a community engagement initiative of Waverly Community Unit District #6
The initial COVID lockdown forced Olin Kingston to reflect on what mattered most. He’d worked in food service, but social distancing made it impossible for him to continue working banquets. Trapped at home, he found himself navigating the same struggles as many parents: virtual learning. He quickly realized that he found great joy in helping his son, a first grader, with his homework. This realization led him to pivot to substitute teaching and ultimately become a teacher. As COVID caused a lot of teachers to decide to retire, he did the opposite, transitioning into a career in education.
Changing
It Up
“I was enjoying, as much as a parent could, helping my then-first grader learn because they would give him these assignments virtually, and it was up to me, as his father, to help him. I had fun teaching, and he taught me a lot. And I thought, maybe I can substitute teach,” shares Olin, admitting that this time with his son helped him identify who he was and what he wanted to do. He smiles, adding, “I discovered my love by helping students learn.”
Olin soon worked as a long-term substitute teacher, teaching high school math. He admits to being a bit rusty but made it work, taking the next day’s lessons home and reviewing them throughout the evening. “Then, I’d wake up that next morning and come teach the kids what I’d learned, what I’d taught myself. That’s what I did for an entire semester,” says Olin with a grin.
Eventually, Olin discovered Golden Apple’s accelerator program, an Illinois program designed to help solve the current teacher shortage. Golden Apple’s website states they ‘provide a path to teaching for career-changers and college seniors who commit to living and teaching’ in Illinois.” While the program is online, it works through partner universities. Olin was assigned to Eastern Illinois University and dedicated a year to gaining the ‘education, certification, and teaching’ knowledge and experience necessary to become a teacher officially.
Olin taught math by day and pushed through the Golden Apple program on nights and weekends. He suggests that if you work hard, they provide everything you’ll need to be successful. Olin had previously earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration from SIU-Carbondale. This set him up to receive his Professional Educator’s License to teach business and computer education. Now, he splits his day between business and computer-related classes, teaching everything from personal financial literacy to electronic (or E) Gaming.
Olin also coaches Wavery High School’s eGaming team. “Ten years ago, I wouldn’t have known what eGaming was or that it could be curriculum organized across a team of students. I wouldn’t have known you could earn scholarships for playing video games, but you can,” says Olin.
While Olin shares that his goal is to help his students prepare for positions within growth-based industries, he believes any path through the science, technology, engineering & mathematics, or STEM discipline is valuable for its focus on problem-solving. Olin often encourages his students to focus on who they are and where they want to go, hoping they will have an opportunity to find the same fulfillment he stumbled upon helping his son through virtual learning. “I learned that I really enjoy helping kids,” says Olin, adding, “Through teaching, I have an opportunity to improve outcomes on an amplified basis, which is amazing to think about.”
Through teaching, I have an opportunity to improve outcomes on an amplified basis, which is amazing to think about.
