Our School

Our motto, “Bella’s family is my family,” has roots in the history of the school. The school was named in honor of a former Greeley teacher, principal, and educational advocate that promoted family involvement in schools. Bella Romero was known for expressing that if she had met you once then you were considered to be family. We have adopted that attitude and take great pride in our efforts to promote a family feeling within the school and community. 

The Academy is a dual-campus K-8 school formed through the consolidation of the former East Memorial Elementary (opened in 1964) and Bella Romero K-7 schools (opened in 2003). The 2014-2015 year marked the inauguration of this innovative K-8 experience for students in east Greeley and beyond. Our vision- "Bella's Family Tradition" - is that all students will graduate high school (at a minimum) and achieve their dreams. Students in The Academy are not labeled by grade level but rather identified by their year of high school graduation (for example "The Class of 2025"). Furthermore, we support students on an ongoing basis by visiting them in high school, analyzing their attendance, behavior, and achievement data throughout high school, and being present to congratulate them on the day of their graduation ceremony. Our commitment is not only to the students in Bella's family, but also to the parents and other significant adults in their lives. We believe in the power of the school-home partnership and we work hard to build and maintain authentic connections with each family.

Bella Romero – 1942 to 1998

Bella Romero valued family, friendship, education and hard work. She made those with whom she worked and met feel like family members. She brought this warmth and caring into her interactions with children, parents, colleagues and professional relationships. This ability to make everyone feel like “family” lasted to the moment of her death. Family and friends remember that through she was fighting cancer, she comforted and listened to them all and was a teacher until the end.

Bella dedicated her life to her family and the field of education. She assisted her husband Ray in achieving his educational goals and worked to help support the family so that he could do this. Later, after receiving her GED, she became a non-traditional student in the University of Northern Colorado’s Teacher Education Program. She often said that she could only study after the children were in bed and all of the housework was done. This did not stop her. This dedication and enthusiasm helped her excel as a student and as a professional.

Bella was a teacher in Brighton until she chose to pursue school administration. She served as a building principal in Aurora, Longmont, and Greeley. She also served as coordinator of English as a Second Language, Bilingual Education and Parent Leadership for Weld County School District #6. In addition, she assisted in the creation of the CUMBRES Program.

As mentioned in the history of The Academy, our K-3 Campus previously existed as East Memorial Elementary.  The following is the History of the K-3 Campus, and how it was named. 

On the cold morning of December 14, 1961, a school bus was hit by a train east of Evans, killing 20 children and injuring 17.

Most of the children were from a small country school called Delta School, located on the eastern edge of Greeley (E. 20^th street and Cherry Ave.).  Five families lost two children each, and two of those families had no other children.  Cousins died.  One boy’s life ended on his 10^th birthday.  Brothers and sisters lived, while their siblings perished.

A new school was built nearby and opened in 1963.  East Memorial Elementary School was named in memory of these children.  Inside the school, hangs a brass plaque that carries the names of the children who were lost that day.  Outside, in front of the school, there are 2 trees that are dedicated in their honor.  One was planted on the 25^th anniversary of this tragedy; the other on the 50^th anniversary.

In 2007, a monument was dedicated at the scene of the bus/train accident.   This monument is located near Weld County Roads 52 and 43 east of Evans.