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Empowering Educators, Enriching Classrooms: How Jonathan Olshan Inspires Innovation at Warwick
At Warwick School District, technology is more than a tool—it’s a doorway to discovery. For Jonathan Olshan, Warwick’s K–12 Technology Integration Coach, opening that door for students and teachers is both a calling and a joy.
Jonathan lives in Lititz with his wife, daughter, and two cats who “believe they run the house.” He has degrees from Millersville and Wilkes University and recently received his Technology Specialist Certification from Point Park University, sharing, “I can never resist learning something new.”
Inspiring Students and Teachers
What Jonathan loves most about his role is “watching students light up when they discover something new.” He treasures the balance between innovation and timeless teaching.
“It’s exciting to explore constantly evolving technology while seeing that strong teaching and pedagogy remain at the heart of student success,” he explained.
Through Warwick Education Foundation grants, Jonathan has helped bring cutting-edge technology like Virtual Reality (VR) sets into classrooms across all grade levels. “The technology we’ve been able to bring to Warwick isn’t about gadgets; it’s about giving kids new ways to see themselves as innovators, explorers, and leaders.”
A Record of Innovation
Jonathan’s role also gives him the unique experience of working within all six of Warwick’s school buildings and collaborating with teachers of all levels. Alongside fellow technology coach Shelly Chmil, he has secured at least one Warwick Education Foundation grant every year since the 2022–23 school year. That year, the pair received one of the Foundation’s 25th Anniversary grants—funded at $25,000—the largest teacher grant awarded at the time. It set a new benchmark for innovation in Warwick, and they haven’t looked back.
He recalls a notable experience when he teamed up with Mrs. Rhoades and her third graders at Bonfield Elementary. On that particular day, they were taking a VR tour of ‘National Parks Around the Globe’ when a student shared, “I’ve never even left Pennsylvania, but today I visited the most beautiful places all around the world. I can’t wait to tell my parents!”
Another came during a VR tour of Paris with Madam Campeau’s Advanced Placement French students at Warwick High School, where a curious student leaned in a little too close and may have “fallen” into the River Seine. (Don’t worry, she was perfectly fine.) The class shared a laugh and realized just how real these virtual experiences can feel.
“Whether it’s third graders discovering national treasures or high schoolers touring landmarks in their World Language courses, these lessons spark joy, curiosity, and memories that stick. It’s in those moments that learning stops being abstract and starts becoming relevant,” Jon explained.
Looking Ahead
Good news for Warwick—Jonathan has big plans for the 2025-2026 school year. He and Shelly Chmil were recently approved for the new Warwick Education Foundation grant “Beyond Reality: Expanding Innovation for 21st Century Learning,” which will bring several new digital tools to all Warwick schools.
“My hope is that students see themselves as creators, not just consumers, of technology. That they embrace the mindset of curious explorers who aren’t afraid to experiment, fail, and try again. More than anything, I hope they realize that learning doesn’t stop when school does. It’s a lifelong adventure.”
Jonathan’s story reminds us of what’s possible when passionate educators are equipped with the right tools and support. Thanks to donor support, we’re not only empowering educators like Jonathan—we’re building brighter futures for every child in Warwick.
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