Our "Employee Spotlight" series aims to showcase the unique personalities, talents, and stories that contribute to the success of Lansing USD469. This section celebrates the incredible individuals who make our Lansing USD469 community thrive.
Paige Bell, Early Childhood Interventionist
Question: How long have you worked in Lansing USD469?
Answer: I am currently embracing my 9th year in the early childhood center!
Question: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and the role you have within the school district?
Answer: I am a Lansing Lion through and through. I attended Lansing schools from kindergarten through 12th grade and for college, I stayed close to home, just across Eisenhower at Saint Mary! My role is to help support different classrooms and students as we build a positive foundation in their early learning journey. I enjoy providing support to both teachers and their students, whether it’s helping grow social-emotional skills, early literacy, or pre-math concepts. It is amazing being able to watch them grow in all areas.
Question: What do you enjoy most about your role and the work you do in the school district?
Answer: What I enjoy most about my role and the work I do in the school district is all the happiness and laughter that come with working with preschoolers. It’s so rewarding to greet the kids with a smile and help them feel confident about coming to school each day. Their energy and curiosity make every day different, you really never know what to expect! The chaos of early childhood education isn’t for the faint of heart, but honestly, I wouldn’t trade my job for anything.
I’m lucky to be part of an amazing team. Every day I come to work, I learn something new from the incredible women I get to work with. Each one teaches me how to be a better co-worker, teacher, and mother, and for that, I am truly grateful. Most of all, I love getting to work alongside my sister, Madi!
Question: When you're not working, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy?
Answer: Outside of school, being a mom is my favorite thing. When I’m not with the littles at school, I’m on the move with my own kiddos, juggling sports practices, cheering from the sidelines, patching up boo-boos, or helping Gentry finish her sixth art project of the night. Asher keeps me in the loop with all the latest Minecraft updates, and they both keep me on my toes while filling my days with laughter and love. And when the chaos finally settles, I enjoy snuggling up and getting lost in the pages of a good book.
Question: What is something unusual about you that most people don't know?
Answer: Most people don't know I've become a professional (unpaid) chauffeur so I can get my kids to three different sports 5-6 times a week without missing a beat!
Question: Could you share a particularly heartwarming or memorable experience you've had while working with students or colleagues?
Answer: A particularly heartwarming moment happened a couple of years ago when I filled in as an emergency sub for a semester for one of our teachers. I remember one day being especially chaotic and hard, I really started to question if I was in the right profession. It felt like nothing was going right, and I thought I wasn’t doing anything right either.
At the end of that day, a sweet three-year-old came up to me, gave me a hug, and said, “Thank you for playing Play-Doh with me today. It was the best part of my day.” It brought tears to my eyes because in that moment, I realized at least one thing had gone right, even when everything else felt like it hadn’t. That little moment reminded me what really matters as a teacher: building connections and celebrating the positives, even when you feel like they don’t happen very often.
Question: What piece of advice would you like to offer to students to help them succeed and make the most of their educational journey?
Answer: Learning is all about exploring and trying new things. Remember, it’s okay to make mistakes, that’s how we grow and get better. It is so important to be kind to yourself and keep trying your best!