After a career dedicated to improving all aspects of Fair Grove Schools, Superintendent Mr. Mike Bell plans to retire at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
Bell has had an extensive career in education. Over the last 32 years he has taught physical education, coached multiple sports, and served as an assistant and head high school principal.
He started working at Fair Grove Schools more than two decades ago. For the past decade, he has led the Fair Grove School District as superintendent.
Bell stated how he was drawn to work in education, “Public education and athletics provided me with the opportunity to make a better life for myself. I was blessed to have educators in my path who gave me the direction and motivation I needed to be successful.”
Originally, Bell only planned to stay with Fair Grove Schools for a couple of years before heading to a bigger district. Bell explained how he quickly realized that the community offered something truly special.
Bell stated, “Ultimately, it’s the kids and the supportive, close-knit community that made my decision to stay at Fair Grove an easy one.”
Dr. Christian Overstreet, Fair Grove High School Principal, has worked with Bell for 13 years and elaborated on the ways he has impacted the community in a positive way even during a global pandemic.
“Mr. Bell successfully guided our school district through one of the most difficult situations in recent history: the COVID-19 pandemic. His skill in creating a plan and adapting it to align with state and county health guidelines was impressive.”
Bell shared one of his greatest accomplishments as superintendent is the positive progress the district has made in teacher recruitment and retention. In recent years, the district has implemented several substantial salary increases for the teachers and staff. Bell also led the change for the four-day school week in 2019.
Bell explained how all of this progress contributed to where Fair Grove is today, “These efforts have positioned Fair Grove Schools in the top 10% of all districts in Southwest Missouri for teacher retention. Additionally, Fair Grove has earned a reputation as a top destination for educators and families, which speaks to the strength of our district and community.”
As superintendent, Bell oversees the district’s Comprehensive School Improvement Plan, known as CSIP. The CSIP is designed to help districts improve student learning.
“The process involves: Reviewing data, Setting goals, Determining actions to achieve goals, and Evaluating results. There are many individuals involved in the CSIP process, but Mr. Bell’s guidance and leadership are what make the plan and, most importantly, executing the plan so successful,” Overstreet stated.
Bell shared the most valuable lesson he’s learned through all his years in education is putting people first.
“Our top priority should always be the students, and the success of any school lies in prioritizing relationships over programs. Building strong connections with students, staff, and the community is essential. It’s the human element that makes the greatest impact.”
