Gini Bell is an experienced educator who is a natural leader and possesses an extraordinary talent for helping students of all backgrounds both learn and to actually enjoy the process of learning. Ms. Bell graduated from the University of Georgia in 2007 with a Bachelor's degree in Special Education focusing on high incidence disabilities (i.e. learning disabilities). In 2008, Ms. Bell graduated with her Master's degree in Special Education from the University of Georgia with emphases on adaptive curriculum, autism, and intellectual disabilities. Most recently, Ms. Bell earned her Specialist degree in Educational Leadership at the University of West Georgia.
Ms. Bell began her professional teaching career in Athens, Georgia at Clarke Middle School. In that capacity, she taught middle school students with intellectual disabilities and emotional behavior disorders. In 2010, Ms. Bell taught Special Education for third through fifth grades at Horn Lake Intermediate School in Horn Lake, Mississippi. For the next year and a half, Ms. Bell made a leap into a general education classroom when she taught sixth grade English/Language Arts, Reading, Math, and Social Studies at Regents School of Oxford in Oxford, Mississippi. In 2013, she moved to Blue Ridge, Georgia and joined the faculty at Blue Ridge Elementary School where she taught Special Education for three years including one year as Team Leader for the Special Education Department. Ms. Bell has extensive experience in teaching students with special needs, differentiating instruction, behavior, data collection, curriculum, and working with staff.
In only her second year teaching in the Fannin County School System, Ms. Bell was named Teacher of the Year for Blue Ridge Elementary School in an election by her peers. Additionally, she was named Teacher of the Year for the entire Fannin County School System.
In addition to her professional role with the Fannin County School System, Ms. Bell has been instrumental in helping revitalize the Special Olympics of Fannin County. Her leadership has been crucial in developing extracurricular activities for the youth of Fannin County who have special needs including creative fundraisers to fund those activities. Under Ms. Bell's leadership, Fannin County hosted the regional Special Olympics for the first time in decades.
Ms. Bell's diverse work experience and extensive leadership experience make her a perfect fit to serve as an administrator. Ms. Bell is excited about working with the faculty, staff, and students of Blue Ridge Elementary School to make the school's mission and vision statements reality and will continue to work tirelessly, just as she did as a teacher, to ensure that all students learn, succeed, and achieve their maximum potential.
Schools
2008-2010 Clarke Middle School, Athens, GA
2010-2011 Horn Lake Intermediate School, Horn Lake, MS
2011-2012 Regents School of Oxford, Oxford, MS
2013-Current Blue Ridge Elementary, Blue Ridge, GA
Publications
Bramlett, V., Ayres, K. M., Douglas, K. H., and Cihak, D. F. (2011). Effects of Computer and Classroom Simulations to Teach Students with Various Exceptionalities to Locate Apparel Sizes. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 46(3), 454-468.
Douglas, K. H., Ayres, K. M., Langone, J., & Bramlett, V. B. (2011). The Effectiveness of Electronic Texts and Pictorial Graphic Organizers to Improve Comprehension Related to Functional Skills. Journal of Special Education Technology, 26(1), 43-56.
Douglas, K. H., Ayres, K. M., Langone, J., Bell, V., & Meade, C. (2009). Expanding Literacy for Learners With Intellectual Disabilities: The Role of Supported eText. Journal of Special Education Technology, 24(3), 35-43.