New Educator Spotlight: Jason Larson

April 20, 2023

Every week, we will be featuring one of our new LPS educators to get to know a little more about them and why they chose to be an educator. This week's New Educator Spotlight is Jason Larson, 6th grade Design Thinking teacher at Mickle Middle School.

Building/Department: Mickle Middle School

Teaching Assignment/Role: 6th grade Design Thinking

Why did you want to become an educator?

I noticed that a lot of people around me hated science and science class. When I would ask why it usually came down to science being boring or uninteresting. As someone who found science, especially chemistry and astronomy, fascinating, I had a hard time believing it. How could something so filled with discovery be considered boring? It usually boiled down to people having science teachers who didn't make it interesting or engaging. I wanted to become a science teacher to show students that science is fun and important to our lives, and although science might not be their 'jam' it is anything but boring and uninteresting.

What has been your favorite part of working for Lincoln Public Schools?

The professionalism that all the teachers and administrators I've met treat me (and each other) with. I feel listened to as a educator and as a teaching professional, and in my experience, that isn't always the case in other places. 

Did you attend Lincoln Public Schools as a student? If so, which school(s)? If not, where are you from?

I graduated high school from Grand Island, NE

Where did you attend college?

I received my undergraduate and one of my graduate degrees from UNL, my second graduate degree from Concordia University, and my certification in Gifted Education from Morningside College.

What is your favorite part of being an educator?

I love helping students find success, no matter how big or small, while they are here. Everyday is a new day to learn and grow and no two days are the same.

Describe a time that you knew you made a difference for a student or group of students.  

As a teacher, students come and go and sometimes you don't know what kind of impact you've had until years later when a student reaches out and takes the time to thank you and tell you the impact you've had. I've had students do that every once in a while over the years and it feels good to know you made a difference.

What is a fun fact about you?

After Dr. Gausman visited Mickle last month, I realized he was our drum line clinician back when I was a junior in high school at Grand Island Senior High. He made a huge impact on all of us back then as a drum line instructor and it only makes sense that he has gone on to improve the lives of so many young people and teaching professionals since that time. 

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