DIRECTOR OF YOUTH SERVICES
AND DOE EDUCATION COUNCIL APPOINTEE
A former actor with the Oregon
Shakespeare Festival and Jamaican native, Davon Russell has worked with youth
for nearly 10 years. As Director of Youth Services for the Women’s Housing
and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDCO) Russell manages the after-school
and summer
As a child, what helped you
develop your talents?
Growing up in Kingston,
Jamaica, my family was poor, but I had the benefit of a good public school
where they had clubs. I had somewhere structured to go at 2:30 pm where I
looked forward to becoming competent in many things. We did not call it an
after-school program, but the clubs taught things like swimming, sewing, and
art and I also ran track.
How did you get involved in
youth development?
When I returned to New
York from Oregon to continue to pursue acting, I was asked to teach drama at a
sleep away camp for socially and emotionally challenged teens. It completely
changed my life. I witnessed one teen’s
performance at the talent
show help him to emerge from his withdrawn and shy personality. That was it for
me. I knew that I wanted to work with kids and to see the transition that can
come from building relationships with them. After that experience, I quit
acting and accepted a position as the Site Coordinator for WHEDCO’s newly
formed after-school program. The program started in 1997 with 30 students and
today boasts 300.
How do you set a positive
tone for the program and get everyone on board?
I work at one of the most
important places in the world. We pride ourselves in creating a loving and
caring culture for our kids where they feel safe. I do a lot of modeling and
constantly reinforce the message about how important it is to create
relationships with kids, to talk to them in the right way and respect them. We
also have a high staff retention rate.
How do you build strong
relationships with parents?
My program is fortunate
because our parents are supportive and involved. However, you still have to
reach out to them and let them know that you are on the same side. I explain to
parents why I do certain things in a certain way and how it is all about their
kids. You really have to give of yourself and create an environment where the
parents have a voice.
How would your students
describe you?
They would say I am
strict, but I am fair and that I always want them to do their best.
What will your role on the
Community Education Council be?
The Department of
Education did a lot of work in creating the council and I am excited about
having this great opportunity to be a part of it. Along with 11 others and the
Local Instructional Superintendents, I will visit schools in District 10 to
learn about what goes on during the day. We will meet publicly to discuss what
we have learned, get input from parents in the community and make
recommendations about how to improve the school system.
What are some of the changes
you hope to see in the school system?
The schools system is huge
and faces may challenges. First, class size needs to be smaller. Second,
accountability needs to be spread out more. Also, I would like to see more
aggressive programming for high achieving kids, those who are already at a
level three or four.