Dr. John Johnson, M.S., Th.D.,

Headmaster

 

 

 

 

 

How must the education of our children transform if we are to expect them to be competent and personally fulfilled adults twenty-five years from now? Answering this question is critical to the work of Dr. John Johnson, whose vision of education assimilates the integral philosophy articulated by Ken Wilber, the emergent cosmology voiced by Thomas Berry, and our cultural possibilities according to Thomas Friedman.

“We have to teach today’s children how to learn, along with what to learn,” says Dr. Johnson. “We have to lead by example, invest in the self-knowing techniques of inquiry, honesty and authenticity. We have to present our students with an inclusive, integrative, and creative world.”

Dr. Johnson has been at the forefront of educational change in Asheville for over thirty years. In 1979 he sponsored a conference at the UNC-A Owen Conference Center titled “Holistic Perspectives in Education and Health.” He was a founder of Rainbow Mountain Children’s School in Asheville, in the late seventies. As the executive director, Dr. Johnson extended Rainbow Mountain to fifth grade in 1991, and subsequently created The Omega Program, a holistic alternative learning experience for the middle school student, in 1993.

In 2007, as a co-founder and Executive Director, he opened the doors to Odyssey Community School, welcoming a new generation of children and families into what he considers the next step in educational innovation – an integral learning community. Dr. Johnson aims not to create another “alternative educational center,” but to integrate outstanding academic reform with a deep commitment to cultivating self-knowledge.

 

Telle King

Admissions Director

At the heart of the Odyssey community, Telle King has her finger on the pulse of the school. Her enthusiasm is evident, whether she’s on the phone with a prospective parent or leading a tour of the campus. She treats every family with warmth and makes sure every detail is covered, ensuring a smooth transition into the community.

Ever seeking to develop professionally and personally, Telle’s wealth of knowledge and her genuine warm nature give the admissions process a human and capable touch. To her, overseeing the infusion of new life into the school is the icing on the cake of a lifetime of self-knowledge and quest for excellence.

Telle has her B.A. From Colorado College, and she became a certified Physician Assistant after attending the P.A. Program at Wake Forest University. In 2007, she graduated from WCU with a Masters in Entrepreneurship.

 

Cory Adams

Office Manager

 

 

 

 

 

Cory Adams is the Odyssey Community School Office Manager. A graduate of Warren Wilson College and former business owner, Odyssey represents her first foray into the non-profit world. She was originally drawn to Odyssey after her son started the preschool program. Of her days at Odyssey, she says, “I realized how much I enjoy the kids, and I appreciate the many opportunities I get throughout the day to be involved in their lives.”

Cory’s responsibilities include all bookeeping functions, managing the school’s intra-web system as IT support for both parents and teachers, working with the high school scheduling and transcripts, and all records requests. Cory also works on several of the school’s committees and is a high school mentor. In her spare time, she is finishing her first novel and producing a local, feature length movie with her production company, Gorilla with a Mustache.