Tracing his family’s roots in this community back at least eight generations, African American Studies teacher Alexander Burruss was born and raised in Fluvanna County. He graduated from Fluvanna County High School in 2005, where he served as President of the Student Government Association.

“Funny story: On my graduation day, one of the assistant principals asked if I’d ever consider coming back to teach. I emphatically said no. At the time, I had plans to pursue a career in politics or government. Life has a way of surprising you, though, and I eventually discovered that teaching allowed me to combine my love of history, civic engagement, and community in a meaningful way,” said Burruss.

Burruss is in his seventh year of teaching, with a focus on African American Studies, Civics and Economics, and U.S./Virginia History. “Each of these subjects allows me to help students connect the past to the present and see how history shapes their world today. Education is important, and asking questions helps you,” he said.

He attended Liberty University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in History and two master’s degrees. College was an exciting time filled with late-night adventures for Burruss.

“There was a time my friends and I explored a place rumored to be haunted around Halloween. We didn’t last long after seeing something crawling on all fours. We sprinted back to the car as fast as we could. Looking back, that was when midnight still counted as early,” said Burruss.

Burruss’s goal is to help students grasp the many details of U.S. history, including the difficult parts like the struggles of African Americans. He realized that teaching allows him to combine all the subjects he’s passionate about in a fulfilling way.

Outside of school, Burruss is busy. He is a pastor, leading religious services and providing guidance to members of his congregation, and he previously worked as a radio DJ while living in Richmond, Virginia. He is currently serving on the Executive Board of the Fluvanna County Historical Society.

“Outside the classroom, I’m a bit of a history and genealogy nerd. I love researching my family and serving as the unofficial family historian,” Burruss said.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his friends and taking solo drives to explore new and interesting places. “There’s so much to discover out there,” said Burruss.