Title: Elementary School Teacher
Company: Cherry Brook Primary School
Location: Canton, Connecticut, United States
Patrice A. Olson, JD, MAJ (Ret.), Elementary School Teacher at Cherry Brook Primary School, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements and leadership in Elementary Education.
Ms. Olson is recognized for a distinguished career marked by service, leadership and a commitment to education and justice. Since 2021, she has served as an elementary school teacher at Cherry Brook Primary School, where she teaches second grade and is responsible for all core subjects, including mathematics, social studies, science, reading and writing. Her approach emphasizes not only academic growth but also the development of her students into responsible global citizens. Before becoming a certified teacher, Ms. Olson worked as a special education paraprofessional at the school from 2019 to 2021, supporting students with diverse learning needs.
Having transitioned into education following a notable legal and military career, Ms. Olson was a staff attorney with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for the State of Connecticut from 2018 to 2019, where she provided legal counsel on matters affecting veterans. She previously served as a student mediator at the school of law at the University of Connecticut between 2016 and 2017.
Ms. Olson’s legal expertise was shaped by more than a decade of service in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps. From 2012 to 2015, she was a litigation attorney, prosecuting cases and providing legal assistance on issues ranging from criminal matters to family law for service members. As an air staff counsel in the Office of the Judge Advocate General between 2009 and 2012, she advised senior leadership on complex legal issues impacting Air Force operations. Ms. Olson also excelled as the chief of labor law at the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency, managing labor relations and employment law matters for intelligence personnel, from 2007 to 2009. Among her earlier roles, she held the title of chief of operations and general law for the U.S. Air Force from 2006 to 2007, after initially serving as chief of claims, general law and adverse actions, starting in 2004.
Ms. Olson’s military journey began in 1995 when she joined the U.S. Air Force as an officer. In her early years through 2001, she held positions of increasing responsibility from executive officer to commander to resource management roles. Initially working in areas akin to human resources, she was also responsible for discipline and welfare services, such as dormitories and cafeterias. Ms. Olson later cross-trained into intelligence, serving at the National Security Agency before relocating to Los Angeles, California, for top-secret assignments.
Ms. Olson acquired several degrees, beginning with a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice/pre-law, cum laude, from Lamar University in 1994. She then received an associate’s degree in paralegal studies from Kaplan College in 2000 and a master’s degree in human resources management from the University of Maryland Global Campus in 2002. From there, Ms. Olson acquired a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Maryland in 2004 through a U.S. Air Force scholarship program while serving as an officer and a Master of Laws in human rights and social justice from the University of Connecticut in 2016. Ms. Olson was admitted to practice by the Maryland, Texas and Connecticut Bar Associations and the Supreme Court of the United States.
In addition to her professional roles, Ms. Olson has been actively involved in civic life. Since 2017, she has served as a board member on the zoning board of appeals for the town of Canton, Connecticut. Her commitment to youth extends into athletics as a volunteer basketball coach at Canton Cherry Brook Public School since 2023.
Ms. Olson’s military achievements were recognized with numerous honors, including a Meritorious Service Medal, Achievement Medal, Longevity Medal, Air Force Accommodation Medal and a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, among others. Throughout her military tenure until her retirement as a major in 2015, she demonstrated exceptional leadership and adaptability across multiple domains. Ms. Olson credits much of her success to the inspiration of her family history, which included her father having served for over 20 years in the military and both of her grandfathers being veterans. Moreover, she notes her husband, a fellow Judge Advocate General officer who is currently serving in the reserves.
Looking ahead, Ms. Olson intends to continue teaching while fostering greater diversity within her school environment, in an effort to ensure that every student feels welcome. She also aspires to become a trainer focused on adult education, continuing her lifelong dedication to learning and service across generations.
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