Odyssey School Appoints Highly Experienced Educator as Head of School
The Board of Directors of Odyssey School has appointed Dr. Eric Howard as the new Head of School.
Photo: Camilla Calnan
Dr. Howard, who is affectionately known as “Big E” to friends and students, accepted the position and began the role in September 2022. He brings more than 15 years of educational experience to Odyssey School.
“Odyssey School is resilient, authentic, and creative,” said Howard. “It is my honor to lead Odyssey and to continue and expand how we encourage all students to be citizens of conscience with an authentic sense of self.”
“Dr. Howard is a positive and energetic leader who possesses the qualifications, expertise and community relationships needed to lead Odyssey School into our next chapter as a unique, independent pre-K through 12 school,” said Board of Directors Vice Chair and Search Committee Chair, Jenny Kobin. “Big E’s caring and team-oriented spirit, in addition to his dedication to meeting the needs of our students, ensure that Odyssey will be well positioned under his guidance to create a lasting impact on those we serve for years to come.”
Dr. Howard succeeds Jen Stradling, who served as Odyssey’s Interim Executive Director since May 2022. “We thank Jen for her exceptional service and dedication to our school community. Given her financial expertise and extensive knowledge from her 10-year tenure at Odyssey, we are pleased to promote Jen into a new senior role as our Director of Finance,” Ms. Kobin concluded.
Dr. Howard’s experience with pre-K-12 includes advanced social work practice and school administrative roles including serving as Director of Student Services for Asheville City Schools (ACS); Social Worker, Community Liaison, and Leadership Team for William Randolph School alternative school; and Site Administrator for ACS Preschool. He is most recently statewide Director of Problem Solving Courts in Iowa, previously Buncombe County Veterans Treatment Court Coordinator, and continues to serve as an expert and consultant on bias, race equity, and inclusion.
Dr. Howard consistently makes time for community service, having served on many boards and commissions, including LEAF Global Arts, OpenDoors Asheville, Evergreen Community Charter School, and Our Voice.
Eric Howard holds a Doctorate in Education, Leadership & Policy Analysis from East Tennessee State University, Johnson City; a Master of Social Work degree from the University of South Carolina, Columbia; a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Mars Hill University; and an Associate of Science degree from Georgia Military College, Milledgeville, Georgia.
