Speakers

Cassandra Bell, originally from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, grew up in upstate New York and central Indiana before returning to her beloved Mississippi to earn her B.A. in Political Science from Tougaloo College and an M.P.P.A. from Jackson State University. She also holds a Master’s in Education from Old Dominion University, an Educational Specialist in Curriculum, Instruction & Administration from Nova Southeastern University, and is completing her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership at Liberty University. With over 20 years of experience in K–12, community college, and undergraduate education, Cassandra has served as a teacher, math coach, specialist, and conference presenter at both the state and national levels. She is currently the Director of Curriculum & Instruction for Richmond Public Schools, following her roles as Division Coordinator of Mathematics and Manager of Mathematics & Science. A U.S. Army veteran and proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Cassandra is passionate about educational equity and is deeply committed to ensuring that all students not only become proficient but joyful readers. She and her husband, Dr. Willie James Bell, Jr., a high school principal director, are the proud parents of three children: Evan, Gabrielle, and Khairi.