Hi! My name is Jessalyn Russell and I am so excited to be your teacher this year!!!  We are going to do so many fun things and of course we will learn a lot. I hope you have had a fabulous summer so far.  I am so excited to see your faces at Meet the Teacher Day!

This will be my 18th year teaching and my 5th year at Gold Rush.  I love third grade and have spent 13 of my 18 teaching years in this grade.  I have also taught 4th grade, 5th grade, 5th/6th grade math, and was a Gifted Instructional Teaching-Coach. I also coached middle school girls basketball and softball.  I have spent 6 summers teaching English in the Czech Republic with International Needs Network.  

Before moving to Colorado I lived in Phoenix for 13 years, but was raised in Northern New Mexico.  I am a huge baseball fan and love the Arizona Diamondbacks. I have an ever growing bobblehead, baseball and Snoopy collection in my classroom. I enjoy creating and building things and would probably be a construction worker if I had to choose another job.  I also love sewing, crafting, and gardening.  

I truly believe that this year is going to be great!  I look forward to meeting you all and enjoying a great year.