Few students have to drive two and a half hours to get to class, but every Monday morning at 4 a.m. Joshua Russo begins his long trek from Columbus to Toledo.
The school psychology graduate student commutes to UToledo weekly to maintain his connection with his students at Hawkins STEMM Academy in Toledo, where his course placement allows him to provide intervention support to students who are significantly below grade level in reading.
Joshua Russo, a school psychology graduate student at UToledo, works with students at Hawkins STEMM Academy in Toledo to provide intervention support for those who are significantly below grade level in reading. Russo lives in Columbus and makes the weekly commute.
For Russo, seeing the students’ progress and continuing to build the relationship he has with them has been the most rewarding experience.
“Being in Columbus, it’s a little bit more challenging for me, but I’ve gotten to know my two kids so well,” he said. “I don’t find the commute troubling because I am more than happy to spend time with them and see them develop, grow and learn how to read. We have fun together; they seem to really enjoy it too because it makes learning and reading fun for them.”
His dedication to his students stems from his own experiences growing up.
“I wasn’t the best student when I was a younger kid,” Russo said. “I think that’s why I’m able to relate to them so much. I want to help kids because I want to be who I needed when I was their age.”
Feedback from teachers and students shows that Russo is making an impact. One of his students said they view school differently while he is there.
“Josh makes learning fun,” they said. “I like everything about him.”
The opportunity to get out of the classroom and make a difference in kids’ lives while still in school is something Russo relishes.
“Us being there and doing this kind of stuff in our classes and outside of our classes, it’s a pretty cool thing,” Russo said.
From the moment he stepped on campus, Russo said he knew UToledo was the right choice.
Russo and his two nephews.
“I applied to a few different places and my interview day at Toledo was actually what sold me on it, even though it was a bit of a commute,” he said. “I got along with the staff really well; I seemed to click with them and what they are specializing in was of great interest to me as well, so that was the thing that sealed the deal.”
Dr. Jennifer Reynolds, chair of the Department of Human Health Services, has worked with Russo in his three semesters at UToledo.
“He doesn’t see this as a job,” Reynolds said. “He sees working with these elementary students as an opportunity to help children learn to read, to be a role model, and to be a constant person in their lives. I wouldn’t be surprised if Josh moved into a position where he could have an impact on more students and families. I am looking forward to watching him grow.”
The 29-year-old has a wealth of experiences that have shaped the way he approaches his work. He spent five and a half years in the U.S Marine Corps, where he said he grew up quickly and hammered discipline into his lifestyle.
He also achieved an associate of arts degree with the plan of going into art therapy, as he grew up with a passion for drawing and painting. He ultimately changed that path to study psychology for his undergraduate degree at Ohio State University.
“I’ve lived three different lives already, which all led me here,” Russo said. “I have come to understand that one of my biggest life skillsets is working with kids and kids with disabilities. I just want to help them feel better and belong. I relate and get along with them very well and I wanted to find a field that I could do that on a larger scale.”
In his spare time, Russo coaches wrestling at a non-profit in Columbus, which he plans to continue to do so as long as he physically can.
Upon completing his master’s degree, Russo is considering a career as a school psychologist as well as continuing his education and pursuing a Ph.D.
For now, however, he said his focus is on his students, and making sure he can do what he can to help them achieve their best.
“This program specifically is going to be monumental to changing these kids’ lives and setting them up for success when they are adults or when they leave school,” he said. “It is just based off the simple fact that the studies that have been showing a student’s ability to read by third grade and how successful that leads to them be in their actual lives.”
