Proudly wearing a Kemps Landing “Tiger Team” t-shirt, Russell Torrisi greets his fellow Tigers as they enter the room. Though not officially a member of the school staff, the volunteer’s weekly visits to review pre-algebra lessons with sixth-graders has earned him an honorary spot on the team – and a t-shirt.

Talk will soon turn to the Pythagorean Theorem, but for now Torrisi is busy checking in with the half dozen students who are getting settled.

How are the new glasses working for you?

What’s for lunch?

How’s that book?

One student asks Torrisi about riding a different bus home because he just moved into a new house. “Let’s go to the main office and find out,” says Torrisi, recognizing that transportation rather than hypotenuses will be on the student’s mind for the next 30 minutes if they don’t resolve his concern.

As for the sixth-graders who remain, ask them for one word to describe Torrisi and you hear:

“He’s fun!”

“He’s awesome!”

“The other kids wish they were us getting to work with him.”

“I can’t think of one word to describe him,” admits one student, “because there are too many.”

Too many words to describe Torrisi. School staff as well as his fellow PTA board members, parents and school volunteers would concur. Their letters and emails about Torrisi’s selection as the school’s 2015 Volunteer of the Year feature words like: genuine asset, team player, workhorse, dependable, never-ending energy, enthusiasm, great attitude, always there, lifesaver and selfless.

Also commonly cited are the “delicious” chocolate chip cookies Torrisi makes for school events and fundraisers. Apparently the engineer can add “baker” to his long list of talents.

“What amazes us about Mr. Torrisi,” wrote principal Kelly Hedrick, “is that he shows up for every single activity, every time help is needed – regardless of whether his own child is participating in the event or even in school at the time.”

Torrisi’s son is an eighth-grader at the school, the same grade as Beverly Coose’s child. “He seems to be at every event doing whatever needs to be done for hours and hours on end,” Coose wrote. “He always has a great attitude, fun sense of humor, and is willing to step up and do anything anytime with a smile.”

Managing the PTA membership database, compiling the volunteer database, helping in the library, chaperoning dances, participating in spirit days, tutoring students and helping teachers with their needs are among the long list of contributions Anna Feliberti, the school’s Volunteers in Education (VIE) coordinator, highlighted. “Honestly, he contributes so much that most of it is overlooked,” shared Feliberti. “He is an integral part of the PTA and has always been.”

Torrisi returns with the sixth-grader whose bus problem has been solved, and now it’s time for the group to start solving math problems. “Ok, so we have a good half hour together,” says Torrisi checking his watch. “Let’s get started. What is the ‘c’ is in the Pythagorean Theorem?”

Thanks to a flexible work schedule as well as release time granted by his employer for STEM Outreach, Torrisi is able to spend most Fridays tutoring students at KLODS.

“I volunteer because I am interested in education and the education process,” says Torrisi. “I enjoy the interaction with the kids and the teachers. I enjoy math, and I like the challenge of trying to explain math in a way that the kids can understand it. I have learned that what works for one student will not necessarily work for another student.”

An engineer by trade who works as a U.S. Navy civilian employee at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, Torrisi is considering becoming a math teacher once he retires from the government.

The sixth-graders with whom he works think that would be a wise decision.

“I’m shocked he’s not a teacher,” says one student. “He’s good at getting people’s attention.”

“And he’s great at explaining things,” adds another.

The Kempsville High School alumnus may one day have a classroom of his own, but, in the meantime, Torrisi is content to continue his service as a volunteer.

“Volunteering provides a way to meet other parents, teachers and students,” he says. “I like being around people and working with them to make Kemps Landing/Old Donation School a great experience for all involved.”