Mr. Tom Olson is in his 16th year as a member of the technology team at Moravian Academy.
As the Technology Systems Facilitator and Network Support, Mr. Olson plays a key role in making sure the student iPads, faculty devices, and other network items are functioning at full capacity. Mr. Olson also oversees MSBG and assists with live streaming events around our campus.
Let's get to know Mr. Olson.
Why did you choose education/teaching as your profession?
Actually, I started out being a chemistry major, switching to computer science, then after graduation working in industry for 25 years as a programmer, systems engineer and systems administrator.
Why middle school?
I was very lucky to have been told that the middle school was looking for a technology person through Mr. Bovee’s wife, Connie. Mr. Bovee served as the Director of MS prior to Mr. Donecker. Many people I knew thought I’d be a great fit, since I liked to help people with technology and didn’t have any expectations that people should just “know” technology.
What aspect of your curriculum/program do you enjoy teaching the most and why?
I enjoy helping solve people’s problems and working to overcome technology issues. When it comes to technology, I always said, I hate having inanimate objects get the best of me. It’s a challenge.
What is your favorite moment/event at Moravian Academy during the school year?
My favorite event is Closing Chapel. I have the pleasure of recording and watching another class of eighth graders cross that threshold to Upper School. I enjoy watching and listening to the teachers and staff comments. I also enjoy the distribution of the tiles to the rising class, plus I like that I play a small part with Mrs. Beil’s creation of the tiles.
What do you most enjoy about teaching at Moravian Academy?
I enjoy the people and students. It’s been an extremely supportive environment for me over the years by the administration, staff, teachers and students. We care about each other and use that caring and concern to create an environment of love and understanding for all.
What do you hope to provide to students in your classes and what do you hope they take away?
Since I’m not a daily classroom teacher, I hope that I can be a role model for what it means to be supportive to students. They can then go and support others. I see my position as one to provide the tools for students to learn. I imagine that students wonder why we make the technology decisions we do. At some point, I hope they understand that whatever technology we provide was provided as tool for their education.
What's something we don’t know about you?
I spent a bunch of years learning to be a hypnotherapist, not a stage hypnotist. No, I can’t make you cluck like a chicken, unless you want to cluck like a chicken.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I’m immersed in the history of what our diet has become in the last 40-50 years and how those inaccuracies have impacted our health and our kids' health. So I read a lot on that topic and have used myself as a living lab experiment. Beyond that, I read in general, play with technology, take my dogs to the park and have an exercise routine. I listen to a wide-range of podcasts because they can go with me anywhere. Holly used to do the yardwork, but I would mow. I’m also starting to do the yardwork and enjoying it!