Thanks for talking with us, Dr. Bell! Before we get into the 5 questions, can you tell us a little bit about your background?
Thank you so much for choosing me for this; I'm truly honored!
As for my background, I was born and reared in Arkansas. I grew up in a small town named Dumas and received my formal education in its school system. I received my bachelor's degree from Philander Smith College; my master's degree from the University of Arkansas at Monticello; and my doctorate degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The 2022-2023 school year is my 27th year in the education profession, wherein I have taught five years and served as an administrator for the past 22 years (the last eight here in Peoria). My wife, Joe Ann, and I will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary on July 2nd. Our daughter, Constance, is a freshman at Richwoods High School.
That's awesome! We are so glad to have you at Peoria Public Schools. What’s your favorite thing about the Peoria area?
My favorite thing about the Peoria area is the quality (and abundance) of dedicated health care professionals. With two major health care systems and a number of physician groups in Peoria, individuals in Peoria and surrounding areas do not have to travel to Chicago, to have their health care needs met.
Yes, that is definitely a great thing about this area! Do you have a go-to weekend activity?
On the weekend, I like watching sporting events on television and getting as much sleep as possible. With such busy days during the weekday, I do not always have the time or energy to watch sporting events on television or to get quality sleep. On the weekend, however, I always make it a habit to slow down, unplug, and enjoy "me time."
How about if you could meet any historical figure, who would it be and why?
If I could meet any historical figure, it would be Dr. William Edward Burghardt DuBois, better known as W.E.B. DuBois. As an intellectual and pioneering historian and sociologist, Dr. DuBois advanced his "Talented Tenth" theory. I would love to ask him if he had to do over again, would he change his stance to align with Booker T. Washington or continue to advance his "Talented Tenth" theory.
That would be an interesting conversation for sure and an awesome person to meet! If you could snap your fingers and immediately learn to do anything, what would it be?
As a little boy, I dreamed of being an airline pilot. If I could snap my fingers and immediately learn to do anything, I would learn to fly a commercial airliner.
That would be very cool! Last question - and it's a tough one - if you could only have three apps on your smartphone, which ones would you pick?
The three apps I would pick are NOAA weather; QR Reader; and SmartNews.
Thank you so much for chatting with us today, Dr. Bell! We truly do appreciate everything you do for PPS students!
