Richland One Teacher Named Finalist for SC Teacher of the Year
March 4, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – Daniel Oddo, a mathematics teacher at Dreher High School, has been named one of five finalists for South Carolina’s Teacher of the Year. State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman visited Dreher on Tuesday afternoon to surprise him with the news.
“It is an honor to represent Richland One this way because there are so many great things happening in the district regarding the quality of instruction,” said Oddo. “I love my students. This honor is really a testimony to them and their hard work. I also am thankful for the support I’ve received from Dreher and Richland One.”
Oddo, a National Board-certified educator and Richland One’s 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year, has taught at Dreher for eight years. His 20 years of experience in education includes serving as an assistant principal and principal. In 2007 he returned to the classroom with a desire to make a greater impact on students. Oddo’s students consistently have high passage rates on state standardized tests.
“I greatly enjoy seeing all my students excel, particularly students who have struggled with mathematics in their past,” he said.
As one of five finalists, Oddo will be competing for the state’s Teacher of the Year award, which comes with a grand prize of $25,000 and a new BMW to drive for a year. Each of the four remaining finalists will receive a check for $10,000.
Oddo will represent Richland One at the 50th anniversary of the South Carolina Teacher of the Year Celebration on Wednesday, April 22 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, where the new South Carolina Teacher of the Year will be announced.
