Rosa (Scruggs) Washington-Olson has been a mover and shaker for many, many years. She has a BS in Biology and a masters and doctorate in Special Education. She has served as a mentor teacher, department chair of special education, teacher trainer, lecturer, administrator, and a national and international leader in education and the church and help write the Master Plan for the Resource Program for Special Education.
While teaching, she was chosen as the teacher of the week, teacher of the month, and teacher of the year. Olson was chosen (where she worked) as Solano County, CA outstanding individual in recognition of her work in assisting the disabled to become independent, self-sufficient, contributors to society. Rosa has been honored throughout the state of California as an acclaimed motivational speaker by educators and the national and international church of Methodism.
She received a certificate of appreciation from the General Board of Higher Education for commitment and outstanding service to Ethnic minded concerns. She was honored for leadership and service at Chi State Convention of Delta Kappa Gamma International in Los Angeles, California.
Rosa was chosen as guest soloist for the World Methodist Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, Vienna, Austria; for the General Conference of the United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana and Honolulu, Hawaii.
She has served as delegate to the World Methodist Conference in Brighton, England and Hawaii. Also elected as delegate to represent the General Board of Higher Education in Seoul, Korea. Elected six different times to serve as delegate to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church.
She was chosen by the Bishop of the United Methodist Church of the California Nevada Conference to receive the Bishop Melvin Talbert Award as outstanding leader of the Conference. Rosa has been an active and dedicated member of her local United Methodist Church for 43 years and has served in almost every capacity. She now serves as President of the United Methodist Women, sings in the choir, plays Handbells and teaches Adult Sunday School.
Since retirement, Rosa has volunteered for 23 years for a Mental Health Organization as well as working the election polls for 23 years. She volunteers as a teacher for an organization for “Empowering Women”.
Rosa taught for 30 years from elementary to graduate school. In her leisure, she likes to play bridge, golf, Scrabble and Yahtzee, an avid reader and truly enjoys travel. She has traveled to all continents with the exception of the Antarctic and all states with the exception of three.
Rosa has attended all CTS school reunions with the exception of 2017.