Band Director Jennifer Olis Steps Down
GHHS Band Director Jennifer Olis and students Callie, Sydney, Charlotte and Rose.
On June 15, 2022, at the Grandview Heights Schools Board of Education meeting, the Board approved Jennifer Olis to be the Director of Bands for Grandview Heights High School.
Before accepting the high school band director position at Grandview Heights Schools, Jennifer served as Director of Bands in the Logan-Hocking School District in southeastern Ohio. At Logan, she co-taught the high school concert band, high school marching band, high school jazz band, eighth grade band, seventh grade band, and served as the primary fifth and sixth grade saxophone and low brass teacher. She also assisted with chamber ensembles, the musical pit orchestra, and the pep band program.
Olis shared that she is dedicated to fostering a band family mentality and being a role model for her students through her passion for the subject material she teaches.
Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Music from Ohio University and a Master of Music from The Ohio State University. She and her husband, Michael, live in Pickerington with their five-year old daughter and three-year old son.
After serving the Grandview Heights band for four years, Jennifer Olis has made the tough decision to turn over a new leaf and fill the middle school band director position instead.
Jennifer has helped the band grow into an amazing program that is now getting recognized for the talent it holds. The band has taken many successful trips with excellent learning opportunities for its students. There are over seventy members in the band and it continues to grow each year with more students. The band would not be where it is today without the support of Jennifer Olis.
Do not let this news make you think she is done with music because she will still be close by working in the building. Taking this position allows her to continue doing what she loves but with more time for her family.
Students of Jennifer know that “Mrs. Olis” did not make this decision lightly and took every possibility to heart. She is giving up her current position to help her husband follow his dream and to spend more time with her two very young children. If there's any one sentence to describe Mrs. Olis it would be that. She has given up so much at home to be able to be here for the band these past four years and that is something all students will admire about her even while she makes the decision to put her family first.
Jennifer tells students she “doesn’t want to see them give up” and to continue to proceed with music even if she's not directing. Band students know that the change is something they are all going to have to get used to but also find comfort in the fact Mrs. Olis will still be close by.
This slight shift in her career does not mean she is done working completely with high school students because she will still be there making sure all students stay on the track. Many are sad to see her go as her relationship with students is so much deeper than “just a band teacher”. Many students of hers said “I hope she knows how proud of her we truly are and how deeply she will be missed”.
The students want to thank Mrs. Olis for her hard work, dedication, and kindness over the years as it has made a lasting impact on their musical career.