An inside look at OM’s newest addition

By Victoria Williams & Malia Edelson

In the game of life, Mr. Bell plays multiple positions– health teacher, football coach, father, and more– but his ultimate goal is shaping young minds and bodies both on and off the field. Meet Mr. Bell, one of OM’s newest health teachers, stationed in the second portable near the JROTC room. While he may be new to OM, Mr. Bell brings extensive teaching experience to the table. His dedication to education runs in the family, with both his parents and his wife having been teachers.

Mr. Bell began the journey towards his profession at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania where he studied Health and Physical Education as well as being on the football team. He furthered his education with a master’s degree from California University of Pennsylvania and recently completed a second master’s in administration at McDaniel College.

With 15 years of teaching experience, Mr. Bell began his career in Anne Arundel County and later came to Howard County, where he has taught for the past six years. During this time, he taught at various schools, including Glenelg High School, where he was also involved as a coach for the varsity football team. From balancing school books to playbooks, Mr. Bell is no stranger to handling big responsibilities. With the new responsibilities of teaching and leading from opposite ends of the county, Mr. Bell has found dealing with the long commute challenging but manageable. He credits his love for the OM community as a key factor in making the journey worthwhile.

Mr. Bell joined the staff of OM after being surplused from his previous school but was pleased with the outcome, as he was already familiar with the community. His wife taught here for five years and coached field hockey and lacrosse, so he was returning to a place with many familiar faces. “It was an easy decision, and I’m thankful it was OM,” he said. He also noted that despite working in very different communities, “seeing how kids are kids regardless of where you are is the most refreshing part.”

Mr. Bell aims to build strong relationships with his students and be a supportive mentor for them in the future. He carries the same passion for his coaching, stating that extracurricular activities are crucial for kids’ development. He wants to provide students with tools to find outlets outside of academics and be a positive influence. He models himself after his own inspirational coaches to be a positive role model for his players.

Mr. Bell also credits becoming a dad as his motivator for being a positive role model to his players. He and his wife have two daughters with a third one coming in November, and he explained, “Now that I have kids of my own, I see a lot of things through a different lens, and that has helped me a lot. I now look at all the kids I teach as my own since being a dad has given me a different type of love and camaraderie and everything that rolls over into your kids as well. I found myself handling a lot of situations differently now that I have become a dad.”

Outside of work, Mr. Bell enjoys spending time with his family, often taking trips to the beach during the summer. His daughters are already getting involved in their own activities like ballet and soccer, which means fall will be filled with sports games, coaching, and finding time to relax. But despite the busy schedule, it is clear that whether it be in the classroom, on the field, or at home, Mr. Bell is fully committed to being present and making a positive impact on those around him. We are thrilled to see the positive impact he will make here at Oakland Mills. Welcome to the cOMmunity, Mr. Bell!