1. Donna Russell
dmarussell@hotmail.com
(c) 810.643.3559 //Home: 989-273-1297
2943 W. Burdell
Roscommon, MI 48653
Education
Jul 2007 - May 2009
Saginaw Valley State University - Saginaw, MI
Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.)
Major: Special Education
GPA: 3.8
Apr 2000 - Aug 2003
Wayne State University - Detroit, MI
Master of Education (M.Ed.)
Major: Art | Minor: Art
GPA: 3.5
2. Apr 1994 - Aug 1998
University of Michigan-Flint - Flint, MI
Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
Major: Art
GPA: 3.5
Apr 1994 - Aug 1998
University of Michigan-Flint - Flint, MI
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Major: Art
GPA: 3.5
K-12 Art education
Student Teaching
Jan 2009 - May 2009
Algonac community schools
Algonquin middle school - Algonac, MI
special education teacher
Grade: Pass
3. Jan 1998 - Apr 1998
Flint community schools
Southwestern - Flint, MI
Art education teacher
Grade: Pass
Certificates/Licenses
Jun 2014 - Jun 2019
Michigan Office of Professional Preparation Services
Art education
K-12 art
Number: IF0000000112607
Jun 2014 - Jun 2019
Michigan Office of Professional Preparation Services
Learning Disabilities
Special education
Number: IF0000000112607
4. Certification/Licensure Tests
Jul 1996
Michigan Test for Teacher Certification, Part 1
Basic Skills Test
Score: 264
Passed - Michigan
Jul 1996
Michigan Test for Teacher Certification, Part 2
Art Education
Score: 265
Passed - Michigan
Jan 2009
Michigan Test for Teacher Certification, Part 2
Learning Disabled
Score: 265
Passed - Michigan
5. Work Experience: Education
Sep 1998 - Jun 2015
Algonac community schools - Algonac, MI
Algonac, MI
Art and Special ed. teacher (Full-time)
Taught Art full time for 7 years K-5, then two more years 6-8,
finally as an Art seminar for 5 years 6-8, while teaching
special education English 6-8, Last two years 9-12 special ed.
English/literature and Art seminar.
Sep 1997 - Jun 1998
Kearsley, Clio, Mt. Morris and Davidson - Flint, MI
Flint
Substitute (No Contract)
Work Experience: Other
Jul 2009 - Aug 2009
Algonac/Clay library - Algonac, MI
Art instructor
Library offered Art instruction during the summer for K-12
students. I taught 2 different classes, k-5 and 6-12, in still
life and landscape drawing and watercolor pencil for 3 weeks.
6. Jun 2000 - Aug 2006
Downriver recreation center - Algonac, MI
Art instructor
I taught various classes, in the summer and evenings during
the school year, to varying age/grade groups, from school age
children to adults in different mediums: watercolor,
oil/acrylic painting, drawing, watercolor, handbuilding/small
sculpture in clay.
Sep 2000 - Jun 2001
Algonac community schools - Algonac, MI
Resident artist
Commissioned as resident artist to work with 5th grade
students in the creation of an Outdoor/Courtyard Copper
sculpture.
Sep 1999 - Jun 2001
Algonac community schools - Algonac, MI
7. Resident artist
Commissioned as resident artist--led/taught elementary
students in creating tile murals at three different elementary
schools over the period of three years (1 school per year):
Algonac elem., Fairhaven elem., and Harsen's island elem.
Jan 1998 - Sep 1998
Flint Institute of Arts - Flint, MI
Fine arts/studio instructor
I taught various fine arts: drawing, painting, clay
handbuilding, etc... to students in classes of varying levels:
pre-school, elem., secondary, adults
Sep 1997 - Apr 1998
Mott community college - Flint, MI
student assistant
I assisted in displaying student work, within the Fine arts
building and museum, setting up Student art shows: matting,
glass, framing, mounting (setting screws in walls, priming
pedestals, etc...)
