When she is not teaching, you will likely find Janelle Olt outside soaking up the sun. Olt is the new academic support teacher at Highland this year.
She taught at East High a few years ago but also coached softball at Highland. She moved to New Mexico for a few years but returned to Utah this year. Olt loves teaching and anything outdoors.
Olt teaches applied skills and direct learning classes with the special education students. She teaches her students skills that they can use in classrooms and outside of school.
Olt graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in geography but quickly realized she wanted to pursue teaching special education, so she got a bachelor’s in special education from Utah state. Olt is currently getting a master’s degree in special education.
She wants students to know how to be organized, manage their time and be able to access different curriculums and technologies. They focus on different tools like text to speech, typing, recording and submitting assignments.
“The skills we learn here, we can apply once we get out there. We can advocate for ourselves,” Olt said, “We can access things independently, without having to rely on everyone else.”
Olt’s main goal at Highland is to teach her students that they can manage their own lives. She wants them to know that they are capable of being independent.
“A lot of times my students are relying on everybody else, teachers, and things to work out for them so they can access the world around them,” Olt said. “I want to give them and make them focus on being independent, so they are not limited.
Olt believes that by teaching life skills in her classroom, her students will be able to succeed in the world. She loves to watch students reach their potential and watch them grow.
“I love the kids,” Olt said. “It is great to get to know them on a personal level, see students thrive and give them the skills so they can be successful in the real world.”
