Reflecting on Another Type of First: Take Five with Ms. De’Andrea Bell, English Language Arts Teacher at O.A. Thorp Elementary

In our final “Take Five” profile of the school year, we’re excited to spotlight Ms. De’Andrea Bell, an English Language Arts (ELA) teacher at O.A. Thorp Elementary School. Ms. Bell was inspired to become an educator after volunteering as a tutor in CPS. Through this experience, she found her passion for teaching, and has now dedicated the past 24 years to the District. 

Most of those years were at one CPS school, but this year, Ms. Bell decided to try something new. She is currently finishing up her first year as a fifth and sixth-grade teacher at Thorp Elementary, and her proudest moments have included experiencing her students’ growth and the moments when they understand a concept they once found difficult. 

Learn more about Ms. Bell’s journey below!

How was it moving to a new school community this year?

In all honesty, it took a while to adjust. After being at a school for over two decades, you come to learn everything about the building, staff, and community that it simply becomes second nature to you. Everything was new at Thorp: the staff, the norms of the school, and the community. For a while, it was a very isolating experience.  But now that I’ve had time to adjust, I've found that I really enjoy being here. The people, parents, and kids are wonderful. I especially love that we are giving autonomy to do what is best for our students.

What are your biggest goals for your students?

My biggest goal is to instill a love of reading among my students. I try to do that by incorporating novels into our curriculum that will teach them different skills they need in life, or that they can see themselves in, both culturally and emotionally. I want my students to gravitate towards the material they read, and I remind them they shouldn’t be afraid to “become” a part of the story and truly immerse themselves in the book. 

What is your favorite aspect of teaching?

My favorite thing is connecting and building relationships with the students and parents. And my greatest hope is for our families to understand that we're partners in this academic journey for their kids. I also love teaching my students the love of reading through novels.  Even though I'm ending my 24th year in the classroom, I still love to teach, and seeing the kids and their energy and growth is so important to me.

What advice do you have for educators who are new to their school community?

Try to meet a lot of people and ask a lot of questions. Show them your value and that you have something to offer to the school. And most importantly, be patient. 

What are you looking forward to once school is out for the summer?

Even though I will be doing summer school, I plan on doing some traveling here and there.