Ohlson will also coordinate curriculum
By Angie Landsverk
John Ohlson planned to be a middle school teacher, but found his niche working with elementary students.
“I wanted to be a middle school history teacher,” he said.
His mentor knew that, but told Ohlson she saw him more as an elementary teacher.
Ohlson’s placements ended up being in first or second grade.
“And I found out that I loved it,” he said.
Ohlson spent 11 years teaching first or second grade in the Seymour School District.
That was followed by six years serving as the district’s teaching and learning coordinator.
“It was a brand new position,” he said. “I coordinated the reading and math interventionists in all the buildings.”
He also oversaw the district’s gifted and talented program.
“And then a percentage of the job was curriculum and staff development. I worked with the district to help develop the Response to Intervention approach to meet the needs of struggling or advanced students,” he said.
On July 1, Ohlson became the new elementary principal in the Weyauwega-Fremont School District.
What caught his eye about the position here was the fact it included being the district’s elementary principal and its curriculum coordinator.
Before Ohlson accepted the position, District Administrator Phillip Tubbs gave him a tour.
Ohlson learned more about the district and the staff’s passion for working with the students.
That cemented his decision.
“I knew this is where I want to be,” he said.
Path here
Ohlson grew up in Washington State.
“It was an ideal childhood,” he said.
His family lived on Widbey Island in Puget Sound.
He described it as a community with lots of outdoor activities and support for the schools.
Ohlson was almost done completing his degree at Western Washington University when his parents moved to Wisconsin.
“I always joke I did what every responsible college student does,” he said. “I moved back home.”
In addition to wanting to teach history, Ohlson also wanted to teach overseas.
One of his professors at Western Washington University told him that if wanted to teach overseas, he should get a Wisconsin teaching certificate.
The professor described it as “gold.”
Ohlson spent a number of summers in Lithuania, teaching English.
First he finished his teaching license at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
He lived with his parents, did his student teaching in Seymour and was then hired by that district.
“That is also where I developed my love for literacy,” Ohlson said.
He has a master’s degree in reading from Walden University, with a focus on intervention and support for struggling readers.
Ohlson also has a master’s degree in educational leadership and curriculum from Concordia University, in Mequon.
He enjoyed his work in the Seymour School District.
Outside of work, he likes to hike and be outdoors.
Ohlson is a member of the Fox Valley Rowing Club, and involved at the church he attends, as well as at food pantries.
His goal this school year is to get to know W-F’s staff and the culture of the schools.
He looks forward to meeting families and building on all the things the district is already doing.
“Our goal – especially at the beginning of the year – is to welcome students back and help them feel the connection to their school community and their classroom so they can can feel safe in this uncertain time,” Ohlson said.