Longtime Eagle County Schools administrator named principal at Glenwood Springs Middle School
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Roaring Fork School District/Courtesy
Glenwood Springs Middle School will welcome a new principal in the upcoming school year. After a year under Interim Principal Sarah Casatello following former Principal Joel Hathaway’s promotion to RFSD executive director of schools in May, Eric Olsen, an experienced educator and administrator, will assume the role, according to a Roaring Fork Schools news release.
Olsen brings a rich background in educational leadership, including roles as director and principal in Eagle County Schools and international experience in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. He has also served as the president of the Colorado Association of Elementary School Principals and received the Distinguished Service Award from the same organization in 2020.
“I am very honored and excited to be selected as the next principal of this wonderful school,” Olsen said in the release. “I look forward to collaborating with teachers, families, and community members to provide a world-class education in a safe and inclusive environment for the students of GSMS.”
Olsen holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Educational Leadership & Organizations from the University of California Santa Barbara, as well as a bachelor’s degree in history.
The selection of Olsen followed the district’s rigorous hiring procedures for school leaders. According to the news release, the interview committee praised his communication skills, strategic vision, and proven academic results. His humility and dedication to a unified mission for the school were also noted as key factors in his appointment.
“Throughout the interview process, Eric’s depth of experience as an educator and school leader, emphasis on the importance of the social and emotional well-being of students as well as academic growth and rigor, knowledge of Expeditionary Learning Education, and seeing every opportunity for teaching and learning, were just some of the many strengths that were evident throughout the process,” RFSD Chief Academic Officer Stacey Park said in a letter to the community.
Olsen will assume the role in July.
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