Principal Is Great Pal For Chester Students

Last December, Chester Elementary principal Dennis Olson made a deal with his students.

Collect 1,000 cans of food and 100 pounds of coffee for the school’s annual Christmas food drive and a representative of the student government could throw a cream pie in his face.

It’s those kind of antics that make Olson popular with his students. So popular, in fact, that he was chosen to be “Principal on Parade” at Spokane’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

Olson was selected from 4,500 student nominations sent in from around the region. The honor brings Chester a visit from three Disney characters and $2,000 in computer equipment.

“I feel real good about it, but it humbles you,” said Olson, who is in his sixth year as principal at Chester. “There are so many principals in public and private schools that are doing a good job.”

Evidence that Olson’s respect extends beyond fellow principals was abundant in the more than 200 letters submitted on his behalf.

Students greeted and joked with Olson as he wandered through classrooms Thursday afternoon. Teachers playfully brought in green and white accessories to spruce up Olson’s outfit for his ride in today’s parade.

“They love his sense of humor,” said Cyd Rees, the school librarian who organized the student letterwriting campaign.

Students must have loved Olson’s pie-in-the-face deal. They doubled the goals he set for the food drive.

“He’s a real good sport and will have fun with his students in a positive way,” Rees said.

A self-described patriot, Olson regularly leads students in a rousing chorus of “Grand Old Flag” at school assemblies. His trumpet leads the way on others.

During the Persian Gulf War, Olson led patriotic songs at weekly assemblies.

All of the fun and games help him get away from some of the more demanding aspects of his duties as principal.

“When it feels like there are too many deadlines and there are too many meetings, my secretary will say, ‘Dennis you need to go down to a classroom and get lost in the kids,”’ Olson said.

Olson has spent the duration of his 25-year career as an educator in elementary schools around Central Valley School District. He got his start as a teacher in 1971 and was named principal at Blake Elementary 13 years later.

This year’s sixth grade class will be kind of special, Olson said. He has watched them grow from bashful first graders into socially capable students.

Today’s parade will be that much more special for Olson because sixth grader Aaron Grant will join the principal and his wife, Sharon, in the car during the parade.

Despite the recognition from his students, Olson refuses to take all of the credit.

“I am surrounded by teachers and professionals that go above and beyond to make this building special,” Olson said.

According to his students, Olson is no exception.

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MEMO: Saturday’s People is a regular Valley Voice feature profiling remarkable individuals in the Valley. If you know someone who would be a good profile subject, please call editor Mike Schmeltzer at 927-2170.