BY LOU SIFA

Discussions about race, gender and sexual identity have become taboo in American schools these days, as a result of conservatives’ push to ban such subjects from the curricula. But that’s exactly what Kurt Rusell, a black teacher at Oberlin High School, a city in Lorain County, Ohio, teaches. The efforts not only earned Russell the enviable honor of being The National Teacher of the Year, but he’ll also be honored tomorrow, Wednesday, at the White House by President Biden, the Democratic president who stands at the antipode of the push against teaching these subjects.

The ceremony at the White House tomorrow will be attended by first lady Jill Biden—a veteran educator—in honor of state and national teachers of the year. But the supreme honor will go to Russell who, according to the non-profit Council of Chief State School Officers which bestowed upon him the title of the National Teacher of the Year, developed the courses on Race, Gender and Oppression, while also teaching courses in African American history. The veteran, fit-looking educator is also a varsity basketball coach and serves as the faculty adviser for the school’s Black Student Union.

On April 21, students, faculty and state local gathered at Oberlin High School to celebrate the occasion.

Among several high-level officials who addressed the gathering, Ohio State Representative Joe Miller said about Kurt Russell:

“His teaching style is one that we can all learn from. He connects the curriculum to the students’ own experiences and provides them with authentic learning outcomes. Mr. Russell gives a voice to the students and allows them to actively work through difficult topics while motivating them to question the past and have those tough conversations, which many today choose to ignore.”

Speaking in his turn, the honoree stated he did not believe the news at first: “When I was first nominated as Ohio Teacher of the Year, I really thought it was a spam email.”

Visibly excited about winning the highest honor among his peers, yet nervous, Russell also said:

“I really want to bring attention to diversity in schools and make sure that students receive the most equitable, diverse education possible. That means having a diverse faculty and staff along with a diverse curriculum.”

Discussing his work, Russell said:

“If I’m teaching about the Revolutionary War, I need to make sure that young women see themselves in the curriculum, that students of color see themselves in the curriculum, and that I engage those students as well.”

He stressed that it’s always been his philosophy “to make sure that every voice is heard and that the narrative encompasses all students.”

It’s truly a feat to win the title of the National Teacher of the Year while teaching about race in the context of the polarizing debate which has led some state politicians to ban the teaching of subjects related to race. So, Rusell did not go unnoticed. Hence his being invited on the popular television program “CBS Morning” following his nomination as the National Teacher of the Year 2022.

Addressing a nationwide audience through the program, the “CBS Morning” guest said that he is proud of the school district he works for and that he gets his inspiration from his students: “Each and every day my children bring a scent of respect, a scent of an eagerness to learn, and I am just fortunate that I am part of this great education.”

A veteran teacher for 25 years, Russell told the “CBS Morning” hosts that his desire to become a history teacher was shaped by the fact that he lived in the south through several historical events.

Looking forward to the ceremony at the White House tomorrow, Kurt Russell said the event will communicate the importance of diverse hiring within schools across the nation.