BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Staff Writer
It’s often difficult to come into a new position, especially one that is new to your workplace as well, but new Union County High School Dean Shari Odom said she has found “smooth sailing” in her new job and looks forward to every day she works in it.
According to Odom, a “dean” is the person who handles the role of disciplinarian in the school setting. The position takes the pressure of dealing with discipline issues off the principal and vice principal, allowing them more time for the many administrative issues they must deal with. Odom said she want to be more a support person to the students than just the person they are sent to see when there is a problem. She spends time walking the halls between classes, eating with the students in the lunch room and “just talking with them” when the occasion arises. Her door is always open to students who want to discuss a problem or simply vent. She hopes that these activities will help her intervene before a matter becomes a discipline problem, although she said she does not shy away from administering discipline when it is called for.
Odom was raised in Columbia County, but she was born at Pensacola Naval Base to Navy mom, Amaya Kellum. After he mother’s service, she and her sister moved with their mother to Columbia County, where they were raised by her mother and stepfather, Joseph Kellum.
“I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, or to work in education in some way,” Odom said. “Growing up I would make my sister play classroom, and she always got to be the student.”
When it came time to pick a major in college Odom wanted to get a degree in education, but the demands of life got in the way and she realized that she could not afford to take enough time off work to do the required internship in the field, so she chose to take her Bachelor’s degree in human services from Kaplan University, thinking that she would still be able to work with young people in that profession. She came back to her goals in education by taking a Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) in educational leadership. Not done yet, she is currently enrolled at the University of Florida working toward an education specialist degree.
Odom went to work for the Columbia County School District at its alternative school, Pathways Academy. She wore many hats at Pathways – teacher, instructional coach and testing coordinator, and serving on the leadership team. She said the best part of that job was the incredibly supportive administration (she mentions Principal Makeba Murphy and Teacher on Assignment Glenn Palmer) who taught her the skills she needed to be able to do what she is doing now at UCHS.
In her time at UCHS she said she was amazed at the students, who were the best behaved and most respectful young people she has encountered, with truly supportive parents. She also noted that the Union County School District and UCHS administration were incredibly supportive and exceptional in their desire to help her settle in to her new position.
“Superintendent Mike Ripplinger has been wonderful and UCHS Principal Julie Denson and Vice Principal Zeke Scaff have gone over and above in making sure I have everything I need to succeed,” Odom said.
Odom said the biggest transition for her has been from teacher to dean.
“As a teacher you can share the blame when something bad happens, but now I am “it.” All the responsibility falls on me,” she said.
Odom is married to Kendrick Odom, a UCHS graduate and the couple has four children; Tadgz (12), Ka’layah (11), Kendra (7) and K.J. (2). She said she loves family time and activities, travel, reading when she can find the time and is an avid University of Alabama fan.
“I am a people person who loves to be of service and will give up everything for children,” Odom said. “Whatever they need I want to give it to them, or give them the help they need to achieve it.”
Besides her interactions with the student body during the say, she said she sees about three students, one-on-one, a day in her office about whatever problem needs to be addressed, not always one concerning discipline. She said she wants them to know they can come and talk to her whenever they need to.
“Everything I do working with the students I do with love and a kind heart,” Odom said. “I want to be a positive role model to them and to let them know I want them to do well and succeed. I want them to know that they always have someone they can talk to that will do everything possible to help and support them. That is really my job.”
