A Jefferson Village School teacher has received a New England-wide teaching award.
Mary Olsen teaches seventh- and eighth-grade at JVS. She is one of two teachers from throughout New England to receive the New England League of Middle Schools’ Master in the Middle Award.
The award is given each year to middle school teachers who serve as leaders, are passionate about teaching, model effective middle level instructional practices, and have been teaching for at least 20 years.
Olsen will be presented the award at the New England League of Middle Schools’ annual conference on April 2-3 in Rhode Island.
“[Olsen] is really hard working,” said JVS Principal Pete Gallace. “She’s given a lot of time to training and taking courses over her summers and vacations.”
Olsen, who has taught for 21 years, 18 of them at JVS, started as a social studies and English teacher. She now teaches math and science.
A fellow teacher at JVS nominated Olsen, and several students wrote letters in support of her nomination.
“The amount of joy Mrs. Olsen experiences as a teacher is obvious,” wrote seventh-grader Nathan McIvor. “Mrs. Olsen shares her passion for science with us, and makes an effort to teach us the best she can … I am proud to say that I am one of her students and that she unquestionably deserves an award for teaching.”
“You don’t always hear it, so it’s nice to get an award,” Olsen said. “It took a little while to sink in, but it’s really an honor.”
