Media Specialist Shares Spark of Learning

Sallye Anne Olmon is a media specialist at Eagle Ridge Middle school, but she also spent 14 years in the classroom. Olmon started with Albuquerque Public Schools and was teaching at Lincoln Middle School when Rio Rancho formed its own school district. Her favorite historical figure is known around the world for fighting against prejudice and racism and for equality in South Africa.

SALLYE ANNE OLMON

SUBJECT/GRADE TAUGHT: I am the media specialist at Eagle Ridge Middle School.

YEARS AS AN EDUCATOR: This is my 33rd year of teaching.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: For 14 years, I was a classroom teacher, and my subjects included language arts, drama, journalism, math and computers. Thank goodness, I never had to teach science except during my year of student teaching! I taught for 12 years at McKinley Junior High/Mid School, 10 years at Lincoln Middle School, and I have been at Eagle Ridge since it opened with half of the population from Lincoln.

AWARDS,

CERTIFICATES OR HONORS: I have been privileged to receive two grants from the Rio Rancho Education Foundation and most recently was honored to be named by the Rotary Club, along with my assistant, Ruth Latta, as Outstanding Teacher at ERMS. I must say, though, that the greatest honors come from meeting former students years later and hearing that I had an impact on their lives.

HOBBIES AND INTERESTS: My hobbies include reading (of course), jewelry making, crafts and movies. I love movies. They don’t even need one good review for me to like them!

MOST MEMORABLE DAY AS AN EDUCATOR AND WHY: When you’ve been an educator for 33 years and you still love it, trying to pick out a most memorable day is very difficult. Should it be the day a 17- year-old ninth-grader first realized he could read the word "hamburger," or when, as a computer teacher, you managed to take apart an Apple computer — clean it up and put it back together — and it still worked, or the first official day in a brand-new school? I really think that the most memorable moments are reflected in the eyes of the students when you realize that the light has come on and they are learning.

FAVORITE TEACHER AND WHY: My favorite teacher was Wynn Olmon (Olmon’s late mother, a former teacher and former president of the Rio Rancho School Employees’ Union). She was indeed one of my high school teachers, but more importantly she was a teacher of life. She taught me that I could do and be anything I wanted. She taught me that sometimes the outcome we foresee is not what actually happens and we have to make the best of it … but we never give up.

FAVORITE HISTORICAL FIGURE AND WHY: I have many, many historical figures to whom I look for inspiration. One of them is Nelson Mandela. When I think about the adversities he endured, including 27 years in prison, I am in awe of the fact that, when released, he could let go of bitterness, resentment, hatred, and anger and instead of those negative feelings, he could spend his life helping to heal the injustices. If only we could all feel that way.

If you know someone you’d like to see profiled in Meet Your Teacher, email Journal staff writer Elaine Briseo at ebriseno@abqjournal.com.

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