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Welcome Russo Family!

New JH/HS Principal / New 5th Grade Teacher

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Mark and Nicole Russo and their children moved to Argonia this summer.  Mark is the new JH/HS principal and his wife, Nicole is the new fifth grade teacher at Argonia Elementary.  

Mark E. Russo  

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I am excited to start a new chapter in my education career!! This will be my first year as an administrator and will be my 15^th year in education.

I am a product of a small rural school in Nebraska (Blue Hill Jr.-Sr. High School Class of 1994), and I am appreciative of the unique opportunities that a small school provides. In HS, I participated in many, many activities: Football, Wrestling, Basketball, Track, One Act Plays, Yearbook, Choir, Show Choir, Journalism, and Cornhusker Boy’s State.  After High School, I enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed in New Orleans, LA. and Alameda, CA. Throughout my Coast Guard experience I had the opportunity to travel stateside and abroad, giving me the chance to visit all 50 states and 13 countries. Though I enjoyed my service career greatly, I always had the desire to be an educator.

Utilizing the G.I. Bill, I attended Chadron State College in Chadron, NE., the same school my parents, several aunts and uncles and my brother attended. At Chadron, I participated in, Campus Historical Forum, Choir, Versatility (travelling swing choir group), Theatre, and Campus Radio. 

After graduation from Chadron State, I accepted a position to teach Social Studies at Garden City High School in Garden City, KS. I held that position for the next 14 years teaching Government, Current Events, Sociology, Law, US History, Geography and other Social Studies courses.

As I was teaching in Garden City, I had the opportunity to further my education by taking master’s level classes through Newman University, graduating in 2016 with a degree in Building Leadership. I am excited and energized to begin this next step in my journey of lifelong learning as a Raider!

In my limited spare time, I enjoy reading books by John Grisham, Stephen King, James Patterson and others. I also enjoy riding my motorcycle to nowhere in particular. I am a Nebraska native and my Husker Football roots run deep, I have been a season ticket holder for the past 9 years: GO BIG RED!

Nothing means more to me than my family: my wife Nicole, (a fifth grade teacher at Argonia Elementary), my daughter Olivia, (who will be starting Kindergarten this year) and our three year old son, Eli (who loves his cars and his Transformers).  

Nicole Russo  

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This will be my 11th year teaching, and I’m excited to be continuing on with my career in Argonia.  I have two bachelors degrees, one in early childhood and one in elementary education and hope to start working on a masters degree soon.  My husband is beginning his new career as principal at the Jr/Sr high school, and my daughter Olivia will be starting kindergarten this year.  Our son Eli is 3, and will be attending daycare until next year.  We also have a fur-baby, Zoey.  She is a Beagle and turned 11 this past spring.  I love to spend time with family and travel to places both near and far.