Introducing Jeff Olson, Director of Education
Friends:
Please extend a warm welcome to Jeff Olson, who is joining Upperline as our Director of Education. Jeff has been teaching with Upperline since the beginning, and anyone who has taken one of his classes knows that he’s a ton of fun and loves learning. When he’s not bouncing around the classroom high-fiving students who are building incredible things, he’s creating and refining programs of his own (ask him about his Sudoku solver).
As the Director of Education, he’ll be reorganizing, refining, and adding to our curriculum in preparation for our 2018 camps. Over the next few months, you’ll see Jeff’s name on some of our newsletters and blog posts, and if you sign up for a weekend workshop, you’ll likely see him there. He’s eager to incorporate student and parent feedback, so if you have ideas or questions about what sorts of courses and workshops you’d like to see us offer or expand, send Jeff an email at jolson@upperlinecode.com. He’s eager to hear from you!
We asked Jeff a few questions so that you all can learn a little bit about him.
How long have you been coding?
I learned to code when Danny was looking for teachers two summers ago. He gave me challenges like building tic-tac-toe or writing a command-line RPG, and I became so obsessed with these puzzles that I didn’t even want to play video games anymore — why play one when you can build one?
How long have you been teaching?
I have taught math and English in schools for 5 years, and have been teaching coding classes for the past three summers. It’s the best job in the world, and working with high school students to help them push towards their goals is the most fulfilling, satisfying work I’ve ever done.
What did you study in school?
I studied neuroscience, American literature, and Japanese at Baylor University, and then went on to get my master’s in education from Arizona State University.
What’s your favorite book?
I used to have an 8-way tie between a bunch of really intense and emotional stories, but in the last two years, I’ve read Andy Weir’s The Martian two times, and listened to it on audiobook another six times, so I think it’s no longer a tie. It’s an incredible book.
What’s your favorite show?
Bravest Warriors — it’s like a sillier, goofier version of Adventure Time.
What’s your teaching philosophy?
People matter, their ideas matter, and they have the right to feel safe in a classroom. This may seem a little cryptic, but one of the best examples of how this plays out is in a web comic called Be Friends With Failure. If you haven’t read it yet, go check it out. The author, Stephen McCranie is talking about being an artist, but the broader application to any sort of creation — like creating a new program or app — is so clear, especially for anyone who has learned a new skill before.
Why are you excited to work with Upperline?
Almost three years ago, when I finished teaching my first-ever coding camp, I called my mom, my sister, and my best friend and told each one of them, “If I ever get a chance to do this full time, I absolutely will. I’ve never felt so proud, so happy, and so fulfilled in my entire life.” Creating classrooms that allow students to discover and grow the potential they have within themselves is a magical experience. I’m so excited to devote all my energy to making this happen.
