What sets The Donoho School apart is our faculty. These individuals provide the living curriculum for Donoho students in and out of the classroom. Each week we will feature a member of the faculty and his or her story. We hope you will enjoy getting to know our faculty members throughout the school year and will stop by each week to read the latest Donoho Story!
Donoho Stories: Mr. Russ Connell
What do you teach at The Donoho School?
I teach 9th grade English and AP Language and Composition, and I am the Upper School Director.
What do you love about The Donoho School?
Truly, I love the students at Donoho. I have never been around a more pleasant, polite, driven, funny, considerate, talented group of students in any academic setting in my life. Year in and year out, the consistency, what one can expect of a Donoho student, remains, and this is what I love about The Donoho School.
Why do you like teaching at The Donoho School? What motivated you to become a teacher at The Donoho School?
I suppose what I love about Donoho, its students, is why I like teaching here. Every day is a new challenge because Donoho students thrive most when challenged, and that is what motivates me now. Yet, what motivated me to come to Donoho originally was more personal and selfish in nature. Years ago when my first child, Edwin, was born, I knew that my wife, Karen (class of ’90), and I would send him to Donoho when he was old enough, and I knew then that if possible, I wanted to teach where he was. Now, as I begin my 11th year at Donoho, my daughter, Estella, has since joined us, and I wake up every morning so blessed to be at such a wonderful school with them both.
What is a unique experience, talent or interest that you bring to your classroom to help shape the learning experience of your students?
I have had the privilege to serve on an advisory board for Auburn University’s English Department. Through this experience, I have gained a keener insight into what English professors expect from incoming freshmen, and this has shaped my instruction.
What sets Donoho students apart from students in other schools?
All students experience some peer pressure, but Donoho students experience POSITIVE peer pressure! Donoho students are comfortable working together in groups and readily push their peers along in study groups and can be found working together to help achieve success. This, I feel, helps them to understand the power and essential need for collaboration, a skill set that will serve the well in college and beyond.
The Donoho School tagline is “Discover the Difference.” How do you accomplish this in your role at Donoho?
I keep coming back to the students. The kindness, drive, maturity, and mutual respect that they display daily is a big part of the Donoho Difference. I, along with my colleagues, appreciate this difference and do what I can to challenge them with a high level of expectations.
What do you want your students to gain from having known you?
More than anything, when my students leave Donoho I want them to carry a confidence that they are equipped to be a well-rounded, successful college student.
Russ Connell holds a B.A. and M.Ed. from Auburn University. He is a National Board Certified Teacher and continues to teach English as well as serve as the Upper School Director at The Donoho School. He is married to Karen Lewis Connell ’90, and the dad of Edwin ’20 and Estella ’24. He and his family live in Anniston, Alabama.
