District 58 welcomes superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell

BY KERRIE KENNEDY

When you have seven children at home, it’s hard to imagine also having a job where you’re working with kids all day. But that’s exactly what Dr. Kevin Russell, newly appointed superintendent of District 58, does. “I guess having seven kids is kind of my claim to fame,” Russell said. “My oldest is a sophomore in high school; then I have an eighth-grader, a sixth-grader, a fifth-grader, a fourth-grader, and the youngest is in kindergarten. So I have all my ‘kiddos’ in school. My wife is a middle-school mathematics teacher, so we have a busy but fun house.” His other “kiddos” are the students of District 58, and he’s dedicated to helping them reach their highest potential. “I don’t take my position for granted,” Russell said. “I feel like I won the lottery. We’re going to do great things for the students of District 58.”

A veteran teacher, Russell grew up in Woodridge, and graduated from Downers Grove North. After becoming a teacher, Russell was invited to student-teach at O’Neill Middle School by Rick Russell (no relation), former principal of Thomas Jefferson Junior High School. “He remembered me as a student at Jefferson,” Russell said. “He was something of a teaching legend.” Russell not only student-taught there, but when Rick Russell put in his retirement notice shortly after, Kevin Russell was able to take over his job, teaching at O’Neill for seven years. “I absolutely loved it,” Russell said of his time there. “I coached several sports and sponsored several clubs, and got a chance to work with so many different kids at so many levels.”

Russell, who lives in nearby Lisle with his family, was appointed superintendent of District 58 in April, but didn’t officially take over until July 1, the start of the new fiscal year. “That allowed me so many opportunities to transition, meet with key people, build relationships and connect with former colleagues,” he said. “It was really neat to already know a lot of people.”

In fact, Russell said his number one priority is to build strong relationships with staff, students and the community of District 58. “We’re all stakeholders,” he said. His other goals include continuing to strengthen the district’s curriculum, and engaging with the community about the district’s facilities. “A lot of our facilities are well-maintained, but they are aging—some have been around for 100 years,” Russell said. “I want to make sure we’re setting our kids up for success by providing the right learning environment for the 21st century.”

According to Russell, education is changing rapidly because of technology and new accountability measures, which pose a challenge that all educators face in 2019. But he has no doubt the district is up to the challenge. “The strength of District 58 is its capital,” he says. “We have unbelievable students, teachers, support staff and families. That’s why we’re one of the leading districts in the state and beyond.”

Russell’s enthusiasm for his new job is palpable. “I am beyond excited,” he said. “This is a community that’s given so much to me personally. They will get 1,000 [percent] commitment from me. We’re going to do great things for the students of District 58.” ■