An occupation of honor

Watertown educator named history teacher of the year

Jane Olson, a fourth grade teacher in Watertown, was named the History Teacher of the Year in South Dakota by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and Preserve America.

Given to one teacher in all 50 states for grades K-6, the History Teacher of the Year Award was created to promote and celebrate the teaching of American history.  The award began in 2004.

“I believe that teaching is a gift, a privilege, and an occupation of honor,” said Olson, who teaches at Lincoln Elementary School in Watertown.  “Every day I enter my classroom I am given the opportunity to inspire, motivate, and better a child’s life.”

Olson has given her classroom a “Little House on the Prairie” theme complete with a log cabin and many South Dakota artifacts. 

“Jane does not just ‘teach history’, but her room has been transformed into a place where children can be a part of history,” said Susan Patrick, principal at Lincoln Elementary School.

The award is based on qualifications including at least three years of classroom experience in teaching American history; a deep career commitment to teaching American history, which includes local and state history; evidence of creativity and imagination in the classroom; close attention to primary documents, artifacts, historic sites and other primary materials of history and evidence of thoughtful assessment of student achievement.

“Teaching social studies is a very exciting part of my day,” said Olson.  “My focus is South Dakota history along with American History as it relates to the growth and expansion of South Dakota.  I believe that teaching history involves more than having students memorize dates, facts and battles.  With the technology that is available to them today, they can look up any of those things very easily.  It is my goal to instill in students an excitement for learning about their past so they will continue to develop a lifelong love of history.”

She will receive a $1,000 honorarium and will be eligible for the National History Teacher of the Year award.

Olson strives to make history come to life for her students.  “I need to provide creative opportunities for students to connect new information to their lives and their world,” she said.  “The spirit of America comes alive for children in the stories we read about our past that include the ideals our country was founded on:  courage, perseverance, loyalty and freedom.”

The Gilder Lehrman Institute was founded in 1994 to promote the study and love of American History.  Preserve America is a White House program encouraging education about the nation’s history and local participation in preserving historical artifacts.

“Parents have placed their trust in me to love, guide, support and educate their child,” Olson said.  “This is a responsibility I do not take lightly.  I strive to treat all children with kindness and compassion, as if they were my own.  I am dedicated to making a positive difference for each of my students.”

Olson, who has been teaching for 18 years, also won the South Dakota Historical Society 2006 History Teacher of the Year award. 

“The rewards of teaching are countless.  The sparkle in a child’s eyes when they learn and understand something for the first time is priceless,” she said.  “Through teaching history, I have positively made a difference in the life of a child, nurturing a love of the past and a desire to preserve our nation’s heritage.”