Esther Olson is a special education resource teacher for all grade levels. Olson found her niche after student teaching in the Barrington area, bouncing from school to school and grade to grade.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity

Q: Where did you go to college?

EN: I went to Liberty University, out in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Q: How long have you been teaching?

EN: I was certified in 2018, but I worked as an assistant for about a year during COVID. This is my first year full time at Barrington as an officially hired teacher, but I have taught for a while and, during that time, I taught a lot of different subjects.

Q: What made you want to pursue teaching in special education?

EN: Originally, I didn’t know that I wanted to teach special ed. Both my undergrad and master’s degrees are in elementary education. I student taught in second grade and fifth grade, then I progressively worked with older kids. I was a long term sub in middle school and found out that I loved middle school. After coming the into high school, I found out I loved high school, too. I subbed for a special education teacher, and I fell in love with that position. I had kids come in, and it was, ‘Hey, what do you need help with today?’ The ability to help them learn to be a successful student, to be there for them, connect with them and hopefully cause influence in their life made me love the role. I was like, ‘This is what I want to do.’

Q: Was there a certain subject that you originally wanted to teach?

EN: I really enjoyed science, and I’m teaching science this year, which is cool. With special ed, it’s based on the needs of the year that you teach. This year they needed a science teacher. It can be a toss up as to where you will be placed, based on numbers and needs. I enjoy all the subjects, though. Right now I teach one section of biology, but as a resource teacher, you deal with every subject. I’m helping a girl write an essay, or I’m helping somebody with their lab project. It’s cool. I like the ride!

Q: Did you teach in any other schools around here?

EN: I taught a little bit in Carpentersville at a private school, a small church school. Previously, I also was a piano teacher, and I’ve been a private tutor, but the majority of my teaching experience has been in Barrington.

Q: What are you most excited about teaching here?

EN: The most exciting thing was that I knew so many people. I have been in Barrington for a while, so some of the kids that I student taught in third grade are now in high school, and I’ll see them in the hallways and be like, ‘Oh, hey, I know you!’ I have some middle schoolers that I taught a few years ago that will graduate this year. I’m going to do a lot of crying when that happens. I’m going to miss them.

Q: Do you have a favorite person you work with?

EN: There are a couple that I really enjoyed working with. They are people that I’m able to have fun with, we are able to support each other and work through issues. These are the people that you are like, ‘Ah, okay, you can relax.’ You can know that if you have a problem, you can work through it with them and so forth. I’ve been blessed to work with some amazing co-workers.

Q: Do you have a favorite part of the school?

EN: I like that you guys have a coffee bar. I think that the new culinary place is super neat to pop in there and see what’s going on. They feed me sometimes, too; they do a great job.

Q: What is your favorite thing about working in the special education field?

EN: The ability to connect with kids and give them a place to come. I have a table in my room with tea on it. I have a tea kettle, a big variety of tea with sugar and honey, and I occasionally will have coffee. I love having a place where any of my kids or anybody that walks into my room is welcome to have tea. I love having a place where they can come relax, get their homework done, have a cup of tea if they want it and connect with each other. I’m willing to listen to whatever they’re going through. I’m here for them. That is what I really like about small class sizes, getting to connect with the kids and finding out what they need, and how we can help them.