8. Jun 1996 - Aug 1996
Enduring Reflections - Millington, MI
Muralist
Commissioned as Mural artist in creating a mural on the
exterior wall of an Antique shop.
Apr 1994 - Jun 1994
Greg's Bike shop - Otisville, MI
commissioned artist
As commissioned artist, Created a One of a kind sign for
Motorcycle shop/light box sign.
Jan 1992 - Sep 1992
Kat's interior designs - Flint, MI
commissioned artist
Owner/interior designer of Kat's commissioned several
paintings and drawings for various clients to go with the new
interior design.
9. Extracurricular Activities
Nov 2014 - Mar 2015
Community outreach - Algonac, MI
School community outreach member
Coordinated with Algonac city clerk, Cindy Greenia, a high
school registration to vote recruitment (for the first time in
many years).
Nov 2014 - Dec 2014
Community outreach - Algonac, MI
community outreach member
Coordinated/arranged with Algonac's city clerk, Cindy Greenia,
high school student volunteers to work during Santa's visit at
city hall.
Oct 2014 - Dec 2014
Community outreach - Algonac, MI
community outreach member
Coordinated/arranged with Algonac's Mayor Bird, city council
10. and clerk, to have high school student volunteers decorate
Algonac's boardwalk with holiday décor.
Jun 2011 - Sep 2011
Algonac Art fair - Algonac, MI
Art Artist/member
Created large canvas painting of Algonac's main street and
posted to allow art fair goers to add their artistic creations
to it too. Then displayed at Algonac's city hall.
Jun 2010 - Sep 2010
Algonac Art fair - Algonac, MI
Art Artist/member
Created large canvas painting of Algonac's boardwalk and
waterfront, posted to allow art fair goers to add their
creative work, then displayed at Algonac's city hall.
Jun 2009 - Aug 2009
Algonac city - Algonac, MI
Art Lead artist/instructor
11. Led student volunteers in creating murals at Algonac's skate
park.
Jun 2008 - Aug 2008
Algonac city - Algonac, MI
Art artist/instructor
Led student volunteers in creating murals at Algonac's skate
park.
Mar 2007 - Mar 2007
Downriver recreation center - Algonac, MI
Art artist/instructor
Led middle school age students in creating a "Graffiti Wall"
for "Kick Butts day" 100 health days, as volunteer.
Sep 2005 - Jun 2007
Algonquin middle school yearbook - Algonac, MI
Yearbook Lead artist/instructor
Advisor, lead instructor/artist in guiding middle school
12. students in creating annual yearbook: taking photographs of
events, people, etc... arranging photos, fonts, pages, etc...
for yearbook, along with Yearbook cover design contest and
Sales of yearbook.
Sep 2006 - Sep 2006
Algonquin middle school - Algonac, MI
Art artist/instructor
Led students in creating "Pinwheels for Peace" (World project)
requested and received permission from City council to allow
students to place pinwheels at City's boardwalk/park on "World
peace day."
Sep 2005 - Oct 2005
Algonac Community Theater - Algonac, MI
Art artist/instructor
Led/guided 6th-8th grade students in creating (painting,
setting up) theater sets for play "Opal's husband"
I had also created/illustrated the program for same play.
13. Apr 2005 - Aug 2006
Downriver recreation center - Algonac, MI
Art artist/instructor
Led/guided k-5 grade students in researching beginning of
offshore racing in Algonac (Chris Craft and Gar Wood), took
field trip to local museum, wrote short essay and created
posters for race (digital art and hand illustrated). Posters
were then displayed throughout community and surrounding area
before, during and after races on the St. Clair river
waterfront--two years in a row.
Apr 2004 - Aug 2005
Downriver recreation center - Algonac, MI
Art artist/instructor
Led/guided k-5 grade students in creating posters for local
car show. Then displayed student posters throughout community
and surrounding areas before, during and after Algonac's
annual car show--two years in a row.
