1-2 Faculty
Selma Neel
First and Second Grade Teacher
Selma is originally from the Asheville area, and her teaching style is inspired by the nature, magic, and creative expression that characterized her own childhood. She has a B.A. in Elementary Education from UNC Chapel Hill and completed her student teaching in North Carolina and in Hamburg, Germany. She taught kindergarten on the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba before returning to the mountains and and working in first grade at Black Mountain Primary School. She joined the Odyssey community, teaching first grade, in 2017.
Outside of school, she likes to read, hike, sew, and paint. She takes any opportunity she can to share her interest in the arts with her students. She also loves to travel and explore different cultures and seeks to bring a multicultural perspective into the classroom.
Craig Deutsch
First and Second Grade Teacher
Craig moved to Asheville from Atlanta, GA. He is passionate about emerging mathematics and early childhood development. His professional development projects have focused on cultivating grit and empowering students to develop strong self-organizational skills using visual organizers and cues.
Craig enjoys spending time with his daughter, reading, gardening, listening to vinyl records, and spending time in nature. He collects artwork to mat and frame as a creative outlet.
Craig received a B.S. in Early Childhood Education at the College of Charleston. He has worked in the preschool at the Early Childhood Development Center at CofC as well as at Etz Chaim Synagogue’s preschool in Roswell, GA. Craig has been teaching in Odyssey classrooms since 2013.
Current News & Events
We were excited to host James Beard nominee and local celebrity chef @acallcapps 🤩 in the podcast studio today! Stay tuned for our conversation about teaching in the kitchen. 🍽🎙#podcast #chefsofinstagram #cheflife #culinaryarts #bestpractices #professionaldevelopment #teachersofinstagram #integraleducation #podcastlife #asheville #ashevillenc
Day of the Heart at Odyssey School is all about community, compassion, and appreciation. Take time to connect with your heart today and with the people you love. 🌎❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💝 #valentines #heart #community #love #loveyourself #loveeveryone #heartcentered #integraleducation #holisiticeducation #privateschool #independentschool #k12 #prek #asheville #ashevillenc #yoga #kidyoga #studentleaders
High school study hall in action! Imagine feeling as comfortable curling up with a good book at school as you do at home. That’s what a day in a small community school looks like. #rigorous #personal #comfortable #curlupwithagoodbook #schooliscool #integraleducation #happyteen #happylife #studyhall #k12 #asheville #ashevillenc #dayinthelife #highschool
Well said, @edutopia. We believe this is 100% accurate and can’t wait to introduce you to the unquantifiably magical Odyssey School faculty tomorrow night during our Meet The Teachers open house event. 🎈#asheville #ashevillenc #openhouse #k12 #privateschool #independentschool #integraleducation #preschool #bestteachersever #lovewins
These are Ken Wilber’s words. Thoughts provoked? Curious to learn more about how this philosopher influenced a whole way of teaching and way of being for the Odyssey School community? 🦉 Come and learn with us on Wed, Feb 12th at 6:30 pm. It’s an Open House and you’re invited. ❤️ #openhouse #schooliscool #prek #k12 #kenwilber #integraleducation #creative #collaborative #reflective #philosophy #rainpuddle #reflectionphotography #asheville #ashevillenc #montford #ashevillephotography #ashevilleintherain #quotes #quotestoliveby #privateschool #independentschool #holisticschool
Hurry! Mark your calendar! It’s Meet The Teachers Night, Odyssey’s PreK-12 Open House event, on Wednesday, Feb 12. @ 6:30pm. 🦉 Learn more about why Odyssey School is an awesome independent school experience for bright, creative, and authentic kids. #rundontwalk #privateschool #independentschool #integraleducation #creativekids #authentic #enrollment #admissions #k12 #asheville #ashevillenc #highschool #middleschool #openhouse #february2020
On Feb 1st from 3-6pm @slygrog will be hosting an art opening for a group of @odysseyhighschool students. Their canvasses are old or thrifted jackets decorated with body positive messages and mixed media assemblages designed to promote diversity, inclusivity, and positivity around all bodies. 🎨 #studentart #artandsocialjustice #bodypositive #creative #collaborative #artshow #artiseverywhere #loveallbodies #schoolwithoutwalls #highschool #integraleducation #independentschool #asheville #ashevillenc
Both in our classrooms and our faculty meetings, we take play very seriously. 🎨 Thanks to @mhnuckols for leading our collaborative painting workshop! Flip through to see our before/after paintings created collaboratively! #paint #fredrogersquote #playisseriousbusiness #mrrogerswasright #learningthroughplay #collaborationovercompetition #teacherswhopainttogether #professionaldevelopment #art #savethearts #artinschool #abstractart #collaborative #creative #integral #education #k12 #school #asheville #ashevillenc
Today’s in-service began with “gutters,” a team building challenge led by our HS Environmental Justice teacher... Watch this with the sound on! #learningthroughplay #gutters #collaboration #collaborationovercompetition #worktogether #professionaldevelopment #getoutside #physics #physicsarefun #success #teachersofinstagram #teachers #asheville #ashevillenc #integraleducation #integral #school #k12
Here’s a peek into the #creative #collaboration our teachers engage to support each other in discovering best practices. 👩🏻🏫👩🏽🏫👨🏼🏫👨🏿🏫 These are notes from a peer observation (inspired by one teacher, used by another to support yet another) tracking a teacher’s movement throughout a lesson. #peersupport #collaborationovercompetition #reflect #bestpractices #teachersofinstagram #weloveourjob #observe #teach #k12 #integraleducation #leadingbyexample #ashevillenc
1-2 Teachers
Featured Student Work
