Everyone in the high school has heard of Mr. Christopher Bell. We have all seen him walking around campus, smiling broadly. He can fix the Internet and any issues with your laptop, but what is the real job title and description of the man who has the solutions to all our vital issues? The International took a look into his life and found out things about him that are more than just interesting, so take a look.

What is your job description at ISB? Is it the same as what you really do?

At ISB, I’m the High School technology coordinator. I am also considered a technology coach. What that means is, basically I have to work with teachers and students to make sure the tech ISB purchases is integrated effectively into classrooms.

What I really do, and if you ask my bosses, Mr. Philip Bradley, Mr. Chad Bates and Ms. Bronwyn Weale, anything with technology in the high school is my responsibility. Any time anybody has a problem with technology, it’s Bell’s fault. It’s good and bad, because it makes me very wanted. People need the help, but at the same time the more I help the more work I get, because then people realize that I do kind of know what I’m doing.

When did you move to ISB? Where were you before?

This is my third year at ISB. Before that I was in Doha, Qatar and I worked their for two years. There I was the technology director and the head of libraries.  I was also a project manager to open a brand new school facility and brand new recreation facility.

What were you like as a High School student? What were you most interested in at school?

In high school, for intents and purposes, I was a jock. I was an American football player, I was a track guy and those were the two most important things on the planet. I was like a big dude. I competitively lifted and that’s the kind of guy I was.

I went to high school in Western Kansas and it wasn’t particularly rigorous so high school for me was easy to get decent grades. I didn’t really challenge myself. Then, during the second half of my senior year I went to junior college for math and English. High school was really all about sports for me.

Given all the experiences you have had in your life, what (1 or 2) piece(s) of advice would you like to pass on to the seniors starting their own journey?  (i.e. what do you wish you had learned as you graduated from HS?)

Take every opportunity. Don’t let them pass you by. If you think it’s something you want to do, you have to do everything you can do to make it happen, because you never know. I never would have known I would end up with the job I have, but I love my job. I love everyday coming to school, working with kids and adults and I never would have guessed that when I was an HS student.

Always remember you only get to live once. There are lots of things to experience. Don’t put yourself into a spot where you can’t experience those things. I really wish somebody had told not to take life and myself so seriously when I first went into college. That would have made a huge difference in my life and the way I was. Yeah, I’m a YOLO guy.

Based on your experiences, how did you end up getting into technology?

Technology was just always easy for me. I sat through a couple of courses on HTML coding and then tech networking class. I enjoyed it and it was easy. That’s why I didn’t chase that at first.

The first degree was my history degree, then my special education degree. The history degree I went through with the idea of moving to my political science study. I just needed to get back to school.

Once I started going into the education side of things with my history degree, I started enjoying teaching so much, I went down the road of Special Education. It’s such a good set of tools for teaching. I feel like I can teach anybody. I had to teach a good who was 14 years old, nonverbal and had grand mal seizures every 15 minutes and I had to got to work and teach that kids. If I was going to be a teacher, I wanted to be the best teacher I could be.

Then, what you realize is, special education in American isn’t that much fun. You spend a lot more work doing paperwork than working with kids. I lasted for four years. I was a department chair and everything, but I knew the second year that I didn’t like it.

I went back to school again, because I really do love libraries and always have. In the woods, I would go into town periodically for the AC and I would sit in the library in a corner, because I knew I stunk, and just pour over the newspaper.

When I went back to school, they told me that libraries were in transition and there was an opportunity there. They said the more technology you can get the better you can do. Colorado University has a great program that gives you both. You essentially do two masters degrees: one in information and learning technologies and one in library science. I got the full thing.

From there, I got my first library job and they needed a head of technology at the time and so I slid right into that position. Then, there was an opportunity to open a high school with a reform education-minded deal, kind of like magnet school: engineering, health sciences, journalism and arts. I went into that and became head of the engineering department. I was also the head librarian and tech director. From there I went to Qatar and now I’m here.

Is there anything else you would like to say or add?

I’m just always so impressed what comes from kids when we let them do it themselves. Kids here are always giving me the example and confirming that teachers need to stop teaching and let kids explore and find the answers more.

Often times, we think we know a teacher, but what we do not realize is that almost all of them have fascinating lives outside of school. With three years at ISB, a lot of the faculty and student body has gotten know the lively and spirited Mr. Bell, but the rest of us need to take some time to grateful to this hardworking man who dedicates himself to making sure the internet and all other forms of technology are running perfectly well.

Arya Bhai