Exploratory Staff
Exploratory Staff
Get to Know Your Exploratory Teachers!
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
Mrs. Baker
FCS & Integrated Learning Lab
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
Mrs. Andersen
Everything
Art
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 - 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 - Skilled & Technical Science
Mr. Christiansen enjoys building things, camping with his family, movies, and exploring new technology.
Mrs. Dymond - Orchestra
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 - 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 - 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 -
Mrs. Leuschen -
Physical Education
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 - 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
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
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
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.