Olivia Goodrich

Olivia Goodrich has been part of the Renbrook community since 2015 and serves as Upper School STEAM and Science Teacher as well as STEAM and Inquiry Integration Coordinator. She holds a BS in Mathematics with Teacher Education and an MS in STEM Education from Central Connecticut State University, along with additional specialization in Gifted and Talented Education from UCONN. She also holds a Professional Educator Certificate and Challenge Course Level 1 Certification.

Olivia teaches 5th grade Planetary Health and STEAM courses in Grades 6 through 8, guiding students through engineering, design thinking, and inquiry-based problem solving. Beyond the classroom, she serves as a 7th Grade Advisor, Robotics Coach, Ropes Course Coach, and Outdoor Education leader, and contributes to the School’s AI Committee. Her work centers on helping students see themselves as thinkers, creators, and innovators capable of engaging with complex global challenges.

Her philosophy of education is rooted in curiosity and resilience. Olivia believes that supportive adults can be anchors for students as they navigate both academic and personal challenges. In her classroom, failure is reframed as iteration, a necessary and powerful step in the design process. She strives to cultivate a sense of wonder about the natural world and the broader universe, encouraging students to ask bold questions, explore patterns, and engage deeply with scientific thinking.

What Olivia loves most about Renbrook is the camaraderie among colleagues and the shared spirit of curiosity that runs through the community. She values the freedom to teach creatively and to follow inquiry wherever it leads, whether studying environmental systems, planetary science, or innovative engineering solutions.

Outside of school, Olivia enjoys knitting, embroidery, vegetable gardening, running, climbing, stargazing, and spending time outdoors with her family. She is fascinated by the natural world, from Atlantic salmon to corvids, and enjoys board games and video games alike. A fun fact about Olivia is that she keeps an anatomically correct model skeleton in her living room as décor. Her favorite book, The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly, reflects her appreciation for imagination, mystery, and the power of storytelling.