One of my last news releases as a media relations assistant.

1. STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski greets Lauren Russell as she crosses the Northwest commencement stage
this spring. Russell completed her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and will begin her professional
career in the fall in the Liberty Public School District. (submitted photo)
May 14, 2018
Practical experiences, travel opportunities prepared Russell
to teach
By Hannah Brod, media relations assistant
As a new graduate of Northwest Missouri State University Lauren Russell is launching her
career as a professional teacher – and she’ll be an advocate for the University because of
the valuable experience she gained.
Russell, of Linn County, Missouri, earned her bachelor’s degree this spring in elementary
education. In the fall, she will begin her professional career in the Liberty Public School
District.

2. “Everywhere I go in education, I proudly tell people that I am a Northwest Bearcat,” Russell
said. “Bearcats have a great reputation among school districts because we have such a
successful, qualified, educator preparation program.”
As an undergraduate student at Northwest, Russell enjoyed the variety of profession-based
experience provided in the School of Education, including travel opportunities that furthered
her knowledge and cultural perspectives.
She traveled in March 2017 with faculty, staff and students in the Northwest’s School of
Education to Italy, where the group toured early childhood centers, preschools, and primary
schools to study the Reggio Emilia Approach to preschool and primary education.
“We attended seminars and conferences from experts in the area alongside other educators
from all over the world,” Russell said. “I now feel so passionate about children’s rights and
have definitely become a stronger advocate and educator for children. I also developed a
strong relationship and friendship with the professors, teachers and other students I
traveled with. We developed an unbreakable bond, tied together through our cultural shift
and emotional experience of how extraordinary children really are.”
Russell also took advantage of an opportunity to visit Riverfield Country Day School in
Tulsa, Oklahoma, which models the Reggio Approach.
“I have always been one to jump at opportunities that will help me be a lifelong learner and
professionally develop me as an educator, especially if it involves travel and experiencing
new parts of the world,” Russell said.
At Northwest, Russell was involved with Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, Hermes Honor Society,
and Big Brothers Big Sisters. She also worked as a substitute teacher at Eugene Field
Elementary School in Maryville.
“Substitute teaching at Eugene Field is where I credit most of my educational learning
experiences,” Russell said. “I learned so much from the staff and children there. I was
welcomed with open arms and readily filled any position in which I was needed.”
Eugene Field gave Russell plenty of experience as she taught nearly every age between
preschool and high school during two years as a substitute teacher, in addition to occasional
work in special education, as a para-professional, and even working lunch duty.
Russell also was lucky to receive a long-term substitute teaching position in kindergarten
during a maternity leave.
“I fully got to build a relationship and watch the progress of eager learners day after day,”
Russell said. “Being a substitute teacher really allowed me to find myself as an educator. I
got to dabble in many different management strategies, curriculum and teaching
philosophies. It taught me flexibility and being able to step back and really observe how
children learn best.”
Looking back on her time at Northwest, Russell said she remembers coming to Northwest
for the first time and falling in love with the beautiful campus and friendly people.
“If I had to do it all over again, I would definitely choose Northwest again and again,”
Russell said.

3. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
MARK HORNICKEL, Communication Manager
mhorn@nwmissouri.edu | 660.562.1704 | Fax: 660.562.1900
NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
215 Administration Building | 800 University Drive | Maryville, MO 64468