Type Of Business:
Public School District
Expertise:
Ms. Odland's expertise is in reading instruction.
Major Product/SVS:
Education
Favorite Business Publication:
The Reading Teacher
Hobbies/Sports:
Reading, Playing the Piano, Walking, Playing Word Games, Writing, Spending Time with her Family and Friends
Education Degrees:
Master's Degree in Elementary Education, with a Concentration in Reading, University of Mary, Bismarck, ND (1993); Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, with a Concentration in Remedial Reading, Minor in Music, Minot State University, ND, Summa Sum Laude (1974); Coursework, Plus 55
Affiliations Awards:
North Dakota Reading Association; South Central Reading Council; Thursday Music Club; International Reading Association
Industry:
Reading Education
Work History:
Adjunct Professor, University of Mary, Bismarck (1995-1997); Fourth-Grade Classroom Teacher, Bainville Public School, MT (1974-1977); Third Classroom Teacher, Bainville Public School
What do you feel separates you from the rest of the professionals in your industry?:
Ms. Odland’s strong connection with each student and her ability to help reluctant readers become excited about books separate her from her colleagues.
How would you like to be remembered by your peers?:
Ms. Odland would like to be remembered by her peers as a caring, positive, professional, knowledgeable, organized, and supportive person.
If you could solve one problem in the world today, what would it be?:
Ms. Odland would like to solve problems pertaining to children experiencing difficult home situations.
If you could have lunch with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?:
Ms. Odland would like to have lunch with many teachers who encouraged her love of learning. They, along with her parents, demonstrated a strong work ethic and instilled in her the importance of education. She would like to thank them for the influence they had on her life.
Expanded Biography:
Ms. Odland decided to become an elementary teacher while attending a small school. She loved and respected her second-grade teacher and wanted to follow in her footsteps. While in college, she spent time observing that same teacher in her classroom. That experience helped confirm her decision to pursue a teaching career.
Throughout the duration of your career, what was the one highlight that stood out the most?:
The most gratifying aspects of her career is having her former students telling her they gained an interest in books because of her class and that they still love to read, even as young adults, they enthusiastically recall specific books they enjoyed.
Charity:
Local Church; Various Christian Ministries; The Salvation Army
Number Of Years In Profession:
36
Number Of Years In Current Position:
33
What Does He/She Attribute Success To:
She attributes her success to her love for children and reading, the encouragement she receives from her peers, and the fulfillment of making a difference in her students’ lives.
Why did you become involved in your profession or industry?:
She became involved in her profession because of the positive experience she had with her second-grade teacher and her interest in making learning enjoyable for children.
Extended Bio Profile:
Ms. Odland taught diagnosis and correction of reading difficulties and worked with the Reading Clinic, in which graduate students work directly with children. She has three years of experience teaching in the classroom and 32 years of experience as a reading specialist. She also been a reading specialist in grades three through eight. She helped to write and proofread the North Dakota Reading Month packets that were sent to each school in the state from 1995 to 1997. She feels that her decision to pursue a master’s degree made a big difference in her career because she had 13 years of experience as a reading specialist before beginning the course of study, she had clear goals for what she wanted to learn and the areas in which she wanted to grow. Her graduate work helped her better understand the reading process and increased her effectiveness as a reading teacher. She is skilled in the area of proofreading and at finding the right books for each child, and she is able to instill in children a strong desire to learn to read. She served as a proofreader for the program books used at the International Reading Association Regional Conferences held in Bismarck in 1996 and 2004. She is a church pianist and has also served as an organist. She provides background piano music for receptions and banquets. She and a friend have recently recorded and released Four Hands in Grateful Praise, a CD of gospel piano duets and duo keyboard arrangements.
Position Responsibilities and Duties:
Teaching Children who Struggle with Reading, Delivering Individualized Instruction in Phonemic Awareness, Word Recognition, Word Attack, Vocabulary, Comprehension and Writing Skills, Utilizing Children's Literature and Hands-On Activities, Communicating with Classroom Teachers and Other Specialists
Education Certifications:
Certified Teacher, State of North Dakota; Reading Credential, State of North Dakota
Awards/Honors:
Golden Apple Award for Teaching, Bismarck, ND (1993)