K Teachers
Mary Virginia Bunker
Kindergarten Teacher
A born and bred storyteller, Mary Virginia fills the days of her students with mythic lessons taken from folktale and legend. Inspired by Joseph Campbell’s work describing the cultural basis of the hero’s journey through myth and folklore, she believes it is through learning ancient stories that truths of personal power, justice, and interpersonal understanding are embodied. Mary Virginia is a founding teacher and was instrumental in creating (and continues to be instrumental in holding) the vision for Odyssey’s unique approach to education.
Mary Virginia passionately enjoys teaching at Odyssey, guiding her young students to see purpose and meaning in their academic lessons, celebrating their shifts in understanding, and helping them learn how to manage their energies, through imaginative play, social skills and the developmental tasks related to academics.
A graduate of Loyola College of Maryland (Bachelor of Elementary Education) with graduate-level work in special education, Mary Virginia has also earned a Masters of Appalachian Studies from Appalachian State and a Masters of Library and Information Science from UNCG. In 2011, she completed a post-master’s level CASE (Advanced Study in Education) degree from the Notre Dame of Maryland University.
Shirley Rotolo
Kindergarten Teacher
Shirley Rotolo has been teaching for the last 18 years and has been part of the Odyssey community for almost seven years. Shirley has several degrees in early education and is a graduate of Western Carolina University. She has been involved in diversity programs such as Building Bridges and Cultural Competence Awareness, and has also taken the Young Hispanic Dual Language Learners Achievement class. Shirley is also an accomplished visual artist with a particular interest in Chinese painting.
Although originally raised in New York City, Shirley has an international background and speaks several languages. Shirley loves to share her experiences from living and traveling in France, Italy, Amsterdam, Montreal, Canada, and the Caribbean Islands in the classroom! In fact, she also teaches French to students from Pre-K through third grade in after school!
In her spare time Shirley loves to explore the different lakes and mountains of Western Carolina with her family. She is an avid reader and reads everything from the classics to fantasy, biographies to sci-fi.
Shirley loves working with kindergarten students and looks forward to sharing her rich, diverse background with them through a calm, effective environment that allows student to learn, explore, and develop.
Current News & Events
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
Est. 2008. @odysseyhighschool students are outside our school walls EVERY. WEEK. #highschool -ers mentor younger students, study and organize, speak out, are supported by #mentor #teachers, and pursue their dreams after graduation. See for yourself: OPEN HOUSE this THURSDAY @6:30pm. #asheville #ashevillenc #education #integraleducation #k12 #openhouse #schoolswithoutwalls #learnoutside #learnbydoing
Waving hello to 2020! Looking for some inspiration for the new year? Check out “Doing Authentic Science” - Episode 10 of our podcast! #getreal #science #highschoolteachers #podcast #integraleducation #education #k12 #creative #stem #asheville #ashevillenc #bulletinboard #arms #hands #lendmeahand #inspiration #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #hello2020
Happy Holidays! Love, Odyssey ❤️
Thank you for a wonderful Festival of Light 2019! 🕯 We sure did celebrate all the warmth and brightness of our community! #festivaloflight #keepartalive #dance #music #theater #lighttheworld #arteducation #integraleducation #creative #collaborative #learnthroughplay #performance #community #wintercelebration #ashevile #ashevillenc #k12 #highschool
Does @thatsxelantscience look she’s on vacation? That’s just a filter. BUT she’s got a vacay-mindset when she’s making time for self care. Listen to her tricks of the trade for educators on the latest episode of Best Practices for Education. Link in bio. ☺️ #podcast #podcasting #teachersofinstagram #educators #selfcare #selfcareforteachers #integral #wholeperson #holistic #integraleducation #asheville #ashevillenc #k12
Positively Odyssey is TONIGHT! Join us in celebrating integral education with the @resonantrogues at @bmcmuseum downtown. It’s going to be real swanky. 💃🏻 #grownupsonly #partytime #tistheseason #celebratecommunity #integraleducation #integral #asheville #ashevillenc
Kindergarten Teachers
Featured Student Work
