TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – Scott O’Dell has only been working at Northwest Education Services (North Ed) Career Tech for about two and a half years, but he’s quickly become recognized as a leader in Career & Technical Education (CTE).
O’Dell was recently named New Teacher of the Year by the Michigan Association for Career and Technical Education (MIACTE). He was honored with the award on Jan. 27 at the statewide MI Career Education Conference in Grand Rapids.
“I am honored to be recognized among an incredible group of colleagues and CTE professionals around the state,” O’Dell said. “It is truly a privilege to teach students and play a part in building the next generation of aviation mechanics.”
Each year, MI ACTE recognizes individuals for their dedication, innovation and contributions to Career & Technical Education. O’Dell will now advance to the ACTE Region 1 contest, where he will be in the running against top new educators from Washington D.C., Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia. The winner of that event continues on to the National ACTE contest.
“Scott is a natural teacher, and he connects with students in a special way that keeps them engaged and focused on learning,” said Pat Lamb, assistant superintendent of Career & Technical Education at Career Tech. “His real-world experience has been an incredibly valuable asset for our students. Many will ask him questions about a problem in the aviation field, and he can answer them with firsthand experiences. That level of expertise makes a huge difference and allows him to show students how the theories they learn in the classroom apply to real-world situations.”
Prior to joining the staff at North Ed Career Tech, O’Dell worked in the aviation industry, where he trained new employees and discovered a passion for teaching. O’Dell started his career in aviation as a janitor at Kalitta Air, working his way up to be a certified mechanic, holding additional roles of lead technician, foreman, acting project manager and instructor. He furthered his classroom experience and later became North Ed Career Tech’s first instructor of the Aviation Maintenance program, which launched in 2023.
Aviation Maintenance students will learn about the physics of flight, aircraft flight controls and landing gear, troubleshooting and repairing hydraulic systems, airframe structure inspections and sheet metal fabrication. The program prepares students with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue careers such as aviation maintenance technician; aviation inspector; assembler of aircraft structures, surfaces, rigging and systems; and engine and machine assemblers. The program also serves as a pathway to certification as an airframe and powerplant technician.
Career Tech offers more than 20 state-approved CTE programs to high school juniors and seniors from Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties. Students are educated in career and technical fields, offering hands-on practical experiences, job shadowing, career exploration and early college opportunities, along with rigorous academic integration. For more information about North Ed Career Tech, click here.
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