Three Minutes on a Park Bench With: Dr. Steve Russell

We recently caught up with Salem Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Steve Russell as part of our new virtual Patch Park Bench column. 

Patch: What's your morning routine? 

Dr. Steve Russell: Lately, I've been checking on the weather to see if it's snowing! My two dogs, Arthur and Isabelle, greet me at 5:30 am. I arrive at the office around 7 a.m. The first hour of the day is the best time to get a lot of things done.

P: What do you do for a living? And what's the best thing about your job?

S: I'm Superintendent of the Salem Public Schools. Our students are the best part of my job!

P: What's the hardest?

S: Working with our administrators and staff to significantly raise the level of our students' academic achievement.

P: How long have you lived in Salem? 

S: My wife Edith and I have lived here for almost three years.

P: What's your favorite thing about living here?

S: We love the diversity of people, the proximity to Boston and the wide variety of things to do on the North Shore.

P: If you had to arrange a secret meeting here, where would you have it?

S: Winter Island - under the light house.

P: Tell us something about yourself that most of your neighbors don't know.

S: I was born and brought up in Concord, N.H.

P: When you want a really indulgent snack here, where do you go and what do you get?

S: Ice cream at Treadwell's - and they're open year-round!

P: What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

S: "To take life as I find it, but don't leave it that way."

P: What are you doing after this interview?

S: Meeting with Salem Police Detective Peter Baglioni to help with plans for the summer DARE Program.

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Nominate someone from your community for the Patch Park Bench interview. Send suggestions to owen.boss@patch.com.