Hi! My name is Jessalyn Russell and I am so excited to be your teacher this year!!! We are going to do so many fun things and of course we will learn a lot. I hope you have had a fabulous summer so far.

This will be my 21st year teaching and my 8th year at Gold Rush. I have taught 3rd, 4th and 5th grade at GRE and have taught 5th grade, 5th/6th grade math, 4th grade, 3rd grade and was a Gifted Instructional Teaching-Coach in Arizona. I also coached middle school girls basketball and softball. For 6 summers I also taught English in the Czech Republic with International Needs Network.

Before moving to Colorado I lived in Phoenix for 13 years, but was raised in Northern New Mexico. I am a huge baseball fan and love the Arizona Diamondbacks and dream of visiting every MLB team's home stadium. I love visiting National Parks, and try to go to at least one a year. I enjoy creating and building things and would probably be a contractor if I had to choose another job. I am a rockstar aunt to 2 nephews, 2 bonus nephews, and 2 bonus nieces.

I love reading, musicals, history, math, sewing, crafting, and gardening.

I truly believe that this year is going to be great! I look forward to meeting you all and enjoying a great year.