Cathy Bell has retired from education after seven years as principal at Veterans Park Elementary School in Lexington. When she opened the school in 1997, she was responsible for overseeing its construction, hiring personnel and ordering materials and equipment. She provided the math and science magnet school with vigorous instructional and administrative leadership, ensuring that its programs and technology-integrated curricula promote quality work and reflect wider societal issues. Mrs. Bell secured a variety of partnerships with local organizations: a leading manufacturer of electrical equipment provides materials, career information, and gifts to the students, while two local health care agencies allow students to interact with veterans and senior citizens. Student learning at Veterans Park Elementary is further enhanced by Mrs. Bell's nationally-recognized parent volunteer program. During her tenure as principal, Veterans Park Elementary consistently scored in the top 10 of all elementary schools on state assessments, and ranked first among all schools in the local district. The school's best practices, including high expectations for all and a positive school climate can be attributed to Mrs. Bell's leadership. In 1998 she was recognized with a Service to Education Award by the local Administrators Association.
1976 University of Kentucky, B.A., MA, Rank 1
