Mekell Bell

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Mekell Bell

Nonpartisan

Laveen Elementary School District, At-large

Tenure

2025 - Present

Term ends

2029

Years in position

0

Report an officeholder change

Elections and appointments

Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

McClintock High School

Bachelor's

Northern Arizona University, 2004

Graduate

University of Phoenix, 2009

Personal

Birthplace

Mesa, Ariz.

Religion

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Mekell Bell is an at-large member of the Laveen Elementary School District in Arizona. She assumed office on January 1, 2025. Her current term ends on January 1, 2029.

Bell ran for election for an at-large seat of the Laveen Elementary School District in Arizona. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Bell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Mekell Bell was born in Mesa, Arizona. Bell earned a bachelor's degree from Northern Arizona University in 2004 and a graduate degree from the University of Phoenix in 2009.

Elections

2024

See also: Laveen Elementary School District, Arizona, elections (2024)

General election

General election for Laveen Elementary School District, At-large (3 seats)

Incumbent Jennifer Goetzke, Kayla Parra, and Mekell Bell defeated Robert Olmstead in the general election for Laveen Elementary School District, At-large on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jennifer Goetzke (Nonpartisan)	27.9	10,605
✔	Submit photo	Kayla Parra (Nonpartisan)	27.6	10,511
✔		Mekell Bell (Nonpartisan)	25.3	9,616
	Submit photo	Robert Olmstead (Nonpartisan)	18.7	7,103
		Other/Write-in votes	0.5	208

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 38,043
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Bell received the following endorsements.

• Save Our Schools Arizona

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Mekell Bell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bell's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

-16 year Laveen resident; my husband and I bought our home where we still live here in Laveen in 2008

-Mother of 5 kids ages 3-13 -4 of my kids attend the Laveen school district, and the last one will start in 2 years; I will have children in the district for almost 2 decades once all my kids go through! -My kids have attended the Laveen school district for 8 years -Educator since 2006 -Master’s degree in Education -Volunteer basketball, softball, and soccer coach for my kids’ school, CCV, and have coached 10 Jr. Suns teams at the Cesar Chavez and South Mountain community centers

-Volunteer youth leader and teacher with my church for 16 years

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• I am a mom. My most important role is a mother to my 5 children ages 3-13 years old. As a mother, I can empathize with parents and their concerns because I am one. It also gives me a direct, first hand look into the district and its strengths and struggles because 4 of my 5 children attend a school in the district, so I have a vested, personal interest in the success and safety of our children because they’re mine, too. I truly believe that our children are the most important thing we vote for and why we work to make our schools, district, and community great.
• I am an educator. I also have a Master’s degree in Education and have been a teacher since 2006. Over the years, I’ve taught English/Language Arts, ESL, math, and PE to students from all walks of life, but I specifically loved working with higher risk students as I taught at a residential treatment center for students with addiction, at Durango Juvenile Detention Center, and at Southwest Key, a school for refugees. Teaching is my passion and advocating for all kids and families is something I take seriously and have made my life's mission. Because of my classroom experience, I’m also an advocate for teachers and staff because I have been in their shoes and know what it takes to make a classroom, school, and district successful.
• I am a community volunteer. My husband and I bought our home in Laveen where we still reside in 2008. We have lived in the community for 16 years and are raising our 5 children here. I’m very involved in the community because I believe Laveen is an amazing place to live and raise a family. I also believe that it’s our job as Laveen residents to keep our community great by working together and volunteering where possible. I volunteer at my kids’ school as a Junior Achievement teacher (2016-present), have been a leader of my local church youth group for 15 years (2008-2013, 2014-2024), and have a passion for youth sports and have been a volunteer basketball, soccer, and softball coach for the school, CCV, and at the community center.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I feel the three most pressing issues our school board faces is student safety, quality curriculum, and acquiring and retaining highly qualified, skilled teachers. As a parent and teacher myself, I see how these three issues directly impact students and staff and that focusing on them makes schools and the district as a whole better and more successful which leads to a greater community in general.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Someone who has integrity and is honest so that constituents can trust them is crucial. It’s also imperative that an elected official is willing to listen to others and to reach across the aisle to work together with everyone.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Anyone who knows me personally knows that I am an extremely passionate person. When I care about something, I care with my whole heart. When I do something, I give it 100% every time, all the time. That makes me a hard worker and tenacious enough that I don’t give up. I’m also a people person that values communication and will work together with others for solutions.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The primary responsibilities include being a good representative of the district, hiring of superintendents, setting pay schedules and salaries for district employees and teachers, choosing quality curriculum, and being a cheerleader for students and staff in the district to keep morale high.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

and the students, teachers, and staff that

Who are your constituents?

Everyone who lives in the Laveen Elementary School District are my constituents.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Arizona List, Save Our Schools, Good Party

Describe your ideal learning environment for students.

The ideal learning environment is a place where students feel safe both physically and emotionally to be able to learn and make mistakes and ask questions and improve and work together in a caring environment where everyone’s strengths are seen and valued.

What are your preferred strategies for faculty, staff, and administration recruitment?

I think hiring respectful principals who know how to manage teachers and have worked in the classroom themselves is crucial to morale and teacher retention. Along with teachers receiving support from the district and their principals, it is imperative that we offer competitive pay for our teachers and staff in order to recruit qualities and skilled staff in the first place.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I think it’s always necessary for school boards to be financially transparent and accountable to the taxpayers for how they’re spending the funds.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Candidate

Laveen Elementary School District, At-large

Website

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