Mr. Russ graduated from Grace College and Theological Seminary with a B.S in Philosophy and a focus in Intercultural Studies. He has taught English as a Second Language in Vietnam and China for more than three years. He is a TEFL-certified instructor with a 170-hour course certificate and has experience with IELTS exams. He is also a Super Tutor for Cambly and has logged more than 1,100 hours coaching English vocabulary and grammar to non-native speakers. This unique and dynamic background gives him a sensitivity to each student’s strengths and weaknesses.

Additionally, Mr. Russ is adaptable, and can cater to different learning styles by using many different methods for practicing and improving skills and abilities. He enjoys working with kids and giving them opportunities to develop into confident and expressive speakers and creative, goal-achieving writers.

With many years of English classroom and sports coaching experience, Mr. Russ likes to create a positive and motivating environment. He uses different activities and methods to help all students feel encouraged and excited to participate in class and learning. He looks for ways to include students' interests and goals so they can use their new confidence in writing and vocabulary not just in his class, but in their schoolwork and everyday life, helping to create lifelong independent learners out of all the students.