Russ Rywell has dedicated the last 19 years of his life to educating our youth.
Russ Rywell was born in Miami Beach and attended Treasure Island Elementary, Nautilus Junior High, and Miami Beach Senior School. At Beach High, Russ founded the Leo Service Club and was elected President of its treasured Speech and Debate program. After graduating in the top 10 students of his class, he attended R.P.I. and earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Degree followed by a Master of Science in Finance and Operations Research from M.I.T.’s Sloan School of Management.
At age 22, Russ moved to New York to work in the Bond Portfolio Analysis Group of Salomon Brothers. While there he spent a decade mentoring at-risk students from Paul Robeson High School in Brooklyn. His 14-years in Finance led him to Singapore where he ran Citigroup’s multi-million dollar G-7 currency options business for the Asia Pacific Region. After the birth of his daughter Marley in 2001, he returned home to Miami-Dade County to raise her and give back to his community. Working at a fraction of his previous pay, Russ taught Mathematics and restarted a speech and debate program at the Ransom Everglades School, leading them to win the 2007 National Forensic League National Championship in Public Forum Debate. In 2011, Russ returned to his Alma Mater to revive the famous Beach High Speech and Debate program.
Outside of school, he worked with the Alumni Association as Scholarship Chair and President to raise and award nearly $150,000 in scholarships to deserving high school students.
Working with the Beach Miami Senior High Alumni Association, he raised funds, recruited students, involved parents, and re-introduced debate classes in to the school’s curriculum. In addition to teaching full-time, Russ spends 10-15 weekends a year plus a week each summer preparing and coaching students at forensics competitions around the country. His Miami Beach students have won many national invitationals and state championships as well as coming in 3rd twice and 2nd once at the three recognized national championships tournaments. Much more satisfying than the awards is seeing the success of his students after graduation as they put their critical thinking and communication skills to work in highly competitive colleges and careers. Outside of school, he worked with the Alumni Association as Scholarship Chair and President to raise and award nearly $150,000 in scholarships to deserving high school students.
After his career in finance, Russ Rywell has dedicated the last 19 years of his life to educating our youth. He has seen the private and public education system from the inside out and knows the challenges students, teachers, and parents face. Most importantly, he knows how to prepare young men and women to succeed and he hopes to leverage that knowledge to help the 350,000 students in the Miami Dade County Public School System fulfill their dreams.
