Administration

Odyssey’s education is deeply rooted in a collaboration of multiple perspectives. Odyssey School aims to echo this value, using Dynamic Governance to organize responsive circles throughout the organization. Our administration is supported by program directors in each of the four arms of the school: PreK, Elementary, Middle, and High School. This circle works in tandem with the administrative circle to guide programming, faculty, and families in our unique learning adventure.

Kalyan Volpe

Founding Teacher, Middle Grades Math Teacher & Program Director

he/him

Kalyan is one of Odyssey’s founding teachers, and he first came to teaching after a series of adventures, including traveling and living in Japan and considering monkhood in Nicaragua. When he visited a Long Island alternative elementary school, he was so enraptured by their joy and excitement that his life goals shifted from the monkhood to working in alternative education. His passion is to help children discover and honor their inherent brilliant selves and use those gifts to add to a vibrant community.

Kalyan achieved a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Connecticut and an M.A. in Education from Goddard College in Vermont, where his master’s thesis focused on the design of holistic elementary schools. After working as a lead teacher in a school in Fukuoka, Japan, and head teacher as PSOLI in Merrick New York, Kalyan taught at Odyssey for six years before taking a hiatus to explore other career opportunities. He rejoined Odyssey Middle School in 2016.

In Kalyan’s classes students focus on going deeply into subjects and ideas. Critical and creative thinking is encouraged and developed. Students are given ample opportunity to shine in the areas where they are strong and to be supported and grow in those areas where they need help. Key components of Kalyan’s classes include mutual respect, fun, participation, and dialogue. He encourages students to follow through with their visions, develop their own voice, and encounter the diversity of humanity.

Andrew Rabin

High School Homeroom & Science Teacher

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Andrew Rabin has lived in Asheville since 2014, and he has been a high school science teacher since 2001. In previous career incarnations, he was a wildlife biologist studying owls in the desert southwest, an assistant director of an environmental education camp for NY city public school kids, and the head chef of a French restaurant in Tucson, Arizona. Andrew attended Earlham College for an undergraduate degree in Biology, Prescott College in Arizona for his teaching licence, and has a Masters of Ecological Teaching and Learning from Lesley University in Massachusetts. He is a lifelong learner and is passionate about science as a means of understanding the world around us. While teaching in Boston, Andrew created a democratic science classroom as part of an action research project for his Masters degree.

Andrew’s two kids also attend Odyssey’s elementary and middle school. His interests include, bird watching, cycling, playing the banjo, gardening, Magic the Gathering and playing Ultimate Frisbee. He is the proud owner of a pair of eighteen year old Ball Pythons. Andrew has visited and/or lived in 45 different states, but is very happy to call Asheville and Odyssey home.

Grant Yost

Teen Adventure Camp Counselor 

Growing up in the mountains of eastern Tennessee, Grant Yost has always had an affinity for being outside. He attended college at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on the Tennessee River, where he graduated from the Honors College with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and a focus in STEM Education. During the school year, Grant teaches high school mathematics and we are excited for Grant to return for his second summer of summer camp!

Because of his experiences with Mathematics, Grant has a deep appreciation for logic, puzzles, and the thought processes that people use to solve problems. As a teacher, he believes that every student should be well equipped to tackle any problem that he or she is faced with in life. As a camp counselor, he brings the same curiosity, playfulness, and joy for his campers!

Outside of the classroom, Grant spends his time playing music, dancing, hiking, playing video games, and playing board games. While living in Nashville, Grant was actively involved in the contra, swing, and blues dancing communities as a musician, teacher, and dancer. Asheville has one of the best dance communities in the south, and Grant is grateful for the opportunity to be involved.

Grant Yost

High School Homeroom & Mathematics Teacher

he/him

Growing up in the mountains of eastern Tennessee, Grant Yost has always had an affinity for being outside. He attended college at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on the Tennessee River, where he graduated from the Honors College with a B.S. in Applied Mathematics and a focus in STEM Education. While at UTC, Grant did research in the field of Fractional Calculus with the Mathematics department and has two papers published in his name on the topic of Fractional Differential Equations. Grant is entering his fourth year teaching Mathematics at Odyssey and his first year as HS Curriculum Coordinator.

Because of his experiences with Mathematics, Grant has a deep appreciation for logic, puzzles, and the thought processes that people use to solve problems. As a teacher, he believes that every student should be well equipped to tackle any problem that he or she is faced with in life. He teaches using many tasks, puzzles, and scenarios that require students to collaborate, think logically about the situation, and discover a solution. Grant believes it is the teacher’s duty to be actively guiding and facilitating student learning while supporting independent discovery. His classroom is a supportive environment where everybody is engaged in asking questions, exploring solution methods, and enjoying the challenge of Mathematics.

