Jason Olson

I did not intend to become a teacher. I discovered youth development work through YMCA camps. I was offered the opportunity to work at a small innovative charter school in MN. I became a math teacher. I work with an advisory of kids for all four years of high school. I have a lot of freedom in how I create classes and evaluate learning. I get to make learning unique, challenging and fun. We travel all over our country with the school.

I have a lot. Last year I graduated a student who thought she would never make it. When I started working with her, I promised that was going to be the one who handed her, her diploma. Everyone knew about the promise. When the time came, as her name was called I walked onto the stage, was given her diploma and I fulfilled my promise. We hugged, the crowd cheered, and a few tears were shared. But there are so many more stories, it’s hard to choose just one.

My wife and I have talked about going to Hawaii for our 20th anniversary (it’s this year). Hawaii is also the only state I haven’t been to. I would use some to help pay off loans (my wife’s a teacher too). Honestly if I won cash for being a teacher, I would use a lot of it to fund some of the fun stuff I do in the classroom, like having cookies delivered randomly. One dream is to take a group of students to Machu Picchu. It is very hard to answer this question.