Brian Bell

Brian Bell brings over 27 years of experience in leading educational institutions, overseeing academic programs and enrollment and guiding schools through strategic change. His expertise spans nonprofit organizations, marketing and fundraising, volunteer management, team building and public speaking.

A Leadership Philosophy Shaped by Experience

Every leadership journey carries lessons that shape how leaders lead. For Bell, one formative insight came from an earlier tenure as head of school, where he learned that a school’s success cannot rest on the head’s efforts alone. That experience shaped his approach at Redlands Christian Schools, where he empowers the next level of leaders while setting the school’s vision and strategic direction.

Bell believes Redlands to be God’s school, and his role is one of responsibility rather than ownership. His 15-year tenure, first as the upper school principal and then the last seven as head, has included key initiatives, including a merger that brought together two Christian schools with a difficult history and a Spanish immersion program that helped grow the lower school from two classes per grade to four.

Building Belonging through Relationships

Strong relationships are central to how Bell builds a sense of belonging. During his tenure, he has introduced an annual high school retreat that has become a student highlight and a lasting memory. The three-days and two-nights retreat gives students opportunities to connect with peers, faculty and staff and with God in a setting different from everyday school life.

The school’s century-old history also fosters a sense of community. Its Dutch Christian Reformed heritage lives on through the annual Holland Festival, which combines games, activities and performances, even while the school’s diversity has expanded well beyond that heritage.

“ My focus as a senior leader is to empower the next level of leaders while setting the school’s vision and strategic direction. “

For Bell, being loving is a core value that guides interactions among faculty, students and parents. That became visible when a staff member who had served in the international student department for 16 years was killed in a car accident, which also injured international students traveling with her. The community supported her family and honored her impact at a memorial attended by more than 500 people, 75 percent of them connected to Redlands.

Leading Christian Education through Change

Christian schools increasingly face pressures from a cultural and political environment that frames issues in opposing terms. Bell sees Christian education offering a third way, developing a biblical worldview that prepares students for lives of service, leadership and a coherent basis for understanding the world around them.

AI presents a complex test. While technology can be useful, it cannot replace life skills like critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and pattern recognition.

Affordability creates another challenge as inflation and rising costs affect the school and families’ education decisions. Bell seeks to ensure the school addresses parents’ value perception while improving academic programs, facilities and student support.

Academic progress reflects that effort, with lower school students exceeding peer-school benchmarks on standardized tests and high school students achieving an 85 percent AP pass rate. Tuition assistance further helps families across different economic backgrounds access Christian education. Redlands emphasizes the value of every student as made in the image of God, with shared faith providing a basis for unity.

Leading with Courage

For Bell, the pandemic became a defining leadership moment as Redlands navigated unfamiliar government entities, changing health guidance and concerns about student learning. The school became the first in San Bernardino County, public or private, to reopen under California’s K-6 waiver. On-campus options were created for middle and upper school students who struggled with remote learning while preserving alternative options for families with health concerns.

Bell maintained frequent communication with his executive team, parents and board members. The experience reinforced his commitment to leading with courage and making decisions focused on what is best for students.