Russell Paine is the Technology Specialist for the Rural Education and Innovation Department (REI). Before joining GaDOE, he was the Technology Director and Instructional Technology Specialist at Southwest Georgia RESA for five years where he served 15 school systems, most of which are rural districts. While at RESA Russell created the website www.swresa.org, the SLDS Ambassador Cohort and the Google Teach from Home Courses. These courses were vital for the encouragement and training of Teachers, Principals, and Superintendents in how to implement technology from home during the Pandemic. He also taught the Substitute Teacher training courses along with various Instructional Technology classes.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Lee University, a Master’s in Middle Grades Education, Math and Social Studies, from Albany State University, and a Specialist Degree from Georgia Southwestern State University. He earned several teaching endorsements, such as, Gifted, Reading, ESOL and many technology certifications including, Google, Microsoft, Edpuzzle, Nearpod, Peardeck, etc.
He previously taught ESOL, Spanish, and the Migrant Summer Camp in Albany, begining January 2003 at Merry Acres Middle School and traveled throughout Dougherty County translating and providing ESOL services throughout the K-12 Schools. Prior to teaching, he served our country as an U.S. Army Paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. He and his wife Katie, of 28 years, have four children, three grandchildren, and are serving their community and church as Youth Leaders.