Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Bell Promoted To Programs Director

Mary Ruth Henry-Bell has been promoted to director of the Education Programs Department for Sacramento County in California.

A native of Gurdon, Henry-Bell will be responsible for the overall operation of five-year program areas supervised by the Sacramento County Board of Education. These programs include community schools, court schools, Sly Park Outdoor Education Camp, Regional Occupational programs and home school. The five program areas serve more than 36,000 students each year.

Henry-Bell taught in the Gurdon School District for 10 years. She is the daughter of Allie Mae Ollison of Gurdon and the late Eugene Ollison. She and her two children, Serena and Sammy, reside in Sacramento.

As a veteran educator of more than 18 years, she has knowledge and experience in each of the program area that are now her responsibility, as well as the 10 years in Gurdon and seven years in adult education.

"We have given promotions before, but never have we had the opportunity to promote someone with such a vast array of skills and talents," Roy Grimes, a board member, said. Ms. Bell is an excellent choice."

Many Sacramento County employees, as well as the community at large, showed strong support for Henry-Bell by attending her confirmation at the July county board meeting. They showered her with flowers, kind words and gifts. One supporter said, "We can feel at ease now. We know we have someone who cares and who will get the job done."

As a 1979 graduate and National Business Education Award of Merit recipient from Ouachita Baptist University, Henry-Bell relocated to Sacramento in 1989. She has advanced degrees from Henderson State University and California State University.

She was the education representative to the 17-member California Task Force to Review Juvenile Crime and the Juvenile Justice Response created by the legislature in September 1994. She co-authored the Task Force's final report released September 1996.