Courtney Fincher

PreK Director and Team Teacher
Courtney Fincher is the Director of the Odyssey Pre-Kindergarten program. She values the opportunity to nurture children through the rapid growth of early childhood. She believes it is never too early to instill the concepts of self knowing, communication, compassion, and community.
She strives to support the children in her care in developing self-confidence in balance with interdependence. It is her goal that children leaving her class will have a core understanding of themselves and the skills that will serve them in every aspect of life. Courtney values working in a school where children can experience the developmental spectrum from early childhood through high school.
Courtney holds a B.A. in psychology from the University of West Virginia and has extended her coursework in the field of Early Education. She carries her love of service, psychology, and healing arts into her relationships with the children. In harmony with the Odyssey vision, she sees a bright future for the children she teaches today, and looks forward to seeing what will happen as this special community grows.
Courtney is engaged with the Early Education Community in a variety of ways. She serves on The AB Tech advisory committee for their Early Education program, is a NEXT Emerging Leader participant, and a graduate of the Early Childcare Directors Institute. In 2015 she was awarded the National Recognition for Childcare Excellence.
Current News & Events
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 ...
Bonjou! We loved having the opportunity to welcome these musicians from Haiti to our campus today! As we enter this season of gratitude, we want to say THANKS to @leaf_community_arts for your global support of education and arts. We are so happy to partner with you! 🤩 #music #haiti #bonjou #partnership #gratitude #integraleducation #creative #collaborative #k12 #asheville #ashevillenc #globalcitizen ...
@odysseyhighschool juniors and seniors kick off @uncaarts ArtsFest in this morning’s Intergenerational Literature Reading with their original modernist poetry. 📝 #collaborative #creative #integraleducation #schoolwithoutwalls #highschool #k12 #ashevillenc #asheville #poetry #literature #intergenerational #inspired #modernist ...
‘Tis the season for par-tays! Positively Odyssey is our annual adult-only social event and it is always a swanky scene, but especially this year! Come listen to the @resonantrogues and cut a rug with us at @bmcmuseum💃🏻 #ashevillenc #asheville #holidayparties #schooliscool #alsoswanky #swanky #vintagefolklikestyle #k12 #integraleducation #parentparty ...
@odysseyhighschool students will be sharing the stage with @uncaarts students and faculty in an intergenerational literature reading on Nov 22! 📖 This annual happening is dreamy and inspiring as authors in all stages of maturation come together and are celebrated. Join us! 🦉🐕 #poetry #arts #UNCA #creative #collaborative #integral #education #integraleducation #schoolwithoutwalls #literature #poetryreading #languagearts #highschool ...
THE PODCAST IS HERE!!! 🎧 Check out “Best Practices in Education” and enjoy this showcase of a few of our most adorable, brilliant guests.🦉❤️ #teachersofinstagram #weloveourteachers #podcast #podcastlife #radiostars #bestpractices #goodideas #bestpracticesineducation #education #integraleducation #ashevillenc #k12 ...
Calling all filmmakers! Link is in our bio for more details... #wncteenfilmfest #filmfestival #highschool #middleschool #film #art #integral #collaborative #creative #education #ashevillenc #animation #documentary #comedy #musicvideo #horror #scifi #fantasy #drama #makeamovie @fineartsasheville ...
Happy Halloween! 🎃 The Owlbeaks School of Magic is underway at Odyssey High School. House leaders of Yostlepuff, Hadleryn, Rabinclaw, and Gabendore, pictured from left to right. The sorting hat did its work. May the best house win! #highschoolteachers #weloveourfaculty #spooky #teachersofinstagram #halloween #halloween2019 #learnthroughplay #creative #collaborative #integral #education #asheville #k12 ...
Check out the #CitizenTimes article linked in our bio... it’s picking up on the national discussion about school start times. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association recognize that a late start is better for kids, especially teens. Our change this fall to an 8:45 start time in Odyssey Intermediate and High School is based on science, so let those kids sleep a little longer--and still get to school on time! 😴 #sleep #sleepislife #highschool #asheville #latestart #k12 #monarchbutterfly #scienceinthemorning #integral #wholechild #wholisitic #education ...
Pre-K Teachers
Courtney Fincher
PreK Director and Team Teacher Courtney Fincher is the Director of the Odyssey Pre-Kindergarten program. She values the opportunity to nurture children through the rapid growth of early childhood. She believes it is never too early to instill the Read More...
T.K. Young
PreK Team Teacher T.K. holds a bachelor’s degree in social work and a minor in early-childhood education. She has been a teacher for the past 5 years and feels very fortunate to be able to facilitate so much learning and Read More...
Pana Columbus
PreK Team Teacher Pana Columbus is thrilled to be nurturing and supporting the youngest members of Odyssey’s community in Pre-K. She has been working with children for decades including as the director of Pebble Theater, the children’s theater branch Read More...
Janell Cooper
PreK Team Teacher Janell Cooper has over 15 years of experience working with children. In fact, her mother ran an in-home childcare center in California where she grew up! Janell holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, a minor in Read More...
Lydia Hearne
PreK Team Teacher & After School Ceramics Instructor Lydia Hearne teaches in the pre-kindergarten class at Odyssey and also offers middle and high school ceramics classes. She grew up in the mountains outside of Asheville, where she spent much Read More...
Rob Williams
PreK Team Teacher Rob Williams has been an educator since 2012, working in pre-kindergarten classrooms for nearly five of those years. He is currently completing his bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Rob believes that honoring each child’s whole Read More...
River Guerguerian
Music Director and Teacher River brings to Odyssey his rich and extensive experience as a multi-percussionist, composer, and educator. Born in Montreal, Canada to Armenian-Egyptian parents, he received his Bachelor of Music from the Manhattan School of Music Conservatory Read More...