status. I have worked for small non-profit organizations, large organizations, and even Fortune 500 companies.  With these experiences, I bring a unique ability and desire to work with individuals from all different populations.

Charter school specific- My mother has been a teacher for 10 years, primarily for charter and low-income schools.  I have had the opportunity to spend time in her classroom and work directly with her students. Being the daughter of a teacher, I also have familiarity with the mandates set for school districts, as well the difficulty for schools’ reputations to not be based solely on state test scores. Spending time in her classroom and learning more about her role has given me a great amount of insight into the educational system, and I have the utmost respect for our educators.

What’s your favorite part about being a consultant?
I love that no two clients’ needs are the same, thus no two projects are the same. I enjoy learning about my clients and providing them with a solution that best meets their individual needs.  It is such a great experience to speak with a client and support them until all of their needs have been met.

What do you see as the number one reason an organization should consider an external consultant?
I think the clients are the experts of their situation, but we are able to provide an outside, unbiased point of view. I think it is awesome to provide clients with an objective view that can help them think outside of the box to best solve their problems. AOA provides a great deal of expertise in our field, and when matched with our clients’ expertise, it is a great situation!

What do you see as the single largest difficulty organizations face?
I think recruiting and retaining talented employees can be difficult. There are so many organizations that an employee can work for, so ensuring that they are meeting their employees needs while still maintaining productivity is incredibly important, but difficult for some organizations.

What fictional organization would you most want to consult for?
From the episodes I have seen from “The Office,” I definitely think they could use some help from AOA.

What do you do outside of work?
I love spending time with my ornery but cute dogs. I also love to read both fiction and non-fiction books. I love to read fiction books to relax and “escape to another world.” I also love non-fiction books because I love to continue my learning. Time with my friends, partner, and family are also incredibly well-spent!

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