In Memory of Jan

In memory of our dear friend and dedicated teacher, Jan Olmstead, who died peacefully in her sleep June 19 after a courageous battle with cancer. Our hearts are with her beloved family who was by her side until her last breath.

Jan was RunningBrooke’s Move2Learn Program Director since August 2018. After years in public education as an elementary teacher in the states and abroad, she finished up her teacher career after 15 years in the Alexandria City Public School system.

As the Move2Learn Director, she dramatically increased the programs (Movement Challenges, teacher trainings, M2L toolkits, mini-grants and city-wide professional development days) with enthusiastic endorsement by ACPS teachers and administrators.

She will be remembered for her kindness and understanding, the sunshine she brought wherever she went, and being an amazing teacher.

As one of her colleagues said, “Jan was a ray of light who was instrumental in RunningBrooke’s Move2Learn program development. Literally everything we do has Jan’s expertise and energy woven into it.”

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to RunningBrooke to which she gave so much of her heart and soul.

We love you, Jan. We will miss you terribly.

RunningBrooke is sparking a movement revolution in Alexandria City Public School classrooms by integrating creative and sustainable movement practices and programs into the school day to enhance academic performance and empower students to achieve long-term success. The Move2Learn programs are at the foundation of our work.