As dean of students at Quest Charter Academy High School, Marcus J. Belin works with school personnel, parents, students and the Peoria Charter School Initiative Board of Directors to build a positive school environment. In 2010, Belin joined Quest as a seventh-grade social studies teacher, and after exhibiting passion, enthusiasm and competence in the classroom, he was promoted to his current position. From monitoring student safety to assisting teachers in the classroom, Belin works hard to maximize students’ time at Quest and guide them onto a positive path.
Hailing from the south side of Chicago, Belin understands the challenges experienced by many Quest students. His ability to communicate, challenge and mentor them illustrates his commitment to positively influencing the next generation of leaders. Belin volunteers an enormous amount of his time outside of school hours, painting or fixing up the gym, cafeteria and classrooms, and planning new activities and achievement awards. He ultimately hopes to serve as U.S. secretary of education, where he can extend his influence to students across the country.
Belin’s commitment to youth reaches far beyond the walls of Quest. As vice president and director of educational activities for Kappa Pi Lambda, the Peoria alumni chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, he volunteers at events like the Alpha Walk and is a mentor for the “”Go-to-High-School, Go-to-College” initiative. At St. Paul’s Baptist Church, Belin can be found volunteering at Harvest Fest or DJing youth events. He has also volunteered for the Head Start Winter Wonder Fest, Peoria Jaycees’ Haunted House and Peoria Zoo’s Howl-Zoo-Ween events. The recipient of numerous awards as a student, he earned the Bradley University Black Alumnae of the Year Award in 2013 and recently earned his master’s degree in educational leadership in administration.
When not helping to educate and inspire area youth, Belin and his wife, Monique, are raising a future leader—a young daughter—of their own. “Some people are just born to lead,” says one coworker, “and Marcus Belin is one of those people.” iBi
