Mr. Scott F. O'Dell

I am a Rochester native, having grown up in East Irondequoit, moved to Webster as a teen, and now residing in West Irondequoit with my wife, our two dogs Daisy and Freckles, and my three kids when they are home from college.  I graduated from R.L. Thomas High School in 1983, and received a BS in Physics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1987.  My first job was as an imaging scientist at Eastman Kodak Company, and after 19 years there, I had the opportunity to embark on a career which I absolutely love...teaching.  I became a teacher in the RCSD in 2007, and in 2009, I received my MA in Teaching from SUNY Empire State College.  I hold a NYS Professional Certification Mathematics Grades 7-12 & Grades 5-9. Within the RCSD, I have taught Math 8, Integrated Algebra, Math A, PreCalculus, and AP Calculus at schools such as Monroe High School, Wilson Foundation Academy, Vanguard Collegiate High School, Integrated Arts & Technology, Franklin Upper, and am now teaching Geometry and Algebra 2 at School Without Walls.

Now if you want my really serious side, consider this...

Statement of Educational Philosophy

Scott F. O'Dell

Reflecting on my experiences as a father, research scientist and teacher, I have felt the most fulfilled at times when I was mentoring others, having enabled them to develop new skills or gain new insights. My primary role as a father is essentially one of teacher; I provide the environment, opportunity, and guidance for my children's intellectual, emotional, personal, and spiritual growth. As a reward, I learn much from them in return. I'm passionate about this role, and have continued professional development throughout my career in education.

Although I am more interested in personal development of others rather than product development, my career in industry has afforded me skills and perspectives that are transferable to education. My interest and involvement in a variety of scientific applications can provide relevant examples required for effective classroom instruction. Through my work on diverse project teams, I've embraced the dynamics and power of collaboration and dedicated teamwork towards achieving a common goal.

I believe in affording equal opportunity of education for all. I appreciate and celebrate the wide variety of cultural backgrounds and learning styles that each student brings to the learning process, and understand the need for differentiated instruction for each individual. I have a constructivist philosophy of knowledge acquisition, and view the teacher’s role as a guide to that end. With appropriate supports, each student's innate potential and abilities can be realized; our role as educators is to enable this process.

Finally, I believe that learning is lifelong and reciprocal; I look forward to learning from my students, and I strive to instill the same excitement in them.