Carrie Hand Olson
Personal Information
As a native Floridian, the mother of two boys (ages 7 and 13), and a descendent of four generations of educators who have worked for the state of Florida, I am very excited at the prospect of continuing my family's work in serving our community. My husband I moved our family to Gainesville in December of 2003 from Lake County to pursue our degrees at the University of Florida; he graduated with a degree in Geology in 2007 and now has a great job investigating sink holes around the state. I grew up in St. Augustine in a very musical family. I played the saxophone for thirteen years and have been singing in choirs ever since I can remember. During my time in High School I was active in both band and chorus (directing, playing, and singing in five school ensembles), the Tri-County Orchestra, District Honor Band, the Florida All-State Choir, and was a member of my church youth choir. I graduated High School at the young age of seventeen and have since been a member of approximately twenty different college and community music ensembles including: the Stetson University Choral Union, Chapel Choir, Symphonic Band and Jazz Band; the FSU Marching Chiefs, the LSCC Jazz Band, the UF Chamber Singers, and the University Choir - just to name a few.
I discovered my love of teachng while working for the Lake County School Board. While working on my A.A. degree, I worked as a Kindergarten teachers' aid (for five classes) one semester, and as a Middle School Substitute teacher the next school year. Since moving to Gainesville, I have worked as a coordinator and lead teacher in two after-school programs, and as a coordinator and lead teacher in five full-day summer programs. For the past five years I have volunteered as a children's choir director at one of the largest churches in Gainesville, where I teach the 2nd and 3rd grade choirs every Wednesday night throughout the school year. It's been very exciting working with the children, getting to know thier families, and helping to prepare and co-direct large musicals. I also found a mentor at my church who works as an elementary school music teacher, and have studied under her direction for the past four years by occassionally volunteering in her classroom at school, and helping her with the children's ensemble at our church. I've attended music workshops around the state, been an active member or my CMENC chapter at UF, and am constantly seeking to improve my knowledge through observations and continuing education classes. I am a strong advocate for music education and literacy, and have incorporated reading programs and music instruction in every program that I have worked with. While I have worked in various fields (retail, restaurant, office, and sales management), my passion is teaching and helping people - there is nothing that satisfies me more than seeing that epiphany moment on the face of a child or young adult and realizing that I have helped to make a difference.
Most of all, I love spending time with my family and friends! I love going to historical sites and learning about history, boating, swimming, going to the beach, traveling, anything artistic (music, theatre, dance, painting, and architecture), period and foreign films, photography, billiards, ping-pong, watching my husband play golf (I need to learn), fishing with my boys, and guitars around a camp fire.
Home Teaching Philosophy Accomplished Practices Goals and Accomplishments Coursework Resume Personal Information Portfolio Project Home Music Education Home University of Florida Home