Image taken by Mackenzie O’Dell.
O’Dell’s Role at South Salem High School
South Salem High School welcomed Mackenzie O’Dell to the faculty in the fall of 2023. As a first-year teacher at South, O’Dell brings a love for teaching and a passion for helping students with learning disabilities. She can be found in room 253 for a majority of the day, in which she teaches IEP language arts. IEP stands for Individualized Education Program, which mandates that schools provide special education services for students in the least restrictive ways possible.
The Road to Teaching
O’Dell has aspired to be a teacher since she was a student herself. As a part of her college coursework, O’Dell was a student teacher at McNary High School. After this, she applied for a teaching position at South, due to her interest in the unified program. The unified program is unique to one school in the Salem-Keizer School District, that being South. Unified allows South to integrate students with learning disabilities with other Saxon students. Up until recently, students with learning disabilities have been kept separate. Students can elect to join unified classes, such as the unified arts and physical education courses.
O’Dell’s Teaching Experience: Personal Growths and Goals
“Teaching at the school has been better than expected,” O’Dell said. She loves interacting with and getting to know her students. For O’Dell, teaching becomes easier when students and teachers have good communication and rapport. O’Dell always attempts to approach students with kindness, as well as a willingness to hear their thoughts and concerns.
O’Dell has proven to be a resourceful teacher.
“I’ve learned how to ask for help or guidance from people even if I don’t know them well at all,” O’Dell said. She considers this an important skill especially as a new teacher at a school.
Got a Niche Skill? So Does O’Dell!
Aside from what teachers display in the classroom, they have many other talents, interests and hobbies. O’Dell is no different as she often expresses herself through martial arts.
“I actually have a black belt in Taekwondo,” O’Dell said.
