This I Believe

I believe that teaching is fire. It spreads quickly and captivates us. It fuels and nurtures us. It is destructive — clearing the way for new ideas and new ways of living in relationship with others. Depending on the situation and circumstances, teaching has the capacity to be both life-giving and life-taking. Like fire, teaching is dangerous.

I believe that teaching is a calling — a Latin vocare. That we are called to be of service to future generations. I believe that from service comes joy and from joy comes everything.

I believe that teaching is a sacred act — not in a Sunday morning, sit in a pew way — but in a Wednesday afternoon, roll up your sleeves and take a deep breath way.

I believe I earn my place on this planet by teaching — not because it is painful and arduous — but because we are in a symbiotic relationship with the universe. We teach to be used and we teach to be renewed.

For more information on using “This I Believe” essays in your classroom, visit www.thisibelieve.org.

 

How I Teach

“One will weave the canvas; another will fell a tree by the light of his ax. Yet another will forge nails, and there will be others who observe the stars to learn how to navigate. And yet all will be as one. Building a boat isn’t about weaving canvas, forging nails, or reading the sky. It’s about giving a shared taste for the sea, by the light of which you will see nothing contradictory but rather a community of love.”

— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Wisdom of the Sands (Citadelle)

 

Building Belonging Classrooms with Open Window School

Centering Students and Nurturing Student Leadership with Antioch University

Strengthening Belonging Classrooms with Seattle University

Integrated Project-Based Learning Workshop with Seattle University

Intentional Gathering with Bellevue Discovery

White Teachers of Black and Brown Students with Northwest Association of Independent Schools

Instructional Coaching

Teaching

Seattle University College of Education prepares courageous and skilled education leaders who reflect the diversity of our society and help spearhead systematic change.

Madison Middle School has a deep commitment to every student’s journey—to ensure that each student will graduate ready for college, career and life. (Language Arts/Highly Capable Program)

Islander Middle School strives to ensure a challenging, relevant and engaging experience where every student is able to advance to a greater level of understanding, ability and performance. (Language Arts/Highly Capable Program)

Open Window School nurtures and inspires students of high intellectual potential. (Middle School Humanities)

McKnight Middle School works toward each student graduating with options and prepared to participate fully in our democracy. (Humanities/Highly Capable Program)

Working

Family Support Program Manager (Cascade People’s Center/Lutheran Community Services)

Mediator & Program Coordinator (Carroll County Mediation/Juvenile Diversion)

Community Coordinator (Office of Multicultural Affairs/Oberlin College)

Writing

Summer Island Mysteries (Middle-Grade/Advanced Readers): A Prince in Peril, A Jail for Justice, A Karst in Kweilin, A Tiara for the Taking, A Mêlée in Marrakesh

Those Roys (Young Adult/Humor): Those Roys on Planet Earth, Those Roys of New England

Learn more at www.robinrussell.net

Learning

Louisiana State University Shreveport (M.Ed.)

University of Washington / Bothell (Teaching Certification)

Oberlin College (B.A. in English)

Extensive training in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Family Engagement and Conflict Resolution

Living

Mother of three

Sister of woman who teaches yin-yang yoga

Aunt of teenager who bakes vegan, gluten-free cookies for unhoused people on Valentine’s Day and then misses curfew because she’s literally hanging out under bridges