14. Sep 2004 - May 2005
Algonac community schools - Algonac, MI
Art artist/instructor
Led/guided 5th grade students in applying for and receiving
grants, creating budget, creating clay/ceramic bowls, holding
dinner, selling dinner and bowls to raise money, that was then
donated to local food pantry.
Apr 2003 - Aug 2004
Downriver recreation center - Algonac, MI
Art artist/instructor
Led/guided k-5 grade students in creating Car show posters.
students studied Toulouse Latrec and various posters
recognized as Art. Students created Car show posters that were
then displayed before, during and after Algonac's annual car
show--two years in a row.
Sep 2003 - Jun 2004
Harsen's Island school - Harsen's Island, MI
Art artist/instructor
Led/guided k-5 grade students in creation of tile mural to
15. display local flora and fauna of the island. Spouse and I
Mounted and Displayed on exterior of school building.
Sep 2002 - Jun 2003
Fairhaven elementary - Fairhaven, MI
Art artist/instructor
Led/guided k-5 grade student in creation of "Core democratic
values" tile mural. Integration of all disciplines to create
mural, mount and display on wall, and dedicate to school
community.
Sep 2001 - Jun 2002
Fairhaven elementary - Fairhaven, MI
Art artist/instructor
Led/guided k-5 grade students in applying for grant, creating
"Peace quilt" (to deal with feelings after 9/11...Art
therapy). Integration of other disciplines, lang.
arts--writing of poetry, short stories, math--measurements,
use fo grid, social studies/cultural--study of various
cultures to be included on World peace quilt. "Peace"
illustrated in various languages on quilt. Study of art
16. history--Faith Ringgold. Students drew, painted and had sewn
together canvas to create monumental quilt.
Sep 2001 - Jun 2002
Algonac community schools - Algonac/Clay/Fairhaven/Harsen's
island, MI
Art Art historian/instructor
Arranged and led local students and parents to the Detroit
Institute of Arts on Saturday field trips (due to permission
refused by school district to take students during the school
day)--two years in a row.
Oct 1999 - Feb 2000
Fairhaven elementary - Fairhaven, MI
Art artist/instructor
Guided and taught k-5 grade students after school, in learning
and applying Mime techniques, makeup, costume and
presentation.
17. Dec 1998 - Dec 2004
Algonac Elementary Winter festival - Algonac, MI
Art Artist/face painter
Painted many children's faces at winter carnival/festival.
Apr 2000 - Jun 2004
Algonac school's "Gifted and Talented" - Algonac, MI
Art artist/instructor
Taught "Gifted and talented" 5th grade students Oil painting
on canvas Plein air, Saturdays in the spring for several years
in a row.
Sep 1999 - Jun 2000
Algonac community schools - Algonac, MI
Ceramics artist/instructor
Wrote proposal for need of kiln/vent at Algonac and Fairhaven
elementary schools. Presented powerpoint to school board.
Approval of funding to purchase needed equipment
(kiln/vent/shelves, etc...) and kiln/vent to be placed by
maintenance.
18. Sep 1999 - Sep 1999
St. Clair parks and rec. commission - Algonac, MI
Art Art instructor
Guided 1st-3rd grade students in creating and entering posters
for competition "What I like at the park" submission of 18
posters, student won contest and $100.
Sep 2000 - Jun 2001
Algonac elementary - Algonac, MI
Art Art instructor
Volunteer--Guided/taught after school, k-5 grade students in
creating Mural painting of story book characters: Charlotte's
pig, a dolphin, stack of books, etc... that had been begun by
other teachers, and needed completion.
Sep 1998 - Jun 1999
Algonac elementary - Algonac, MI
Art Art instructor
Volunteer--guided and taught k-5th grade students to create
19. "Under the sea" mural. Sketches, drew, painted mural on
hallway walls.
Sep 1998 - Jun 1999
Fairhaven elementary - Fairhaven, MI
Art instructor
Volunteer--guided and taught k-5th gr. students at Fairhaven
elem. of local ecology, flora and fauna, in creating sketches
then mural on hallway wall.
