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Math teacher retiring after 30 years
McCOOK, Neb. — After teaching what she estimates about 3,000 students, long-time junior high math teacher Colleen Olson is resigning at the end of the school year.
The McCook Board of Education Monday at its regular meeting approved with gratitude Olson’s resignation.
Olson has taught a total of 30 years, starting out her first year with District 8 (Fitch) School, south of McCook, closed by the McCook School Board in 2007 and then, 29 years at McCook Junior High as the eighth grade math teacher.
In fact, she now has students in her classes that are the children of three of her first students at District 8.
Olson said she’s seen how curriculum has become more rigorous through the years.
When she first began teaching, the first chapter in the school year was adding, subtracting and multiplying decimals, Olson said. That’s now taught in fourth or fifth grade and the first chapter in books currently is “Negative exponents.”
“Expectations have changed dramatically in math over the years,” she said. “There’s a lot more algebra.”
Although she’s looking forward to spending her retirement with her son, daughter-in-law and her two grandsons who live down the road, she’ll also miss the students, she said. “They’re all special to me.”
She also plans on helping her husband on the family farm, that no doubt will keep her busy. “He’ll never retire,” she said.
Superintendent Grant Norgaard said math scores raised significantly under her instruction and board president Tom Bredvick said he wished her the best and that she’d be difficult to replace.
By unanimous vote, the board also re-approved two policies, “Multicultural Education” and “Student attendance.” Changes in the polices included updating minor words for clarification, Norgaard said.
Positive comments at the end of Monday’s meeting included:
— board member Brad Hays: thanked the business manager and superintendent for going over the budget with him, line-by-line. He also cited how veterans were recognized at the last home football game.
— board member Brian Esch: thanked the McCook High School FFA member for speaking to the board about the upcoming trip to the national convention and commended the MHS student body on its respectful behavior he recently witnessed at an athletic event.
— board member Bob Elder: Noted the large contingent of enthusiastic spectators at Bison football games and also those at volleyball and softball games.
— board secretary Loretta Hauxwell: commended the frequent communication from schools to parents about reminders for special events
— board vice president Teresa Thomas: complimented the “Bison Tech Team,” students who helped with the rollout of 500 new Chromebooks to MHS students.
— board president Tom Bredvick: thanked the sponsors of student activities, noting the hectic activity he’s seen lately with buses coming and going and recent Homecoming events. He also recognized the spouses of the sponsors and the time sponsors give, both in school and away on activities.
— business manager John Brazell: relieved that the budget is done and was approved.
— superintendent Grant Norgard: recognized the school’s resource officer, Michael Jordan, who helped start the new driver safety program at the high school and junior high.