posed program with Sheridan ….
posed program with Sheridan Electric that would allow schools to share larger, more expensive learning equipment. Under the plan he described, a lab would spend six weeks at one school before moving to the next. Students could work with equipment such as a CNC cutter while each school makes the most of resources it could not easily purchase on its own. The program is still being developed, with organizers hoping to begin next year.
For Olson, those opportunities connect to a larger goal: helping students see possibilities for their futures.
“We are a small school here at Froid, and we can individualize our education toward student wants and needs,” he said.
He wants students to set goals based on their own interests and motivations, whether those interests lead them toward college, a trade or another path. When a student says they dislike school, Olson said, it may be because they have not yet found the connection between what they are learning and where they want to go.
“They have dierent interests and dierent motivations,” he said. “When a kid’s telling you they hate school, it’s probably because they’re not seeing that they have a future.”
Olson also believes schools need a funding approach that better recognizes student success. With enrollment declining across the state, he said, districts face challenges when funding relies heavily on student numbers. He is interested in state eorts that consider how well schools prepare students for life after graduation.
Though his new role keeps him busy, Olson still misses teaching social studies. Geography, government and philosophy are favorites, and he joked that Froid’s social studies teacher may see him visiting the classroom this year.
Outside school, Olson is a father of four. His oldest daughter is in her second year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, while his other children include a high school junior, an eighth grader and a sixth grader. His family lives in the Billings area, and he stays in Froid while working on campus three instructional days a week.
When he has free time, Olson likes hiking, walking outdoors and cooking Chinese food. He follows Montana State sports, especially football and women’s basketball, and appreciates seeing Montana athletes on the teams. His preferred morning coee comes with heavy cream and a dash of hot chocolate.
Olson hopes families and community members will feel comfortable reaching out when they have a question or concern. They can call or email the school, though he prefers meeting face to face when possible. Because he is not on campus every day, he asks people to arrange a time in advance.
As Olson settles into Froid, his focus keeps returning to the students: learning who they are, helping them discover what matters to them and making sure they can see a future worth working toward.
