Raving for Russell: National Teacher of the Year gets huge homecoming in Oberlin (VIDEO)

OBERLIN — Kurt Russell strode in like a rock star Thursday morning, music booming behind him as he delivered fist bumps to screaming fans. The recently crowned 2022 National Teacher of the Year was met with a loud and proud standing ovation and deafening cheers as he returned home to Oberlin High School. Russell didn't shy from the spotlight, but he did deflect it, saying the town he grew up in is responsible for his success. "It was Oberlin who shaped me. And Oberlin who provided that ethic of hard work, being nice to people, being considerate, listening, having an open ear," he said. "That's who Oberlin is. That's who we are. That's in our DNA." Seeing his name splashed across a giant banner on Route 58, at the Clark Bandstand on Tappan Square and on the marquee at the Apollo Theater is nice, Russell said — but he is proud to share the credit with his hometown. Oberlin students filled the school auditorium, wearing red commemorative T-shirts to welcome Russell back from his whirlwind media blitz, which started Tuesday morning with an appearance on "CBS Mornings." Superintendent David Hall fought to keep back tears of pride. He said the school district has been keeping the honor a secret for months, preparing a party in celebration of Russell's accomplishments. Also waiting to sing his praises were a host of state and local officials, including state Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst, who shares some special bonds with Russell. Before going to Columbus, Miller was a Firelands High School history teacher, and over the last 22 years he's served as a basketball official while Russell has coached the varsity Phoenix boys basketball team. Miller said he's observed many coaches on the sidelines in the past couple of decades and has seen the marks — good and bad — they've left on players. Russell has been a model of passion, patience and empathy, he said. "I was told early in my career in education: Great teachers make great coaches," Miller said. "And that is true. But I say great role models set an example on how to be great leaders." Stephanie Siddens, interim state superintendent of public instruction at the Ohio Department of Education, called Russell "amazing" and presented him with a proclamation from Gov. Mike DeWine. Helping to convey the governor's praise were Ohio Board of Education President Charlotte McGuire and Vice President Martha Manchester. State Board of Education member Kirsten Hill, an Amherst resident whose district includes Lorain County, did not attend Thursday's celebration and did not return calls seeking comment. Ann Longsworth Orr, an Oberlin High School alumna who now works for U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, attended the celebration. She said teachers have a tough job, especially during the last two years during the pandemic and while experiencing political attacks. "Our democracy depends on a strong public education system, and in Mr. Russell we see public education at its best," she said. Ryley Steggall, a senior at OHS, said the conversations she had in Russell's classes were eye-opening in a way she's never experienced before, and doubts she ever will again. She said that with the discourse in the United States over the censorship of education, she thinks Russell being National Teacher of the Year sends an important message to everyone seeking to restrict academic freedom. "Mr. Russell teaches us to be the next generation of world-changers by teaching us the truth about the world we live in, about its history and about how we should learn from that history so we don't repeat it," Steggall said. Another senior, Cam Thompson, said he's always appreciated how Russell has affected his life, serving as a role model inside and outside the classroom. "And I'll never take for granted the life lessons and advice he has told me," he said. Asked to pick one word to describe his teacher, Thompson chose "influential." Russell pushes students to be successful and participate not only in his classes, but in all others, he said. After they spoke, Russell responded by grabbing Steggal and Thompson each into a hug. The irony of the National Teacher of the Year title is that Russell never wanted it, he said. In fact, he wasn't going to fill out the application for Ohio Teacher of the Year at all. It was early in the COVID-19 pandemic, and Russell said he was having a hard time teaching remotely because he gets energy and inspiration from being with his students — and during that hardship, the last thing he wanted was to go hunting for awards. But Russell said he decided that since someone had nominated him, he had a responsibility to follow through. "So students, this is my small message to you: There's a lot of times when you don't want to do the right thing," he said. "I understand. You're tired. You just don't feel like it. But in the end, it's truly worth it. And it's not worth it for you personally — it's worth it because of the community." Quoting the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., he said all anyone needs to rise to greatness is the attitude of a servant, "with a heart full of love and a soul full of grace." The National Teacher of the Year title doesn't define who he is, Russell said. A life of service does. Next year, he'll be on sabbatical from his teaching duties at Oberlin High School as he travels the country, appearing at more than 300 speaking engagements, Hall said. During that time, he'll be an ambassador for what Oberlin stands for, Hall said. And he may be the only Black male teacher many American students see from kindergarten to 12th grade, helping to show them what diversity looks like. Only 2 percent of the nation's 3 million teachers are Black men. Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.