Brandon Russell, also known as just Mr.Russell, has arrived this year to become one of our CTE business, communications, and management teachers. Additionally he is Central’s new theater teacher.
Russell grew up in Northern California in a town called Arnold. He became a math teacher at Lake Forest Middle School last year, after moving to Tennessee. This year will be his third year teaching. Russell says he wanted to become a teacher because he wants to help educate young minds in business. Moreover Russell loves theater, he taught a summer program at community theaters in California and wanted to bring the fun here to Central.
Some things that can be expected in Russell’s classroom are: equity, respect, tons of positivity, and a whole bunch of laughs. Among other things, Russell has an open door policy, he’s always there for his students when they need extra help academically or emotionally. He wants all of his students to feel seen, safe, and secure in the classroom.
Russell always wants to keep his kids motivated and engaged. One of the ways that he does that is finding the best way kids learn. Russell said a lot of his kids interpret information differently, he also says that, “the same information can be given in different ways,” which leads him to do a lot of project based learning for his students who learn hands on, and lectures to the students who need to listen to understand.
Many teachers have to deal with the disrespect and impoliteness of different students every single day, and it makes you wonder how teachers prepare themselves for when this happens. When Russell was asked how he deals with difficult students, his response was, “The beauty of teaching is, everyday is different, even though you’re teaching the same things usually, you’re going to get a different personality of a kid that walks in. Each student’s going to have a good day and a bad day. It just depends how you’re going to deal with that. Just always be prepared.”
Many of Russell’s students adore him! Students agree that Russell is a very supportive teacher and he makes it known that he’s always here for extra support. Further, Students have said he keeps his class on task and makes sure students are doing what they’re supposed to, while also keeping a sense of humor with his students to help them stay motivated and intrigued with his class. Overall, we are lucky Mr. Russell became a part of central to spread more positivity and help kids feel safe, included, and cared for.