Sep 1998 - Jun 1999
Algonac elementary - Algonac, MI
Art instructor
Volunteer--guided and taught in conjunction with Spanish
teacher/class to sketch, then paint mural of Dr. Seuss "One
fish, two fish" in Spanish...on hallway wall.
20. Additional Training
Mar 2015 - Mar 2015
St. Clair county Ressa - Marysville, MI
CIP
Crisis intervention program
Sep 2013 - Jun 2014
St. Clair county Ressa - Marysville, MI
Blended learning
Learned skills to teach secondary students online, and in
class, within a "Blended learning" environment. I then used a
"Schoology" program with secondary students (8th-12th gr.) for
two years in a row. I had also been invited and presented the
program that I had used with special ed. secondary students.
Sep 2011 - Dec 2011
Madonna university - online, MI
Writer's workshop
21. Sep 2006 - Jun 2007
MEA - Algonac, MI
union building rep
trained as a building representative for the Mich. ed. assoc.
teacher's union--for two years in a row
Oct 2006 - Jun 2007
Algonquin middle school - Algonac, MI
Olweus bully program
Trained as member of Olweus bully program to train colleagues
and to hold events (implementation of)with secondary students
to learn what bullying is, and how to be an appropriate
upstander.
Sep 2005 - Jun 2007
Josten's yearbook - Macomb, MI
Yearbook instructor
To guide and teach middle school/secondary students in
creating annual school yearbook. To use computer skills in
22. creating pages for yearbook, editing and publishing, etc...
Nov 2004 - Nov 2004
St. Clair county ISD - Marysville, MI
CIP
Crisis intervention program
Aug 1999 - Aug 1999
St. Clair county ISD - Marysville, MI
Curriculum integration
Integrating the curriculum across all subjects
Language Abilities
Spanish - Speak Conversationally, Read Only
23. Associations & Affiliations
Mar 2001 - Sep 2013 Algonac art fair committee - Member
Apr 2007 - Sep 2012 Algonac culture council - Founder/member
Oct 2006 - Nov 2010 Blue water arts council - Member
Sep 1997 - Present National Education Association - Member
Sep 1997 - Present Michigan education association - Member
Sep 2008 - Aug 2009 National Council of Teachers of English -
Member
24. Awards & Honors
Nov 2007 Saginaw Valley state university - Exemplary student
Mar 2008 Saginaw Valley state university - Exemplary student
May 1997 University of Michigan-Flint - Flint Scholar
Jun 1997 University of Michigan-Flint - Class honors
May 1997 University of Michigan-Flint - Juror's
choice/award-Portrait & fig. drawing
Jun 1994 Mott community college - Honorable mention-Metalsmith
Jun 1994 Mott community college - Honorable mention-advanced
drawing
May 1993 Mott community college - Dean's list
25. Special Skills
Fine arts artist and teacher - I am not only an Art teacher, but
also have a Fine arts degree and am a practicing Artist.
Blended and/or online teaching - I not only teach in the
classroom, but also online. It is a special skill to teach students
to work online (especially 6-12th
gr. spec. ed. students with learning
disabilities).
Special ed teacher (Learning disabilities) - It is one thing to
teach, and another to teach the learning disabled. Having dual
certification, along with 4 degrees (art, teaching and spec. ed) is
a special skill that enables one to teach All (with or
without a learning disability), in the General ed. and/or special
ed. classroom.
26. References
Alan Latosz ( Supervisor )
Asst. superintendent
Algonac comm. schools
Algonac, MI
alatosz@algonac.k12.mi.us
810.794.9364
Terry Wallis ( Supervisor )
Retired principal
Algonac comm. schools
Algonac, MI
810.794.5076
Angela Rochon ( Personal )
educator/admin./college instr./therapist/manager
Retired educator/admin.
Algonac, MI
810.794.3585
Debbie Zuccaro ( Other )
Parent of students
Algonac/Clay community
