Kathy Bell, a former coach and physical education teacher at Potter Street Elementary School, Bainbridge High School, Bainbridge Middle School and Southwest Georgia Academy in Damascus, Ga., is joining the Bainbridge-Decatur County YMCA staff as its new fitness director.

A graduate of Valdosta State University, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in health and physical education, she was head varsity swim coach at Bainbridge High School, and head junior varsity girls basketball coach and junior varsity cheerleading sponsor at West Bainbridge Middle School.

She was also owner and operator of Focus Spinning and Pilots Studio in Bainbridge and fitness director and employee personal trainer for the Mitchell County Board of Education in Camilla, Ga.

At Southwest Georgia Academy, the new YMCA fitness director was head girls and boys varsity cross country coach, head track coach, head junior varsity girls basketball coach, girls strength and conditioning coach and girls and boys fourth- and fifth-grade junior pro basketball coach.

She is also a national YMCA personal trainer, a YMCA water aerobics instructor and a YMCA fitness and group exercise instructor.