Principal's Message

Hello, Wolverines! On behalf of the Thomas Russell Middle School (TRMS) staff, I want to welcome students and their families to the 2023-2024 school year!

It is an absolute honor for me to join the Russell team this year as Principal! I began my professional journey in education 23 years ago as an elementary school teacher. After being a classroom teacher for thirteen years, I was inspired to pursue a career in school administration in order to create a greater impact in the lives of my students and their families. Throughout my career I have held a diverse array of roles, including instructional coach, assistant principal, and principal at elementary and middle schools in the Bay area. I started my career in administration at middle school, and am excited to return back to my roots.

At the core of my educational philosophy is equity, inclusivity, and accessibility. It is my firm belief that all students can achieve rigorous goals if they are nurtured in a positive environment where they feel seen and heard.

The middle school model used on our campus - students placed on one of our five teams to foster a connection with both a core set of adults and a cohort of peers over a two-year period - perfectly provides the social-emotional support that is vital for all students in order for them to achieve their best. The staff of TRMS constantly looks for ways to ensure students feel connected to and seen by our Russell, and Milpitas, community. We understand that middle school is a very unique time in a student's development, a time when they are just beginning to explore their identity and how they would like to make an impact in the larger world around them.

Everyone at TRMS also recognizes the vital role each family plays in their student's academic journey. We invite each family to actively participate in their child's educational experience at TRMS with a multitude of endeavors such as School Site Council, PTSA, and DELAC, to name a few. By building a strong school-home connection, we will inspire our Wolverines to grow and achieve any goal that they set their mind to.

I am excited to begin the school year with you all and can't wait to experience all that the year has to offer. Go Wolverines!

Shangrila Mia-Ramzan

Principal 

Thomas Russell Middle School