I am Elmerine Allen Bell, a retired Texas public school teacher. My formative years were spent in Italy where I attended school and gained my first outlook on mankind, values and life. My parents, the late Elmer and Fredna Allen, were my motivators, and they required me to perform to the best of my ability. I am a graduate (1963) of Stafford High School, Italy, Texas and North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas) in Denton. I have an adult daughter, but I consider the several thousand children whose lives I’ve impacted in my classroom to be an extension of me, as well.

After working in the public sector and government service for more than a decade, I began my teaching career. My tenure with the Dallas Independent School District lasted 23 years (the last 18 years at the Thomas Alva Edison Middle Learning Center in Dallas-West) where I served as English/Language Arts teacher and department chairperson. Additionally, for five years, I served as in-house tutor for students housed with the Dallas County Juvenile Detention Center. At Thomas Edison, I served on variety of committees and was adviser to the National Junior Honor Society for 17 years. I am a lifetime member of the Texas Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). I know that all children can learn and become contributing members of our society if they are provided with adequate tools, caring teachers and involved parents.

Locally, I serve on the Italy Economic Development Council and have a desire to see the city grow toward providing a viable economic base that attracts businesses and jobs to this area. I have served with the Stafford School Alumni Association since its inception in the 1980’s and I am actively striving toward preserving local community and school history. Working with various ministries at the Mt. Gilead Baptist Church is a blessing to my life.

It is my goal that an increasing number of parents and community members will regard the Italy Junior High School and the Italy High School as continuing the exceptional educational pathway currently being forged at the Stafford Elementary School. This can be achieved by focusing on student achievement, maintaining fiscal responsibility, attracting and retaining highly qualified teachers and insisting that guidelines for behavior and safety are followed by all who enter our schools.

For me, this campaign is not about personal or political agendas. We cannot move forward if we continue teaching to the lowest common denominator. Technology is not the future, it is the present and its focus must be strengthened in our schools. We must give the students who want to advance to a college or university the opportunity to do so by continuing to provide preparatory and dual credit courses. For those students who want to excel in a trade, we must provide technical training so that they have the opportunity to advance in their chosen field and successfully enter the work force.

I have a passion for education and the skills and motivation to get the job done. I don’t have all the answers but I am certain that if the Italy ISD board openly communicates with parents, teachers, students and taxpayers a team can be created that will bring all the schools in our district to exemplary status in the state.