Stella Bell
Program Associate
Stella Bell is a Program Associate with SEDL's Improving School Performance program. Dr. Bell works with the Texas Comprehensive Center (TXCC) to build the capacity of state department of education staff in Texas to implement the goals and programs of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). She helps increase the state's access to and use of research-based information, models, and materials as well as its capacity to communicate effectively with districts, schools, service providers, communities, and families. Dr. Bell also assists with building the state’s school improvement infrastructure for providing sustained support to districts and schools. She offers resources, technical assistance, and research-based knowledge and strategies to support school improvement efforts.
Contact Information
You may contact Stella Bell at 512-391-6506
Dr. Bell’s interests include organizational theory, embedded intergroup theory, and properties of intergroup conflicts, diversity, and school leadership.
- Leadership: Dr. Bell has worked with state education agencies and regional educational service centers to build the capacity of leaders to sustain systemic work. She has planned, designed, and delivered technical assistance to help leaders implement the Working Systemically approach for improving academic achievement for all students. As the liaison to the National Center on Innovation and Improvement, she has coordinated and disseminated evidence-based practices to support school and district improvement, school choices, and supplemental educational services. Dr. Bell has also provided professional development, mentoring, and coaching to support leadership and school improvement.
- Turning Around Schools: Dr. Bell’s experience in this area has focused on improving school performance at all levels of the education system. She has developed tools and provided professional learning opportunities to state and educational service centers on SEDL’s Working Systemically approach for school improvement. In an era of accountability, she has also provided technical assistance with campus improvement plans and with capacity building of state and educational service centers to support teaching and learning in districts and schools. In addition, she has 5 years of experience researching innovative and effective practices, developing tools, and providing professional learning opportunities to support school improvement.
Prior to joining SEDL in February 2002, Dr. Bell spent 29 years in an urban school district serving as a teacher, principal, and central administrator. She served as a principal of both high- and low-performing schools, and a highlight was opening a new elementary school. During this part of her career, Dr. Bell focused on balanced literacy in reading and writing, cultural relevant pedagogy, professional learning communities, and school leadership and improvement. She also served on numerous district committees for textbook adoptions, strategic planning, curriculum and instructional designs, and professional development training. Previously, as a researcher, Dr. Bell examined School Organization and Leadership: Diversity in Embedded Intergroup Theory and Properties of Intergroup Conflicts. Education
Dr. Bell holds a BS in elementary education from the University of North Texas in Denton, an MEd in curriculum and instruction and educational administration from Texas State University (formerly Southwest Texas State University) in San Marcos, and an EdD in educational administration from Texas A&M University at College Station. Selected External Publications
- Bell, S. (2002). Teachers’ perceptions of the intergroup conflict in urban schools. Peabody Journal of Education, 77(1), 59–81.
- Bell, S. (2002, June). [Review of the book Pathways to positive development among diverse youth, by R. M. Lerner, C. S. Taylor, & A. von Eye, Eds.]. National Association of Secondary School Principals Bulletin, 87(635).
- Bell, S., Jones, C., & Madsen J. (2003, April). Teachers’ perceptions of intergroup conflict in urban schools. Presentation at the American Educational Research Association Conference, Chicago, IL.
- Bell, S., Jones, C., Mabokela, R., Dunbar, C., Madsen J., & Harvey W. (2003, March). Creating inclusive contexts in organizations. Presentation at the Intersection of Leadership and Diversity Conference, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
- Bell, S. (2002, April). Teachers of color and European American teachers: Perceptions of the leader of color. Presentation at the American Educational Research Association Conference, New Orleans, LA.
