Mr.Bell is one of the Personal Finance and Economic teachers at PHS. He also is a sponsor for the Men’s Mental Health. This is his perspective on teaching and PHS.

Q: When coming into teaching, what did you expect? What was it really  like for you?

A: I expected to have students that were capable in the core subjects (arithmetic, writing and reading).  What I got was students who had been stunted by lowered expectations during the covid pandemic, and had lost the wherewithal to push themselves to higher levels of achievement.

Q: What was your favorite year of teaching and why?

A: My first year. That year, I had a group of students that not only all got along with each other, but they also enjoyed the content of the class and interacted with each other beyond the classroom and curriculum.  For example, on the last day of classes that year, we had a mini-party with food and live music.  

Q: What is one of the craziest moments that stands out in your years of teaching?

A: The craziest thing that stands out to me from my time teaching comes from one of the after school events, the Diamond Classic show choir competition.  Each year, Mr. Dean hosts a multi-state attraction competition, and the best parts are when I DJ the event and play Wobble and I watch as 500 students in unison dance to the song.

Q: What is your favorite part of teaching and why?

A: My favorite part of teaching is the little moments between activities in class where I can interact with and joke with the students.  It builds connections with the students, and it makes my day easier and more enjoyable.

Q: What is one piece of life advice you can give to your students for their future?

A: Work Hard, Play Hard.  Life cannot be done without working, and you should give everything you can to work (when you’re working), but when you are off the clock make  sure you enjoy your free time!  Be smart but have fun and interact with others.  

Mr.Bell, we appreciate you and hope you continue to teach at PHS. You are a great teacher who provides good life lessons and support to all students. Thank you for being here for all of us.