County native spreads 'legacy of learning'

Bell People with ties to Carroll County may travel the world or move out of state, but they will often continue to do good for the community they grew to love.

Best selling children's author, speaker and consultant Babs Bell Hajdusiewicsz said her passion for children and education is rooted in Carroll County. A 1962 graduate of Delphi Community High School and former resident of Burrows, Hajdusiewicsz has published 100 books, and more than 350 poems and songs for children, parents, and teachers.

Hajdusiewicsz has given approximately $16,000 to graduating students of Delphi Community High School for children's story scholarship submissions over the years. This year Delphi Community High School graduate Jimmy Reed was the sixteenth graduate to receive a $1,000 scholarship. Hajdusiewicsz said she intends to create a "legacy of learning" by giving back to the school that inspired her.

"I give this scholarship because I want to encourage people to love children as much as I do," Hajdusiewicsz said. "And also because I know what $1,000 would mean to me when I went to college. I remember that poverty. I know what it's like to fear you won't make it."

Hajdusiewicsz said the driving force that inspired her and many other young women to pursue an education after high school was former DCHS counselor Dorothy Johnson.

"In those days I had few choices," she said. "I could be a mother, a secretary, or an airline hostess - but I didn't have the legs or the height to do that. Or I could teach. I was always entertaining children on the weekends and reading nursery rhymes to them. So I dedicated myself toteaching." Haj- dusiewicsz worked as a nanny to earn money for room and board when she went to Indiana State University in 1962. She graduated with a degree in elementary education and decided to backpack across Europe in the search for "the other slice of life."

When she returned to the states Hajdusiewicsz taught early childhood elementary and special education in Indiana, Ohio and New York. She served as director for special education in Indiana and Michigan and taught special education teacher-training at Eastern Michigan and Cleveland State universities.

"Then one day I asked my husband if he thought I could get paid to sit in a circle and read with children," she said. "That was when I started up Pee Wee Poetry."

Hajdusiewicsz said the Pee Wee Poetry program for children two through nine was a success. When children made requests for book subjects that were not available on library shelves, she began inventing her own poems and rhymes.

"It was kids that sucked me into being a writer," she said.

Her first book, "Mr. Bear" was published in 1991. Some of Hajdusiewicsz's more recent titles include: "Sputter, Sputter, Sput!," "Don't Go Out in Your Underwear!" and "Dainty Dinosaur."

"I plan to live forever by touching as many children, parents and teachers as I can and by encouraging them to be the best they can be," She concluded.

Hajdusiewicsz is daughter to Grace Bell Fry of Burrows, the former Evan Bell, and stepdaughter to former Harry Fry. Hajdusiewicsz currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband Jerry. They are parents to Alison, 33 and Nick, 34.

Hajdusiewicsz's latest book "Wow! Words!" will be available in bookstores soon. For more information about literacy, children and learning, visit www.ilikeme.com and blog at www.parenting4literacy. net.