When Bill Beauchamp arrived in Medellín in 2001, he expected to stay for only two or three years. More than 20 years later, he is still teaching at the Columbus School, where he has built a career, a family, and a lasting relationship with his students. 

Before coming to Colombia, Mr. Beauchamp had spent four years teaching English in Asia, including three years in Taiwan and one year in Korea. He was prepared to stay another year in Taiwan when a friend told him about an opening for a science teacher at the Columbus School. 

“I had never been to South America before, and I knew very little about Colombia, but I was ready for a new adventure, so I applied for a job at the Columbus School and was hired for the following school year,” said Beauchamp.

Although he originally came to Colombia looking for a new adventure, his plans quickly changed as he began to build a life here. 

“While I thought I would be in Colombia only 2 or 3 years, I fell in love with the school and the city, and I have been here ever since,” Beauchamp commented. 

As the years passed, Colombia became more than just a place where he worked. Beauchamp continued developing as a teacher, teaching subjects such as Biology, Physics, and Chemistry and eventually becoming the science department chair. He also formed close friendships with other teachers and explored different parts of Colombia during his vacations and long weekends. 

After about eight years in Colombia, Beauchamp met his future wife, Alejandra. They married in 2017 and later had a son, Kenny. With a growing career at the Columbus School and a family of his own, staying in Medellín became an easy decision. 

“I was still enjoying my time teaching at the school and now I had my own family at home, which has made it an easy decision to stay in Medellín and the Columbus School year after year,” Mr. Beauchamp expressed. 

But the story of Mr. Beauchamp’s life at the Columbus School is not only about the years he has spent teaching. It is also about the lasting impact he has had on the students who passed through his classroom. 

One of those students is Manuela Vélez, a senior who graduated this past June 2026 and is now studying medicine. Manuela spent two years as a Beauchamp’s student, first in Physics and then in AP Biology. She remembers his AP Biology class for its hands-on approach and the way he made difficult concepts easier to understand. 

For Manuela, his influence went far beyond the classroom. His AP Biology class gave her a strong foundation that she continues to use in medical school. 

“The AP Bio class like gave me all the most important bases about biology that I needed to know for university and because of this class I was able to understand much more complex topics and mechanisms that we see now in university,” said Manuela.

His teaching did not stop having an impact when Manuela left his classroom. The foundation she gained in AP Biology continued to help her as she began studying medicine. 

Looking back at her time as his student, Manuela also gives credit to Mr. Beauchamp for helping her discover her passion for biology. 

“Thanks to him I was able to discover this passion I have for biology,” said Velez. 

Beyond preparing her academically, however, Beauchamp left Manuela with something even more personal. She remembers how he cared about her not only as a student, but also as a person, asking her about her life and supporting her while she was applying to university. 

“He valued me as a student and as a person,” said Manuela. 

For Bill Beauchamp, teaching has become more than a profession. What began as a decision to move to a country he knew very little about turned into more than two decades of teaching, relationships, and a family.  For students like Manuela, his influence continues even after they leave his classroom.