1-2 Faculty
Selma Neel
First 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. Selma has a B.A. in Elementary Education from UNC Chapel Hill and completed part of her student teaching in North Carolina and part in Hamburg, Germany. She taught kindergarten on the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba before returning to the mountains and teaching first grade at Black Mountain Primary School. In addition to her education related experiences abroad, Selma loves to travel and explore different cultures and seeks to bring a multicultural perspective into the classroom. Outside of school, she is interested in sewing, reading, hiking, and enjoying the local music scene. Selma joined Odyssey in 2016, and we love having her smile and warm energy in our classrooms!
Craig Deutsch
Second Grade Teacher
Craig moved to Asheville from Atlanta, GA after traveling throughout the United States, Central America, and Israel. Because of his extensive travels, Craig has immersed himself in different cultures and brings that knowledge and understanding to the classroom. 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 camping 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.
