“It’s said if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life,” says Wesley J.C. Bell, assistant professor of criminal justice at St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley. “From the first moment I stepped into a classroom as an instructor I knew it was what I wanted to do,” explained Bell, who is also practicing attorney who’s had his own law office for 11 years.
As if that isn’t enough to fill his calendar, he also serves as a Municipal Court Judge in Velda City, Missouri and recently ran in the primary for St. Louis County Council. Representing District 1 as a Democrat, he made a solid impact, receiving 39 percent of the votes.
Bell – who holds bachelor’s degrees in political science and public management from Lindenwood University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law – began this distinctive journey that combines his passion for community engagement, serving youth and using his legal acumen in the field of education early.
While growing up in North St. Louis County, Bell was a referee and coach for youth sports. This experience introduced the civic-minded professional, who has been an educator for seven years, to the importance of building community through nurturing relationships.
Serving on several boards, including the Ferguson Youth Initiative, Bell believes “strong communities are safe communities.” And with this in mind, the Mound City Bar Association member formed the See Justice Club to motivate young people to become more involved in their own neighborhoods. Bell also wants young people to take more control over the course of their lives, citing his motto by Winston Churchill, “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.”
Wanting young people to chart their own course in life is a factor in Bell’s approach to reaching his objective as an educator.
“My primary goal is to help students not only maximize their full potential, but to also see that potential,” Bell says. “I often tell students I want them to see themselves as I see them. I encourage students to acknowledge and improve on their weaknesses, while reinforcing their strengths.”
As any educator, Bell has encountered some challenges when working with students. To navigate them, he says, “It is important to continue to evolve and grow as an educator as well as a person.”
He also believes being in-tune with pop culture as an effective method of relating to students. “The music and popular references change,” he says, “and it’s important to at least be aware and open to accepting new ways of engaging your students.”
Bell has also observed that, “Students will tell you everything you need to reach and connect with them. You just have to be willing to listen.” Hurdles in education are not limited to Bell’s efforts to engage students, but exist in St. Louis schools as a whole.
Public schools in the region have experienced a myriad of setbacks over the past few years that have left many in the area feeling as if students are not getting the quality education they deserve. A community effort, Bell believes, is needed to address this ongoing issue.
“There is a perception that we do not have quality schools in North County,” he says, “and we need to come together as a community and as a region and focus on solutions that will improve those perceptions.”
In addition to what he offers students in the classroom, Bell also attempts to equip his students with a foundation for life skills. For instance, Bell tells his students, “Your reputation takes years to build and minutes to destroy. Be professional and have a strong work ethic. It’s not necessarily about the jobs you interview for and don’t get. It’s more about the jobs you won’t even hear about if you do not have a good reputation as a professional.”
For his students, or anyone thinking about a profession in education, Bell shares some insights,
“There are numerous ways to improve your teaching resume, such as being a guest speaker/lecturer, and volunteering on campuses with different events,” Bell advises. He also believes in demonstrating a genuine commitment to the bigger picture, and states, “It’s important to show that you are not just looking for a job, but that you are willing to invest in your local schools and community.”
