She almost didn't turn in an application after being nominated, but a Mitchell science teacher is one of 50 worldwide finalists for a $1 million award.
Julie Olson found out Monday that she's up for the Global Teacher Prize, which rewards an extraordinary teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession. The award is sponsored by the Varkey GEMS Foundation, a London-based group, which created the prize to equal what the Nobel Prize has done for science. Olson, who teaches in the district's Second Chance High School for alternative learning students, she said was thankful for the people who made it possible for her to develop into the teacher she is now. "It's an honor, but I've been lucky to have a lot of really good role models, from my teachers to my parents and family," Olson said. "It's just really special, considering all of the talented teachers I get to work with." Of the 50 finalists, she's one of 16 from the United States. The award's criteria includes recognizing a teacher's achievements outside the classroom, employing innovative educational practices, preparing children to be global and showing teaching accomplishments in distinguished excellence. "It caught me by surprise," she said. Olson said she emphasizes creating opportunities that are outside of the regular curriculum. "There's a greater chance for learning for students if they're getting a truly hands-on experience and I've always been a believer in getting as many of those opportunities as possible," she said. Perhaps no example is better than the one she's working on right now. It involves researching zebrafish. That is made possible via a $9,000 grant from the Toshiba America Foundation, for which Olson was honored Monday by the Mitchell Board of Education. She hopes to have tanks set up soon with zebrafish for studying, and to allow students to check out Sanford laboratories research in Sioux Falls to give students a real-life application of genetic engineering. In addition, she hopes to involve elementary school students and allow them to understand the basic development organisms. Mitchell High School Principal Joe Childs told the public at the school board meeting that Olson has been responsible for earning the school district $160,000 in grant funds. In the bio on the prize's website, the academy also took note of her global perspective, noting that she has students post local water quality levels on the World Water Monitoring website, building solar cookers that have a real-world application in third-world countries and mentoring International Science and Engineering Fair students. She's been involved with writing national and state science standards and is continuing to pursue her doctorate degree in curriculum and instruction. Currently the South Dakota Science Teachers Association President, Olson has been teaching in Mitchell for 22 years, including the last two years at Second Chance High School. Prior to her time in Mitchell, she taught for four years in Emery. The top 10 finalists are expected to be announced in mid-February 2015 and will be invited to the Global Education and Skills Forum 2015 in Dubai, where the top teacher will receive $1 million on March 16.She almost didn't turn in an application after being nominated, but a Mitchell science teacher is one of 50 worldwide finalists for a $1 million award.
Julie Olson found out Monday that she's up for the Global Teacher Prize, which rewards an extraordinary teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession. The award is sponsored by the Varkey GEMS Foundation, a London-based group, which created the prize to equal what the Nobel Prize has done for science.Olson, who teaches in the district's Second Chance High School for alternative learning students, she said was thankful for the people who made it possible for her to develop into the teacher she is now."It's an honor, but I've been lucky to have a lot of really good role models, from my teachers to my parents and family," Olson said. "It's just really special, considering all of the talented teachers I get to work with."Of the 50 finalists, she's one of 16 from the United States. The award's criteria includes recognizing a teacher's achievements outside the classroom, employing innovative educational practices, preparing children to be global and showing teaching accomplishments in distinguished excellence."It caught me by surprise," she said.Olson said she emphasizes creating opportunities that are outside of the regular curriculum."There's a greater chance for learning for students if they're getting a truly hands-on experience and I've always been a believer in getting as many of those opportunities as possible," she said.Perhaps no example is better than the one she's working on right now. It involves researching zebrafish.That is made possible via a $9,000 grant from the Toshiba America Foundation, for which Olson was honored Monday by the Mitchell Board of Education.She hopes to have tanks set up soon with zebrafish for studying, and to allow students to check out Sanford laboratories research in Sioux Falls to give students a real-life application of genetic engineering. In addition, she hopes to involve elementary school students and allow them to understand the basic development organisms.Mitchell High School Principal Joe Childs told the public at the school board meeting that Olson has been responsible for earning the school district $160,000 in grant funds.In the bio on the prize's website, the academy also took note of her global perspective, noting that she has students post local water quality levels on the World Water Monitoring website, building solar cookers that have a real-world application in third-world countries and mentoring International Science and Engineering Fair students. She's been involved with writing national and state science standards and is continuing to pursue her doctorate degree in curriculum and instruction.Currently the South Dakota Science Teachers Association President, Olson has been teaching in Mitchell for 22 years, including the last two years at Second Chance High School. Prior to her time in Mitchell, she taught for four years in Emery.The top 10 finalists are expected to be announced in mid-February 2015 and will be invited to the Global Education and Skills Forum 2015 in Dubai, where the top teacher will receive $1 million on March 16.
