Meet Lori

About Lori Russell

I’m a parent of three, a lawyer, and someone who believes deeply in public education as a shared responsibility — to our children, our educators, and one another.

I’m raising my kids here in Orange County, and like so many families, I see firsthand how much schools matter — not just academically, but as places of belonging, stability, and care. The relationships children build with teachers, staff, and peers shape who they become, and families need to be able to trust that schools will meet kids where they are and help them thrive.

Rooted in community, shaped by service

I grew up nearby in Alamance County and was shaped by public schools and teachers who opened doors for me. A couple years after college, I served in the U.S. Peace Corps in Togo (West Africa). That experience fundamentally shaped how I think about leadership: real progress comes from listening first, respecting lived experience, and working in partnership with the community you serve. Across my experiences, I’ve learned that strong systems are built from the ground up, through community-level work rooted in trust, listening, and shared responsibility.

Experience grounded in ethics and accountability

I later earned my law degree from Duke University and spent my career working at the intersection of ethics, accountability, and social responsibility. Much of my work has focused on governance — asking good questions, strengthening transparency, and ensuring that decisions made at the leadership level translate into real-world impact. Those experiences are what bring me to this work locally.

Why I’m running

I’m running because I want Orange County Schools to be a place where every student belongs and is supported, where educators are trusted and resourced, and where families are true partners in public education. I believe connection is safety, community is stability, and partnership is how we raise strong, resilient, and kind kids.

As a board member, my focus would be on:

  • thoughtful, ethical governance

  • actively listening to diverse communities across the county

  • grounding decisions in both data and experience

  • communicating clearly and transparently

  • holding ourselves accountable for outcomes, not just intentions.

Most importantly, I want to ensure that what we adopt at the Board level actually translates into meaningful support in classrooms and schools.

I’m looking forward to listening, learning, and working together for our schools. Please click here to connect.