Dr. John J. Russell is the Special Projects Advisor to The Windward Institute and former Executive Director of The Windward Institute whose mission is to increase childhood literacy by disrupting the status quo in education.   The Windward Institute is a division of The Windward School that is dedicated to increasing the recognition, understanding, and remediation of dyslexia and language-based learning disabilities among the broader educational community by sharing The Windward School’s expertise in current, scientifically-validated research in child development, learning theory, and pedagogy.  The Institute spearheads research/education partnerships to support the School’s mission; leads a variety of external-facing programs and outreach including high-profile lectures, courses, and seminars; and advocates for the rights of students with language-based learning disabilities.

Before becoming executive director of The Windward Institute, Dr. Russell served thirteen years as head of The Windward School, an independent co-educational day school for children with language-based learning disabilities.  During Dr. Russell’s tenure as head of school, Windward nearly doubled its impact and ability to remediate more children and expanded its reach by building a campus in Manhattan.  Over the past four decades, Dr. Russell held leadership and teaching positions in school districts in Westchester County, New York, and Fairfield County, Connecticut.  Prior to Windward, he served for 11 years as superintendent of schools in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.  He earned his doctoral degree in educational administration at Fordham University and an MBA from the University of Connecticut.  He also has a master’s degree in oceanography from New York University and a certificate of advanced study in administration from Fairfield University.  His research interests include language-based learning disabilities, research-based instructional practices, and organizational theory.  Dr. Russell has presents on these topics at national and international conferences.

Read his latest articles on current educational issues by visiting
https://thewindwardschool.org/thebeacon