Posted: 9/3/02

North Branch's Olson named new AD

Berk Brown
Sports Editor

It took nearly all summer, but Forest Lake Senior High has found its next activities director.

Joel Olson, who was a special education teacher at North Branch, was offered and accepted the position just over a week ago and spent last week getting comfortable in his new position.

ìJoel has a nice background in both the fine arts and athletics which should give him the experience he needs to do whatís involved in both areas of the job,î Forest Lake High School principal Mark Robertson said. ìHeís a good listener and heíll be able to analyze issues and wonít make a knee-jerk reaction.î

Olson replaces Don Bosch, who took an assistant principal job at the high school after one year as the AD. Olson is approximately a year from having his administrative license and felt like Forest Lake was a good place to go.

ìMark (Robertson) spoke very highly of the programs Forest Lake offers and the people who work in those programs,î Olson said. ìIím someone who wants to get deeply involved and spend time helping over the next few years instead of a short time.î

Olson is the schoolís third AD in a three year period. After Doug Peltier left in the summer of 1999, Mark Wahlstrom held the position for two years and Bosch for one.

Olson, 33, is a 1987 graduate of Fairbault High School where he attended school with Columbus Elementary School principal Neal Fox.

After high school, Olson went into the Air Force and served in the Gulf War. He has a football coaching background and also was involved in North Branchís wrestling program.

Olson said he is looking forward to an opportunity to get more involved in all activities.

ìI want to be involved in each of the activities,î he said. ìThis was a good chance for me to get back into that again.î

He also said heís looking forward to the challenges of the job.

ìItís my personality to help facilitate,î he said ìItís important to get the best information you can get before making any decisions.

ìI want us to have great activities in both sports and fine arts. I think itís important that later on in life, kids say that those activities helped them be successful.î

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