Exploratory Staff

Get to Know Your Exploratory Teachers!

The Russell Middle School Exploratory teachers love educating students! Each teacher has their own strengths and talents that they bring to their classroom everyday. Scroll down to get to know your teachers. Rumor has it that they are amazing.

Mrs. Baker

FCS & Integrated Learning Lab

Mrs. Baker teaches 6th, 7th, 8th grade foods & 7th, 8th grade Integrated Learning Lab. She has a bachelor's and two master's degree from UNO. She is married & has two daughters who will attend Russell. She loves cake decorating, fishing, and traveling to Florida and Colorado.

Mrs. Andersen

Everything
Art

Mrs. Andersen teaches 6th and 7th grade Art Foundations, 8th grade Drawing, Painting, Pottery & Sculpture, and Advanced Art Study. She is married & has 2 kids. When Mrs. Andersen is not teaching, she likes to create, read and spend time outside with her family and dogs.

Mrs. Peterson - Health

Mrs. Peterson teaches health courses for grades 6-8. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and two children. Interior design, refinishing furniture, and traveling are some of her hobbies.

Mr. Christiansen - Skilled & Technical Science

Mr. Christiansen enjoys building things, camping with his family, movies, and exploring new technology.

Mrs. Dymond - Orchestra

Mrs. Dymond enjoys teaching students to play string instruments and she loves music! She also loves laughing, swimming, and hanging out with her kids at home. Her favorite performer is Lindsey Stirling because she is awesome. Be in orchestra!

Mr. Parker - Band

Mr. Parker enjoys working with students to realize their full potential. He loves all forms of music, especially jazz and country music. In his spare time, Mr. Parker likes to drum, mountain bike, hike, and do activities with his sons. Come join the band!

Mr. Elledge - Physical Education

Mr. Elledge teaches physical education at RMS. He is also the boys basketball coach and helped the team achieve an undefeated season. In his spare time he enjoys cooking, spending time with his wife, and entertaining family and friends.

Mrs. Leuschen -

Physical Education

Mrs. Leuschen has been teaching at Russell Middle School for 20 years. She married to her husband, Tim, who is also a teacher in Millard and they have three children, Ellie, Emma, and Jack. She enjoys spending time with family and friends. Her favorite activities are dance, basketball, volleyball and football. She enjoys teaching PE at RMS and looks forward to many more years.

Mr. Firkins - Choir/Music

Mr. Firkins was a former Russell Timberwolf student, and it's his first year as a teacher at Russell Middle School. He directs all three choirs, the two show choirs, the musical, and the a cappella group, in addition to teaching general music. He loves the outdoors, traveling, being outside, playing video games, and cheering on the Huskers!

Mrs. Cox - Spanish

Sra. Cox loves learning about other cultures and sharing the gift of knowing another language with students. She actually completed one year of French in High School and then studied Spanish in college. So far she has been to Mexico ten times and hopes to expand her horizons to other countries in the future. She also loves her husband and 3 kids, her two beagles, hiking, & reading.

Mrs. K.P. - Spanish

Sra. Kester-Pearson (KP) enjoys traveling, reading, singing, dancing, and meeting new people. She has taught every level of Spanish from 5th grade through college level. She went to Wayne State College for her undergraduate and Southern Nazarene University for her master's. She is married to Greg, has two kids Cambrie and Camden, and two cats Licorice and Chloe.

Mr. Ward

Mr. Ward enjoys basketball and all thing sports. In addition to being our computers teacher, he also serves the RSM community as our Activities Director. Mr. Ward enjoys traveling and has even made a harrowing oceanic journey in the Caribbean.

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