Teacher Leadership in Action: Christie Olsen

Discover what prompted this educator to tackle drastic turnover rates in her district.

When the Lake Havasu Unified School District faced 23 percent teacher turnover, Christie Olsen knew she had to do something.

“Budget cuts are common across the United States, but it’s deeply personal when it’s your people — your child’s teacher, the teacher across the hallway, or your best friend that’s considering leaving the profession or the community,” the National Board Certified Teacher says. “The crisis in Arizona is that we’re losing teachers by the droves because they cannot afford to live and maintain a moderate lifestyle in this state.”

Unwilling to be complacent, Olsen launched Invest, Influence, Inspire = Ignite! The program provides specific time for first-, second-year, and mentor teachers to collaborate and engage in professional learning communities that are impacting practice and teacher retention.

Watch how Olsen transformed her passion into action below, and learn more about her journey here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63mKozqaYWg