Outside of the classroom, Grant spends his time playing music, climbing, dancing, hiking, playing video games, and playing board games. Grant is actively involved in Asheville’s contra, swing, and blues dancing communities as a musician, teacher, and dancer.

Hadley Cluxton

High School Homeroom & Social Studies Teacher

(they / them)

Hadley’s intellectual passions lie in the rich borderlands of history, science and society.  They earned two Bachelor’s degrees (simultaneously) from The Ohio State University: one in the Comparative Studies of Science and Technology (basically the history, philosophy and sociology of science and technology) and the other in Spanish, with a focus on Latin American Literature and Language.  They went on to earn a Master’s degree in History from Appalachian State University, where their thesis was a deep dive into the history of science in Latin America. Hadley’s work on the history of science in Latin America has been published in the peer-reviewed academic journal The History Teacher.  Hadley strives towards decolonizing the history classroom by highlighting diverse and often overlooked histories, as well as by engaging students in challenging and valuable discussions. In addition to being an historian and a perpetual learner, Hadley is also a mother, maker, nerd, heathen, hedgewitch, and a passionate, grateful being.

Samantha Sole

Kindergarten Teacher

she/her

Sam is from Tallahassee, Florida where she graduated from Florida State University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Art and Art History.  During this time she also danced professionally as a soloist with The Tallahassee Ballet.  After graduation she joined the Chattanooga Ballet Company as a principal dancer, instructor, and graphic designer. During her five years with the company she taught ballet and created a curriculum for students ranging from age three to adult. She led summer workshops for young dancers, choreographed for the company, and acted as the Young Children’s Coordinator for the ballet’s school. During her time at Chattanooga Ballet, Sam developed a love for teaching which prompted a career shift toward education. This led her to Odyssey School in 2020. Sam loves the team she and Shirley have formed in kindergarten and is excited for another great year. She values compassion, humor, and creativity in the classroom.  In her free time Sam dances as a soloist with the Asheville Ballet, teaches dance, and loves to paint and hike.

Carly Penny

A life-long North Carolinian, Carly grew up in Raleigh, surrounded by artists, inventors, craftspeople, and naturalists. She and her husband made Asheville their home in 2004. Carly is a true generalist, being involved in an array of experiences such as travel (Italy, Greece, Spain, Mexico, Canada, and much of the United States), clothing design, illustration, and flute performance. She sees everything as being connected, believing that an integral education is imperative for teaching the whole child and making meaning that lasts. She brings this foundational perspective to her work with Odyssey’s teachers, weaving together big ideas in education, curriculum, and life, as we teach our students how to think and how to grow into their authentic selves. As an administrator, Carly strives to help Odyssey families have experiences that allow them to feel connected across the community and to know that we are here in support of their children’s journey.

Being an educator from 2000 to 2021, Carly further developed her experience as a gifted specialist for elementary and middle grades. In 2021 she accepted a position as Odyssey’s Curriculum and Programming Director. She has experience teaching Pre-K through twelfth grades with extended time as a fourth-grade and third-grade classroom teacher. Additionally, Carly has taught reading skills, child development, clothing design, and music.

Carly holds her post-baccalaureate undergraduate degree in elementary education, retaining a concentration in design and a music minor. She earned her gifted education licensure on the master’s level and she continues to be an avid learner from thought leaders on issues, new developments, and best practices in education.

When she is not working with teachers and families or listening to education podcasts, Carly spends time with her daughter, Emaline, and her husband, Grant. You can find them laughing, hiking, reading, and creating works of art.

Grayson Morris

Virtual Camp Teacher

Grayson Morris has worked as a teacher, tutor, camp counselor, school bus driver, nanny, teaching artist, and mentor for over 15 years. With a lateral entry teaching license in ESL, an Early Childhood Credential, Masters level education in teaching reading, work experience as a Title I reading assistant in Buncombe county schools and as an Odyssey PreK teacher, Grayson’s experience working with children is varied and deep! She is very excited to be back at Odyssey this summer!

Grayson is also a performing artist and puppeteer and has led workshops for children and adults, toured the US with her one woman show, and currently divides her time between living in Asheville and Los Angeles. She loves to learn and teach, but more than anything, she loves to have fun!

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 developing with children. She is looking forward to a great year ahead!

When she’s not working, she enjoys hiking and going on adventures in the Blue Ridge Mountains. She was born and raised in Asheville, but feels like there’s always a new trail or waterfall to explore! She also enjoys doing yoga to add some calmness and peace to her busy days.

Student Film

This animated short exploring and exposing teen anxiety was created during our two week minimester in 2018. It is the product of the collaboration between 9 high school students, including 9th-12th grade students. 

Faculty Meeting Agenda 8/28

Happy first week of school!

Today’s meeting includes:

*Centering
*Morning/After School Supervision
*Parent Orientation Planning
*Faculty Service Assignments