By Elianna Novitch

It’s our favorite day of the week… “Where Do You Work?” Wednesday! This week meet alumna Meredith Olson (BA ’16 double major in K-12 Music Education and Vocal Performance).

Originally from Yorkville, Illinois, Olson combines her passion for music and teaching as a music educator. Olson has been teaching for three years in Iowa at Vernon Middle School and Longfellow Elementary in Marion, Iowa. She will be moving to Elmwood Park, Illinois to begin a new job as K-6 General Music Teacher at Elmwood Park Elementary in the fall of 2019.

Olson says she loves the joy of singing and making music with her students.

“To see a child’s face light up when they make connections and use knowledge that you have shared with them to further their music exploration, it’s magical,” Olson says.

Olson was recently named as one of 189 quarterfinalists out of 3,300 applicants for a Grammy Music Educator Award. The semi-finalists will be announced in December. When she’s not in the classroom, Olson enjoys performing and being on stage. She has been involved in several City Circle Theatre productions.

Olson says she loved her time at Iowa so much that she couldn’t stay away. She is currently working towards her Master of Arts in Teaching, Leadership, and Cultural Competency (MATLCC), a dynamic program designed to fit the needs of busy professionals. Offered entirely online, the flexibility and convenience of this program allows working educators to earn their advanced degree in as little as 20 months.

“The graduate classes have greatly helped me to improve not only my teaching practices but also the way in which I view the world and my classroom,” Olson says. “Being a Hawkeye means always trying new things and pushing oneself to go farther.”

Are you interested in being the next “Where Do You Work Wednesday?” or want to nominate someone? Message us on Facebook, tag them with #HawkeyeTeachers, or email us at educationatiowa@uiowa.edu.