1-2 Faculty

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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.

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 has been teaching kindergarten and first grade for the last 5 years. Her teaching experience has given her the opportunity to work in public and private settings here in North Carolina as well as abroad. She became part of the Odyssey community in 2017, starting in the K-1st classroom and now in the 1st-2nd classroom. She is thrilled to continue teaching 1st grade this year! 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.