Meet American Intermediate Principal Larry Beadle

Larry Beadle, principal, Americana Intermediate School, Glendale Heights, Queen Bee Elementary District 16

Age: 57

Family: Yes, a wife and two daughters.

Grew up in: Brookfield

Ultimate pet: Tiger

What is your education philosophy in one sentence? All kids can learn.

Personal hero: Jacques Cousteau.

How did you wind up in education: Impressed by grandmother who taught school in rural Tennesee.

What is your dream vacation? A trip to Alaska.

If you won the biggest lottery in history you'd … I would share the money with all family members.

What is your favorite reality show? "Dog the Bounty Hunter."

Cubs or Sox? Cubs.

If you could invite one literary character to dinner, who would you pick and why? Edgar Allen Poe because I was enthralled by his horror stories and would ask him how he got his ideas.

Musical guilty pleasures: None, I like all kinds of music.

Favorite book? "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance."

Bungee jumping, rappelling or parachuting? Rappelling.

What's the most innovative program you've seen so far at school? Read 180.

What lasting impression do you hope to leave? That you will always be learning throughout your whole life.

What's the worst influence on today's youth? Uncontrolled access to the Internet because it causes students to believe in a distortedreality.

What makes today's students distinct? Their reliance on electronic media as their only source of information.

If you could change one thing about the world it would be … to make people more active in undoing all the environmental damage that has been done to the world.

If you could paint your office any color it would be … light blue.