Betty Taulese Nesbitt Rowell

Betty Nesbitt Rowell is a native of Champaign, Illinois. She is the daughter of the late Herbert E. Nesbitt (Inman Hotel chief cook) and Pauline Gillespie Nesbitt (homemaker). She is the youngest of ten children. She was married to the late Phillip M. Rowell, community activist, in 1979. They have one son, Phillip Maurice Lewis Owens Nesbitt Rowell, II born in 1982.

Mrs. Rowell has dedicated her life to educating students at the elementary school level. She was inspired by former educators such as Jim Casey, Maudie Edwards, Isabelle Buckner, Gerald Yaxley, Odelia Wesley, Ruth Fliegel, Ruth Calimese, Helen Johnson, Kenneth O. Stratton and Tom Pitchett.

At age 12, Betty was afflicted with a potentially life-threatening disease. Consequently, she was denied an opportunity to continue her education for an entire year. This contributed to her insatiable desire to learn and teach others.

Betty received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Illinois State University in 1971. Her first teaching position was in first grade at Carman Elementary School in Waukegan, Illinois until 1974. She earned her Master's Degree in Educational Policies Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1976. Upon returning to Champaign, she taught at Robeson elementary School from 1976-1979. Betty worked for Ginn/Xerox Publishing Company as a copy editor in the Boston area and Motorola, Inc. in Schaumburg, Illinois as an account representative. In 1985, she returned to teaching and is proud to teach at Stratton Elementary School. Her most recent honor was a WICD-TV 2001 Golden Apple Award for her commitment to excellence in teaching.

Betty enjoys spending time with her family and enjoys going to church.