OBERLIN, Ohio — Decades of teaching and making an impact in the lives of students and others paid off for the northeast Ohio teacher named the 2022 National Teacher of the Year. 

Kurt Russell teaches at Oberlin High School, which is just outside of Cleveland. He was Ohio’s teacher of the year in 2021 before making it to a pool of four finalists for National Teacher of the Year.

“I am truly excited. I’m humbled. I’m ready to work,” Russell said after learning of the award. “I believe I have a message that I would like to provide educators throughout this great country and also states as well. I recognize what I possess is what other great teachers throughout this country possess. Our willingness to connect with our students, our willingness to engage with our students. The love that we have for our students.” 

Russell’s goal now is to bring awareness and attention to the need for diverse faculty and representative curriculum that help all students, so they feel more empowered in their education.

Knowing the current legislative and school board meeting climate in some places, Russell is ready to move forward.

“I think the first thing I have to do is to be honest, to have an authentic voice and to share my experience at Oberlin High School in Oberlin, and to show love,” he said. “I think that’s the most important thing as well. If I could show them respect, show them love and have a listening ear as well, I think we could come up with a mutual ground.”

He looks forward to the next year of sharing with other educators across the country.

“I really want to make sure that teachers feel a sense of belonging. I always say this, that teachers are loved, they are valued, that they are important,” he said. “And I just want to make sure that I continue to discuss that with teachers and students across this nation.”