World’s Best Teachers
Ms Russo, Physics Teacher and Head of Year, has just been shortlisted for the prestigious Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize.
The prize was set up to recognise exceptional teachers who have made an outstanding contribution to the profession. Ms Russo has been selected as one of the top 50 teachers in the world – just one of three UK finalists from more than 10,000 nominations and applications from 179 countries – for the significant work she has done to promote Physics, especially opportunities for women in Physics.
Ms Russo does much to champion girls and their further study of Science, empowering them to challenge stereotypes. She has initiated Girls in Physics, a popular event inviting girls to hear the personal and professional journeys of women researchers or industry professionals in Physics and Engineering. She also developed and hosts the podcast Education Passport, interviewing educators from around the globe in order to share insights from their classrooms and education systems.
Like all our teachers, Ms Russo is known for delivering lessons with academic rigour and passion. Over and above her in-depth subject knowledge and expertise, she has an innate ability to inspire the very best from the students, both as scholars and individuals, and aims to ground every lesson in real-world connections and tangible, everyday experience.
As the news of Ms Russo’s nomination broke, Theresa May (despite the Brexit chaos) still found time to Tweet her congratulations to Ms Russo: “Your stories shine a light on the amazing work teachers do up and down the country.”
Ms Russo also appeared on LBC Radio and was interviewed on London Live, where she highlighted the importance of respecting and listening to her students, as well as communicating with real energy, commitment and passion.
Ms Russo is a key member of South Hampstead’s Physics Department, an all-female team committed to breaking down barriers which prevent girls from pursuing careers in science. Trailblazing alumnae also provide powerful role models for the girls here: former pupil Dr Jess Wade, recent recipient of Institute of Physics Daphne Jackson Medal, is a stand-out example, who champions women in Physics by writing Wiki entries for under-represented female Scientists and through her outreach work at Imperial College London. On Dr Wade’s website, makingphysicsfun.com, she says: “I was exceptionally lucky to discover my love for science under the guidance of inspirational teachers at South Hampstead High School.”