'The best job in the world - I see myself as the custodian of the collected thoughts of geniuses from across time; Shakespeare and his like have done the hard work, I am merely the introduction agency.'
Becoming a teacher after discovering that telesales was not allowing him to fully utilise his degree in Language and Literature, Mr King wants to make a genuine difference in people's lives.
While most of Russell's peers at Cambridge University, where he qualified, took up positions at private schools, he was motivated to teach in the state sector.
In the last nine years teaching English at Passmores, he has made a big impact - whether it's his top set students or those who find academia more challenging, Mr King has a 100% pass rate.
A dedicated and popular teacher, Russell has a great relationship with the students and has found that humour is essential in inspiring his pupils - the odd quip or bit of banter can help ease the pressure of the exam year, as well as encourage students to engage with texts that at first glance seem outdated and daunting.
As Russell says, 'You have to have a laugh to help release the pressure, or risk losing students'.
For Mr King, the best thing about his job are those magic moments when a student and a writer click: 'You know you have created friends for life.' And it is those literary friends that help Russell when he has had a more challenging day; he will look to books for the way forward and invariably find inspiration in them - as well as from his favourite football team, Queens Park Rangers.
Mr King is happily married and lives with his wife and two children in Harlow - a neighbour to many a student.
