Rebekah Israel-Belk has spent her entire 11-year educational career at Mamie D. Lee, starting as a dedicated aide and now working as a classroom aide with a group of nine students between the ages of nine and 12. “I look forward to coming to work every day,” she says. “I love working with these kids. The more love you give them, the more they give back.” Mrs. Israel-Belk still vividly remembers her first day arriving at the school, new to working with a special-needs population. “I was sitting in the cafeteria, waiting for my student. I saw all of the children come in and it brought tears to my eyes,” Mrs. Israel-Belk recalls. “This school is where my heart is. I cannot see myself doing anything else or working anywhere else.”

Mrs. Israel-Belk grew up in Washington, D.C., and her four children all graduated from DCPS schools. Mrs. Israel-Belk has participated on her school’s Thanksgiving Committee, Winter Celebration Committee, Special Olympics Committee, and PTA. “I work around great people, and we love to see the students grow,” she explains. Despite the challenges, she feels blessed to be able to do her job every day. Mrs. Israel-Belk has been rated Highly Effective in all four years of IMPACT evaluations.