LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Rebecca Russell was nominated by her colleague, Ashley Hinton.

Ms. Russell is the true definition of ambition, drive, growth, and positive spirit.  Over the last five years, she has spent her time growing and developing the Teacher Academy program at Brandon High School. What started out as a handful of students has grown into a full academy model with students completing the program and enrolling in post-secondary education programs. 

Education can often meet us with road blocks, but Ms. Russell has found a detour for every problem she has encountered. She has done so with the biggest smile and positive attitude that anyone has ever seen.  Due to construction, she was placed as a floating teacher, moving from classroom to classroom each block.  She took the challenge like a champ, got a cart, loaded it up with everything she needed for each day, and moved along. Also, her program requires several hours of observation for her students. She communicates regularly with the local elementary schools and has a schedule for her students to observe in these schools to learn from other educators. 

Another great opportunity Ms. Russell provides for her students is that she has local community members who come in on a regular basis to share their experiences with education. She believes that just because someone isn't a teacher, doesn't mean that person doesn't teach others. Because of this mentality, her guest speakers are often times from other industries outside of education. She uses this as an opportunity for her students to see how we are all teachers. 

Also, Ms. Russell and her students have a heart for giving and supporting others.  Every spring, she and her students find a local student or family in need. In general, these families are facing hardships such as cancer, loss of home, or some other life-changing situation. Ms. Russell generates a fundraiser through the school, requests entertainment from teachers, spirit and enthusiasm from the pep squad and cheerleaders, and student versus teacher basketball challenges to hold a school-wide pep rally.  She invites the chosen family to be a part of this extravagant event, and she presents the family with a check of the proceeds from the fundraiser. Ms. Russell and her students work tirelessly for weeks preparing for this event, but never once do they take credit for the funds or the event. They share the credit with the school, as a whole.

"Isn't it the job of a teacher to teach the whole child?  Rebecca does this each and every day, and she does so with a constant smile and usually wearing a little bit of glitter," said Hinton. "She always says, 'We all need a little sparkle.'"