Jackson Olsen always thought he'd go to law school and become a lawyer, just like his dad. But as the end of college drew near, he decided to put that plan on hold and pursue another path.
Jackson and his wife joined Teach For America and were placed in schools in Henderson, North Carolina, where they planned to teach for two years. Henderson was crippled by crime, poverty, and unemployment, and its schools were riddled with violence, drugs, and apathy.
Sometimes brutal, sometimes comical, but at all times honest and sincere, Teaching for America paints a vivid picture of the inequities and injustices in our public school system, and tells the powerful stories of the students and teachers who are impacted by them.
About the Author: Jackson Olsen is the founding principal of Henderson Collegiate High School in Henderson, North Carolina, where he lives with his wife, daughter, and dog. He holds a BS from Utah State University and a MSA from North Carolina State University. He is presently pursuing a doctorate of education leadership at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Olsen began teaching in 2009 as a corps member with Teach For America. Upon joining the organization, he immediately became aware of some of the brutal realities that exist in our public school system and, over time, became wholeheartedly committed to fixing education in America.
His debut title, Teaching for America, chronicles his experiences as an educator and education advocate and gives readers an honest and revealing glimpse at what life is really like inside our struggling schools.
