TRAVERSE CITY — Scott O’Dell, an aviation maintenance instructor at Northwest Education Services Career Tech, was named New Teacher of the Year by the Michigan Association for Career and Technical Education.
O’Dell, who has worked at Career Tech for about two and a half years, was honored with the award 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 and Technical Education. O’Dell will advance to the ACTE Region 1 contest, where he will compete 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 continues 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 and Technical Education at Career Tech.
Lamb said O’Dell’s real-world experience helped students connect classroom theory to real-world situations.
Before joining Career Tech, O’Dell worked in the aviation industry, where he trained new employees and discovered a passion for teaching. He started in aviation as a janitor at Kalitta Air and worked his way up to become a certified mechanic, later serving as lead technician, foreman, acting project manager and instructor.
O’Dell later became Career Tech’s first instructor of the Aviation Maintenance program, which launched in 2023. Students in the program 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 to pursue careers including aviation maintenance technician, aviation inspector, assembler of aircraft structures, surfaces, rigging and systems, and engine and machine assemblers. It also serves as a pathway to certification as an airframe and powerplant technician.
Career Tech offers more than 20 state-approved Career and Technical Education programs for high school juniors and seniors from Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties.
The programs include hands-on practical experiences, job shadowing, career exploration and early college opportunities, along with rigorous academic integration.
For more information about Northwest Education Services Career Tech, click here.