Chuck Bell, left, and his daughter Heather Otwell speak about the late Julia Bell at the dedication of the new Julia Bell Early Childhood Academy in Lucerne Valley on Friday. David Pardo, Daily Press
By Jeff Cooper
Staff Writer
LUCERNE VALLEY — On Friday morning during the dedication of the Julia Bell Early Childhood Academy, Lucerne Valley Unified School District Superintendent Suzette Davis said that if the late Julie Bell were alive today, she would grimace about all the fuss made about her.
Davis said Bell did not like being put on a pedestal, even though everyone in attendance believed she deserved the honor of having a portion of Lucerne Valley Elementary School named after her.
“Julia was not about recognition,” Davis said. “Everything about her revolves around children and love. I can’t separate the two things from her. This is the concept of the Early Children’s academy ... the time to reach young children is at the beginning.”
The newly christened Julia Bell Early Childhood Academy comprises a First Five early education program as well as a separate mini-campus for kindergartners and first-graders. Davis said keeping them apart from the grade 2-6 students will allow the small ones room to grow without “being trampled on.”
The air was thick with Bell’s memory, causing Davis to refer to Bell in the present tense as she praised her in front of the three dozen or so community members who attended the dedication.
“I feel her with us right now,” Davis said. “Because we kept the true spirit of children in this, I still feel she’s with us. This had been a long time coming. ... The thing that is so amazing about this project is that it speaks to Julia’s heart. She is about children. I still talk about her in present tense because she’s still with me."
Bell worked as a Lucerne Valley educator for 43 years in various capacities. She came to the area in 1968 with her husband Chuck and became a teacher in the district in 1969. She was also active in the local Little League baseball program and the Lucerne Valley Roadrunners, a charitable organization that once named Bell its Citizen of the Year.
She served as a principal from 1996-1998 before becoming a board member in 1999. She stepped down from the board in December 2012 due to health problems and died a month later at age 67.
“You can see the turnout here,” LVUSD Board President Jim Harvey said, “that this is something that really tugs at the heartstrings of the community. Julia left quite an impression. She was a superstar.”
Early childhood education was a passion of Bell's, and Lucerne Valley Elementary School Principal Mary Eller said "this whole academy was her idea.”
“I think the heart of what is being done today is the most beautiful part,” Julia’s daughter Heather Otwell said. “That’s what connects the community and multiple generations of families with my mom. The heart behind this is so special and all of the rest is just the icing on the cake.”