K-5 Special Education teacher at Yadkin Success Academy. Born and raised in Boonville, N.C. I have three siblings, an older brother and two younger sisters. I am married to Richard A. Russell, Jr. (Ricky) and we have one child, Lamar A. Russell, a wonderful daughter-in-law, Julie H. Russell and one precious grandson, Makhi A. Russell. I like to teach, sew, cook, spend time with family, and work in the church.
I attended elementary school at Yadkin High School and after segregation, Boonville Elementary School. I am a 1978 graduate of Starmount High School and a 1982 graduate of Bennett College of Greensboro, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics Education. Due to no job openings at that time, I landed in a sewing plant as a supervisor.
After several years there, they closed due to low demand and I took a job as director of afterschool at Boonville Elementary School on May 4, 1999.
In August of 2003, I accepted a job as an assistant teacher for the self-contained SED class at Yadkin Success Academy. At the end of the year, the teacher took another job closer to home and I interviewed for that job which I got. I was directed to take some classes to become certified as a Special Education Teacher which I took at Surry in Yadkin through a cohort with Appalachian State University and became certified.
I am currently still teaching at Yadkin Success Academy in the K-5 SED classroom. Every day is a new day and a challenge sometimes, but YSA has been a great place to work at and the place I plan to retire from some day!