Mr. Bell is a black social studies teacher and graduate of Olathe Public Schools. He is also a head coach and a Black Student Union sponsor. African Americans are the 2nd largest minority in USD 233 and make up 7.7% of the kids in our district. As a student, he remembers that he didn’t get to see a lot of black success stories, black leaders within the district, or learn much about them. He wanted to give black students an opportunity that would allow high school members of African American History classes and Black Student Unions within the entire district to visit two local museums of African American History. These field trips create opportunities for our kids to experience black history and meet other students across the district.
Bell applied for and received a grant from the OPSF Women’s Giving Circle as well as a Fall 2022 OPSF Classroom grant to take students on these trips and give them an experience they would not normally have on their own.
They were recently able to take students from four Olathe High Schools to the historic 18th and Vine district, an area rich in African American history in Kansas City. They visited the Jazz museum, Negro League Baseball Museum, and the Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City. Mr. Bell said the kids enjoyed seeing local history told in an interactive way and getting to hear from community leaders about the importance of the district at 18th and Vine.
This is only one example of how your support as a staff member and giving more than your 8 hours a day makes a difference in the Olathe Public Schools; enriching and improving students the lives of our students.
Thank you for all you do for the kids of Olathe. We appreciate you!