John J. Russell, PhD, is the special projects advisor to 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 spearheads research/education partnerships, leads various external-facing programs and outreach, including high-profile lectures, courses, and seminars, and advocates for the rights of students with language-based learning disabilities.

Russell is also an associate director of the Haskins Global Literacy Hub, which is an international and interdisciplinary collaborative. The Hub’s mission is to improve language and literacy outcomes for at-risk children across languages and cultures. This unique collaborative of experts has been disrupting the current stagnant ecosystem—perpetuating unacceptable social outcomes—with new and scientifically rigorous approaches.

Before becoming executive director of The Windward Institute, Russell served thirteen years as head of The Windward School, an independent co-educational day school for children with language-based learning disabilities. During Russell’s tenure as head of the school, The Windward School nearly doubled its impact by opening a campus in Manhattan. Over the past four decades, Russell held leadership and teaching positions in Westchester County, New York, and Fairfield County, Connecticut. Before Windward, he served 11 years as superintendent of schools in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. Russell 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. Russell presents on these topics at national and international conferences.