McAuliffe Elementary -  Carly O’Dell, 5^th Grade

Fifth grade teacher Carly O’Dell has been named the 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year for McAuliffe Elementary School.

“I teach because I care deeply about the future of our world and the children who will live and lead in it,” O’Dell said. “I teach to empower students to live healthy, meaningful lives that positively impact their community.”

The pandemic has transformed much of the world, including our classrooms, O’Dell said.

“More than any other year in my career, I am aware of the heightened stress that children and staff are bringing with them to school,” she said. “Taking breaks and finding moments to create joy and connection are more important than ever. I am committed to supporting my students in the development of their whole self, and this year, that means empowering students with strategies to manage stress and modeling resilience in the face of challenges.”

O’Dell joined Union Public Schools in 2017 as a fourth-grade teacher at McAuliffe Elementary.

She graduated from Baker University in 2015 with degrees in English and sociology. “I achieved my teaching certification after completing two years with Teach for America in the Arkansas Delta,” O’Dell said. “I am currently working on my master’s in library and information studies from the University of Oklahoma. I will graduate in 2021.”