Staff Spotlight: Kim Olson Manages Data for the Good of Student Experiences

This post is part of the Lynden Schools Staff Spotlight series

Student data at Lynden Schools is accurate, protected and reported correctly to all required state agencies. That comes thanks to the work of Kim Olson, who appreciates her ability to support students and staff from the background so they can get the most out of their Lynden Schools experience.

The Role

As the district’s student data systems specialist and district assessment coordinator, Olson ensures student data and staff training data is up to date and properly reported to necessary agencies. “I get to work in almost all aspects of the district, and I love that,” Olson says. 

She started in Lynden Schools in September 1995, serving as a secretary at the old Lynden Middle School when her oldest child began kindergarten. She then moved to the head secretary role at Bernice Vossbeck Elementary when it opened and stayed there for 20 years, until her youngest child graduated from Lynden High School. 

While Olson misses the daily interactions with students and staff at the building level—she will pop over to the neighboring preschool at the district office to make sure she stays connected—she’s now been at the district office for 10 years and realizes “that I have turned into a bit of a data geek.”

Olson says she loves the challenge of finding ways to streamline processes and systems so that office staff and teachers can focus their time on students. “My goal is to never forget what it is like to work in a school,” Olson says, “and keep my focus on making things easier by providing accurate, secure information and support to our staff, students and families.” 

Getting to Know Kim

When not pouring over the data at Lynden Schools, Olson enjoys spending time with her adult children and her grandchildren, which includes youth sports, high school sports, field trips and babysitting. “Being ‘Mimi’ is the best life chapter yet and helps fill the void of not being in a school building that I was accustomed to for so many years,” she says. 

In her true downtime, you’ll find Olson on a “warm, sunny beach as often as I can talk my husband into it,” with Maui her favorite location. A lifelong resident of Whatcom County, she also stays connected to the community through volunteering and supporting various local groups. “Giving back is so important to model and remains a priority to me,” she says. “I am thankful to live in such a wonderful community and proud to work for this incredible district. Go Lions!”