Julie Olson, a science teacher at Mitchell Senior High School in Mitchell, SD, has been teaching for 20 years. Ms. Olson has worked for the Mitchell School District for the past 15 years as a science teacher and is currently chair of her school’s science department. She teaches biology, advanced biology, and environmental science, and she serves as coach for the Science Olympiad, Science Fair, and Science Bowl.
Ms. Olson is a dedicated, highly skilled educator known for her ability to connect with parents, school staff, and students on all levels—from those with special needs to those in advanced-level classes. She encourages all her students to be independent thinkers who problem-solve and think beyond the task at hand. Ms. Olson has inspired her colleagues across the State as an instructor, mentor, and role model. She has taken a leadership role in South Dakota Science on the Go, the State’s mobile science laboratory.
In 2005 Ms. Olson received the Toshiba America Foundation Grant and the Mitchell High School Teacher of the Year award. She was also named Teacher of the Year for South Dakota by the National Association of Biology Teachers.
Ms. Olson is certified to teach biology, physics, physical science, earth science, high school mathematics, and high school English. She has a B.S. in biology with a minor in chemistry and an M.A. in biology from the University of South Dakota.