John Russell

Even though I was born in England and have small remnants of the accent, I will always consider myself a resident of the "Show Me" state of Missouri, where an outgoing personality and the idea to always give a helping hand are ingrained into the culture.  My own philosophy of teaching stresses the idea that our world, and science in particular, operates as much through partnerships as individual accomplishments.

My own beginnings in science come from my father, a microbiologist who does work in tuberculosis.  I can remember times at an early age in the laboratory well, and had way too much help in my science fair projects until I rejected the living sciences for building telescopes and completing Messier marathons in high school and taking my sights from the stars above to the rock layers below in college at Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in Earth & Planetary Sciences and minoring in Physics.  While at college, I was very lucky with the different opportunities I received in earth science, working in two of Steve Fossett's mission controls as he eventually successfuly circumnavigated the globe in a balloon, working with my thesis advisor's Apollo 11 moonrocks, and completing geologic work in the Western United States and the parks around Quebec.

My beginnings in education come from more humble beginnings, as a swimming instructor in our local pool through high school.  However, my mother's family always had education in mind, and I would grow up hearing tales of my great-uncle's work teaching during the various religious riots in inner-city Belfast.  Through college I tutored students with autism in my free time, and finally, I decided that I would combine these experiences with my accomplishments in science and applied to Teach For America, teaching middle school science in the south-central Bronx.

After my two year commitment, I was asked by another TFA alum to help found a school in Canarsie, Brooklyn, that was based on building students' fundamental skills in inquiry and mathematics.  This work led to my eligibility for National Board Certification and various opportunities to partner with science departments at Arizona State and FIU.

My classroom is built by my core experiences in science in college.  The best way to learn is to interact with the material yourself, as a geologist builds a history by walking the field themself.  Knowledge is built not from belief, but from experience.  When something is experienced that goes against what you believe to be true, you must refine and repostulate, as a scientist is taught to do.

I am truly excited to be at CSS.  The work that has been done here, and the work that will always be continued to be done, are truly on the edge of education.  I look forward to being challenged by the people here, especially my students.