Elmerine Bell graduated from Stafford High School in 1963 and continued her education at North Texas State University which now it is the University of North Texas in Denton where she graduated.

Bell retired in 2008 from the Dallas Independent School district after twenty five years of teaching Language Arts.

Elmerine explained, “My last 18 years I taught at Thomas Edison Middle Learning Center in West Dallas. I am very proud of the fact that I stayed there that long because I enjoyed what I was doing. The community was wonderful. It was wonderful working there.”

Bell explained that Learning Centers were created after schools became segregated (they had become segregated after integration). The courts thought they were not providing adequate education for the African American and Spanish population that lived in the Dallas area. They decided to create superior schools. They renovated the buildings, they sought out Math teachers, instated double math classes and the school days were one hour longer than any other schools.

Elmerine said, “I retired because I was fatigued. I was taking care of my mother, she had become ill and died three years ago. I decided to stay here in Italy. I retired about a year and a half after she passed away.”

Bell now substitute teaches for Italy, Milford and Ennis ISD’s. She said, “I enjoy it to the fullest. It is really rewarding when you go into school and all of the kids love to see you. I still have the camaraderie of all the children like I had before when I was teaching but I don’t have all the responsibility.”

Elmerine loves her church, Mount Gilead Baptist Church, and her pastor, Preston E Dickson. She is a member of the “Generations Ministry”. This ministry is all about helping people. When they see a need they try to take care of it. They try to take care of at least one person a month at the senior citizen center.

When asked what she thought of Italy, Elmerine said, “I am comfortable and happy here. This is the happiest time of my life. I work on the Economical Development Board. I try to go to as many school board meetings that I can. I very seldom miss a school board meeting because I am very interested in education. Italy is the biggest little town in Italy. It has a rich history. there are wonderful stories that people need to know about Italy. Wonderful individuals, dynamic personalities and just plain country living. It is where everybody takes care of everybody else and that is the feeling of the entire town.”